The Forty-two

Question #42: Where can I find general reference resources?

2010-03-15T12:01:00.000-04:00

We end our ten month long project with a bit of a miscellaneous category. My general aim here is to point out where one can find stuff like almanacs, encyclopedias and so on, but I also want to open this up to all of you who know of really great print resources and websites that you like to share with people. These may fall into subject categories we have already covered (and you never got around to posting on the blog) or they may be on a subject we have left out. Doesn't matter. Please tell us about them, and thank you for your particpation!

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Question #41: Where can I find addresses and phone numbers?

2010-03-08T12:01:00.002-05:00

Our penultimate... which by the way means "next-to-last", kids, not "biggest". Also, "decimate" only means taking out %10 of something, not completely obliterating something. This haranguing was brought to you by the good folks at Merriam Webster.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah. Anyway, our penultimate question is one of the most common we get asked. By virtue of this, nearly every librarian in the system has experience with it and has their own way of finding the answers. So what is your way? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #40: Where can I find automobile repair manuals and information?

2010-03-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

We're down to the final three of our 42 Project, and this week we tackle automobile reference questions. Obviously, we have Chilton and Motor manuals. We also have the superb Automobile Repair Reference Center database. But what else is available to people online? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #39: Where can I find obituaries and other Genealogy resources?

2010-02-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

This week rounds out our "Special Collections" subject list. Obviously, those that are serious about researching their family tree would want to start off on the fourth floor of Main, but what else is there available online? And, as always, those folks from the fourth floor are encouraged to chime in and crow about their own resources. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #38: Where can I find Local History Resources?

2010-02-15T12:01:00.001-05:00

Again, this is a subject that gives patrons a great reason to visit our downtown library, but what is available to those who don't wish to make a trip? And for those of you who work in that neck-of-the-woods at Main, what can you tell us about what's available there? This is a rich subject, so I look forward to seeing your comments. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #37: Where can I find African American History Resources?

2010-02-08T12:01:00.001-05:00

For this subject, it's a natural to guide patron's to our magnificent collection at the Main library downtown (In fact, I'd like to hear from the folks in that department what patrons would be most interested in from the collection). However, some patrons may not want to make the trip and are only interested in what is available at their local branch and what they can access online from home. Have any suggestions? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #36: Where can I find Biographies?

2010-02-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

This is obviously a very broad category, but one that we encounter a lot. We know where they are on the shelves, and we know what databases we have on the subject, but where can we go online for accurate biographical information? In other words, what else is there besides Wikipedia that we can reliably depend on? And, if you have something to say about our print and database resources, chime in on that as well. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #35: Where can I find inmate information?

2010-01-25T12:01:00.000-05:00

The State of Florida's Inmate Population Information Search is easy to find and easier to use, but what about other state's? How about inmates of Federal prisons? Does anyone have any experience doing these kind of searches that they can share? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #34: Where can I find court cases (Local, State, Federal, Supreme)?

2010-01-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

Obviously, this week's question covers a lot of bases, and some of this info is simply not going to be attainable without access to the legal databases at a good law college. However, there are some resources out there we can tap, and it would be nice to have information on all of them in an easy to understand matter for patrons (and librarians, too)! Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #33: Where can I find legal forms and advice?

2010-01-11T12:01:00.000-05:00

As with last week, we have a topic in which a lot of patrons ask us for advice, but we don't have any to give. We can, however, point them to the sources we have on hand as well as resources that may be available to them in their community or even online. Know of any? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #32: Where can I find tax forms and assistance?

2010-01-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

Ah, 'tis the season for digging out your receipts and fillinf out forms that start with "W". We don't dispense any advice on this topic, but we can sure as heck point to some places and sources that do. Have any recommendations? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #31: Where can I find reliable health and medical information?

2009-12-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

This week's question is particularly important in terms of sources. Out of all the subject a person could Google information on, medical advice is possibly the most dicey. So beyond the obvious volumes in the 610's, and beyond pointing folks to Medline Plus, what are some other good reliable sources you know of that would be great to include in the answer to this week's question? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #30: Where can I find Cookbooks for my particualr diet?

2009-12-21T12:01:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season to stuff yourself silly, but some of us are at least trying to be good. This may be for weight reasons (Atkins), health reasons (Diabetes) religious reasons (Kosher), or lifestyle reasons (Vegan). And people wonder why we order so many cookbooks! Anyway, let us know where we can find these unique items in the collection and the websites we can consult for further material. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #29: Where can I find product reviews (including Consumer Reports)?

