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.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

weird coincidence, my friend and I traveling back from Denver did the same thing, we came up with all kinds of questions on our drive and I emailed her the answers when I got back to my ref desk. Maybe we should invest in blackberries so the internet is only a fingertip away at all times.

Veronica said...

Librarians are a strange breed.

And you know, I've been eyeing those blackberries. Maybe this is just the excuse I need - as though I'd really need an excuse to get a new gadget.

PandaLibrarian said...

Hi Veronica,

I think you'd win that wager! I think that curiosity is (or should be) a requirement for being a librarian.

And, you're welcome! I'll be sure and pass along your comments to the creators of Project Play - they'll be glad to hear that Project Play was a good thing.

I hope you're inspired to continue to play more, learn more and fear less!

Jean