Libraries
Libraries may include any of the following resources:
- Books. This is what most of think of as being in libraries. Usually books are arranged on the shelves according to one of several standard indexing systems. General familiarity with the Dewey Decimal system in particular will carry you a long way. Don't forget though, that a book may be in the library and not on the shelf. It could be on loan already, and many libraries keep some or all of their collections stashed in a back room. Use the card catalog or computer catalog, and ask the librarian how to use it if you need to (not all catalogs are the same, and some even index books by their Dewey Decimal number only). Treasure books with bibliographies, because they will introduce you to dozens of new resources for your studies (and the more you start off looking for, the more you're likely to find).
- Periodicals. (Magazines/Newspapers/Scholarly Journals). These are really important if you need material in a specific academic field, or other kinds of current events or history. These are often stored in stacks in the back rooms, or on microfiche, so ask the librarian how to access them.
- Databases. (on CD-ROM or a computer network). Again mainly useful for researching specific disciplines.
- Internet Access. Right now only found in a few fortunate places, but this will become more common as the price of technology drops over time.
- Interlibrary Loan/catalogs of other libraries' holdings. This is a really powerful tool which makes the resources of other libraries available to you. In a lot of places, though, you have to have borrowing privileges in order to do Inter-library Loan.
- Librarians. The most important resource in a library is the one that many people forget about. The librarian is the one who knows what the library has to offer, knows where things are shelved or stored, knows how to work the computer catalog, can get the back issues of newspapers from the stacks for you, and give you ideas on where to look for what you need.
- Reference Materials such as the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (to help you find articles on a given subject), Books in Print (index of all books in print, useful for Interlibrary loans), encyclopedias, etc.
- Maps/Local information
- Educational Programs (reading, literacy, children's, finance, etc.)
- Computer Facilities
- Job Resources
- Audio/Visual Materials including music, drama, books on tape, lectures, language learning materials, recorded film or television material.
- Computer Software for use or for loan
The best bet, really, is to go to a library and ask the reference librarian what resources they may have which would help you.
Workshop Discussion Sparks
- What Friends World Library resources are necessary to have as a constant standard at every Center?
Inspired and Creative
- Compile and maintain a list of useful libraries in the area of your Center. Include directions on how to get there, how to get reading/borrowing privileges, and hours of opening. In cities, note which libraries are for specialists and which are for everybody.
Rigorous Training
- Visit every library you can find, and for each one, make a note of exactly what facilities are available there, and how you would research your favorite topics there.
AAAAAGGGHHHH!
- Can't find what you need? Use Interlibrary Loan (you still need to leave some time for this to work).
- Also, fax or email the library at Southampton Campus, and ask them to help you figure out what articles etc., you need to look at. Even if you don't, they have the indices of books and periodicals that make a subject search much easier.
- Ask for help. Ask for help. Ask for help. It's what they pay librarians for. Usually, it's because the librarians enjoy helping people.
See Also
Contribute to the Portfolio Resource Guide!!!
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