As a librarian I get all kinds of strange questions and requests...I think the strangest one I've received yet was when a lady asked if we could help her identify some 18th century coffin handles from pictures for a college class assignment...Wow...that's a rather specific request.
Now, what most people don't understand about your local public library is that we're a popular library. That means that we do not just have books for books sake. If a book doesn't get checked out so many times in a year more than likely it'll be deleted to make room for something that will check out. We don't do that because we don't like the book, just because it's not popular in a certain demographic area and shelf space is limited.
All that being said...books about 18th century coffin handles aren't exactly in high demand (shocking, I know!). So this patron was understandably concerned as to where she was going to find such specific information if the PUBLIC LIBRARY couldn't help her! I have a somewhat shocking secret to share...librarian's don't know everything! AAAAHHH!!! I just completely popped everyone's happy little bubble, I know, but it's true.
Having done 6 years of higher education myself, I shared a little tidbit of information with this wonderful lady, who was extremely lovely and kind; if a teacher assigns their students something so incredibly specific they more than likely have a specific resource in mind for the student to find and use. In these cases the best place to look first is at the college library. Poor lady...wish I could have answered her question!
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