Thursday, April 3, 2008

Curious Veronica Finds Some Friends


I'd wager that most reference librarians are curious people. Spend any time with us on the reference desk and you'll find us hunting for answers long after the customer has left. Even when the question has come to one of our colleagues, our curiousity is whetted and we start the quest.

That being said, Project Play has done wonders for me in terms of curiousity. Once I'm started with a question or a thought, I move right along. But sometimes I need that initial goose to get me started. A few years ago a friend and I took the train from Chicago to Flagstaff. Once there we spent time at the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and various other places. And as we travelled, questions arose. How do water towers work? (That one on the train ride out). What's the difference between ravens and crows? (This came at the Grand Canyon). Since my companion was a librarian as well, you can guess she came up with a plan. She made note of our questions and when we got back home we researched the answers.

That's what Project Play has done for me. It's helped set me on course to find the answers, or if not the answers, at least the beginnings of how to think about the resources we've studied. By posing the questions, you've jump-started my thinking. And for that I thank the designers of the play and the players.