2 Tales

March 1st, 2004

Today, I received two interesting e-mail messages in my aggregator. First, from someone whom I met on the way to Toronto last month. We met on line at the security checkpoint at Laguardia Airport and got to talking about U.S. and Canadian politics. Not surprisingly, our views on the U.S. government were similar. Today, I got an e-mail from this same gentleman. He remembered that my name was Steven and that I was speaking at a library conference in Toronto and that I had a weblog, and was able to find me via Google. I told him that his research skills were better than some librarians I know. Why? Because he was able to gather information about me (and remember it) by engaging in conversation. In my opinion, the best reference librarians are the ones that leave the desk every once in a while and network with their customers. If I am not at my desk, my boss knows that I am “chit-chatting” with one of my colleagues (yes, I consider the attorneys in my office as colleagues, and the feeling is mutual, I have been told). Librarians who know their customers can anticipate their wants and needs before they even aeries. But the trick is to talk with them, network with them, and, in essence, become one with them. I replied to my airport “stranger” with a “good on ya” for contacting me. We can all learn from that man at the airport.

The second e-mail came from an attorney who used to work at the law firm. He used to do a lot of research in the library and we used to chat about music, books, weblogs, and our respective families. This evening, he contacted me with a note that he has started a weblog with the hope of exposing himself in the weblog community. I hope he does, because it’s a great looking weblog and he is a nice guy (So, link away, blawgers!!) and deserves it. I mention his note not only to give him this exposure (whatever “clout” I have in this world is indeed minimal, but somewhat more than others I suppose), but to point out another aspect of librarianship that we sometimes lose track of in our busy lives: Connections. Again, this involves getting up from behind that desk every once in a while, and talking with colleagues. It’s about attending workshops, getting to know the people for whom you work. Making connections with the people that you not only see everyday, but those that you may communicate with via e-mail or IM.

Librarianship, like life, is not performed in a vacuum. Get out there. Network, chat, smile, be unafraid, work the profession (don’t let the profession work you - it doesn’t work that way). And most important, make connections. You never know who you will meet while going through security at the airport, or researching law at the library tables.

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