2009-12-14T12:01:00.000-05:00

Back when I was still at Mandarin, we had a chronic problem with people tearing out pages from "Consumer Reports". This proved two things: (a) "Consumer Reports" is a very popular publication and (b) some people are just too cheap to shell out a couple of dimes for the copier. But this kind of information is always in demand (particularly in this busy shopping season), and there are lots of resources online to consult ranging from the professional (tech reviews at CNET) to consumer submitted (epinions). Which are the best of the best? What are some that many people might not be aware of? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #28: Where can I find value guides for coins, baseball cards and antiques?

2009-12-07T12:01:00.001-05:00

Although I think it would be a great programming coup to get "Antiques Roadshow" to do an episode from the conference level of the Main library, it's probably not going to happen. The next best thing is to know the best resources to show people who to evaluate what their assorted stuff is worth, both on the shelf and online. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #27: Where can I find ESL (English as Second Language) and New American resources?

2009-11-30T12:01:00.001-05:00

We now turn the tables on last week's question and focus on materials for foreign language speakers who wish to (a) learn English and (b) become an American citizen. Let us know about resources here in the library as well as resources online. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #26: Where can I find Foreign Language learning resources?

2009-11-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

Those materials in the 400's get quite the workout, as most of us know. It's a near constant request from patrons. Do you have any personal experience or patron testimony as to which publications are better than others? Also, are there any materials online that we can guide them to? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #25: Where can I find Directories of Newspapers and Magazines (National & International)?

2009-11-16T12:01:00.002-05:00

This question will definitely be even portions of JPL resources and online. What can you tell patrons about the periodicals in the system (both at the branches and at Main)? What do we have access to in our databases? Finally, where can they find well-organized guides online to newspaper and magazine stories? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #24: Where can I find peer-reviewed articles and journals?

2009-11-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

Here we get into a more academic need than we are usually used to in the public library, yet there are those students from local colleges (and sometimes from high schools) that require serious sources for their assignments. How do you go about showing them where the peer-reviewed journals and how to identify them? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #23: Where can I find Literary Criticism?

2009-11-02T12:01:00.000-05:00

Here we have a subject that comes up frequently enough through school assignments. I know from working at Main that the Literary encyclopedia sets were a great help for the high school students looking for literary criticism of lesser-known works. But what other sources are available, either through the library or online? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #22: Where can I find Christian Fiction?

2009-10-26T13:22:00.002-04:00

For this week’s question, we look at a genre that is quickly becoming as popular as old mainstays like Mysteries and Science Fiction. Having personally come across patrons who are looking for books in this area, I created an “Inspirational” section during my time at Maxville and will soon enough be doing the same for Graham. But your branch may not have such a section, so how do we help patrons looking for these types of books? Please submit any sources you have for lists of authors, titles and series and just guides in general that would be of assistance. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #21: Where can I find information on books in a series (children's, teen and adults)?

2009-10-19T12:03:00.002-04:00

This week's question is closely related to last week's question, but includes books whose series are already at an end (which opens up the source possibilities to hardcopy sources). I'm particularly interested in hearing about children and teen book resources. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #20: Where can I find the latest and upcoming titles by a particular publisher or author?

2009-10-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

Obviously, we're going to be looking strictly at web resources for this one, but I imagine there are other ways to find this info other than visiting individual publisher and author websites. Any ideas? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #19: Where can I find Read-a-likes?

2009-10-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

In terms of reader recommendations, there is an embarrassment of riches on the JPL site. Not only do we have old standbys like Novelist, but we also have the newly christened "Personalized Booklist" service, which is powered by real JPL librarians! Do you have a favorite method for looking for read-a-likes (whether for patrons or yourself)? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #18: Where can I find American History resources?

2009-09-28T09:15:00.000-04:00

This week's category is quite a broad one, but try to consider this in terms of school projects and what would be best for kids at various age levels to use. Suggestions for both hardcopy and online resources are encouraged. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #17: Where can I find information on Native American tribes?

2009-09-21T09:45:00.000-04:00

JPL is fortunate to have quite a few good volumes on this very subject in our hardcopy collections. Tell us about the ones you have used and if your prefer one over another. Also, or course, let us know about any online resources you may have come across. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #16: Where can I find information on the ways of life of different cultures in history (clothing, diet, etc.)?

2009-09-14T12:45:00.000-04:00

Unlike the Science Fair project books from last week, the books for this week's subject could be found all over the collection. Give us some ideas where as well as sources of information online and in the JPL databases. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #15: Where can I find Science Fair project ideas categorized by material and/or subject?

2009-09-08T11:27:00.004-04:00

We kind of had an education theme last month and we're going to continue this in September, but we're going to tackle specific subjects and projects. This week: The dreaded Science Fair. Well, it was at least dreaded for me as that was never my strong subject, but I'm sure there are some of you out there that really did some awesome stuff with ten square feet of aluminum foil, a large funnel, some rubber bands and a live hamster (let you're imagination run wild with that one).

And that's kinda what we're looking for this week: sources for science project ideas. This is definitely a shelf that we have memorized by now, so I'm also looking for online resources. If these sources have project ideas divided by topic and material (a common customer request in my experience), even better. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #14: Where can I find tutoring and homework assistance?

2009-08-31T12:03:00.002-04:00

We wrap up our "Education" themed month with this final question. JPL does have access to the excellent online resource "Live Homework Help", but I would like to hear about resources in addition to that (though if you have some specific thoughts on "Live Homework Help", we'd love to hear those as well). Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #13: Where can I find Children's books according to Lexile and Accelerated reader levels?

2009-08-24T13:05:00.000-04:00

Hi, folks. This question is specifically for the children's librarians out there. I have had to help parents locate books according to some of these criteria, and on many of these occasions I have had difficulties doing it. Are there any tips or resources to help us in locating these materials? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #12: Where can I find Homeschooling information and resources?

2009-08-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is a growing trend, and I think our materials at JPL has kept up with it. But let's also hear about online resources you might have come across in helping customers with this topic. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #11: Where can I find scholarship and financial assistance for college?

2009-08-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Fall 2009 college term is about to begin, but the smart students are starting to apply for financial assistance for Fall 2010. Let's hear about the print materials you guide people to as well as the online resources (not to mention any material of FAFSA). Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #10: Where can I find study guides for scholastic and professional exams?

2009-08-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

This question covers a lot of territory given all the exams guides we come across when working non-fiction. Not only do I want to list the call numbers of the most popular guides, I want to hear about online resources that may be of help as well. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #9: Where can I find computer instruction resources?

2009-07-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Of course, the first reaction to this question should be to tell the customer about the growing number of courses we offer in the system. But if the times or location are not agreeable to the customer, then you need to seek other options. Are there any books or websites you like to point people to when they are just learning about computers? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #8: How do I get an e-mail account?

2009-07-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

We all have our favorites in this category in terms of providers. Let me know what yours are and why. Also, given that most patrons who ask this question have little computer experience, let us know how you handle the interaction and how you go about explaining the process to them. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #7: Where can I find resume guidelines and assistance?

2009-07-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

This can be one of the more involved questions we librarians get on a regular basis. For many of us, we point them to either Microsoft Word's Resume wizard or Ed's resume maker. But there are more resources out there and want to hear from you what the best ones are. This includes both online resources and what (in your opinion) are the best books we have on the shelf on this subject. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #6: How can I look for a job online?

2009-07-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Most people who are out of work know how to look through the newspaper for jobs. However, many of these same people are unfamiliar with the concept of online job searching and, therefore, need a lot of guidance. So please share with us the best websites and services for job placement (both local services and national websites). Also let us know the procedures for using these sites so that both patron and librarian are better informed when they try to navigate them. Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #5: Where can I find how to apply for unemployment compensation and food stamps?

2009-06-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

These are two very specific questions about two very specific procedures, but they occur often enough in the system that a brief tutorial on each would be very useful. Does anyone have any experience of filling out either of these and, if so, could you please share your information on the process and any other details that would be helpful? Please give us your thoughts!

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Question #4: Where can I find social services in my community?

2009-06-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

With our fourth question, we are creating a list of social services in the Jacksonville area. Keep in mind that these can be solely local organizations (such as Clara White) as well as national organizations with a presence in Jacksonville (such as the Salvation Army). Please let us know any and all such organizations and any information about them (where they are located, how to contact them, what services they provide). Please give us your thoughts!

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Click on the large comment box, type your question or questions (plus whatever else you'd like to contribute to the discussion) and then click Post Comment.

Question #3: Where can I find information on starting a Nonprofit?

2009-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

So perhaps small businesses are not the best way to go these days. How about nonprofits? If the patron is serious about pursuing this course, you might want to guide them to the Nonprofit Resource Center located on the third floor of the Main Library. But if they're unable to access the resources there, where else would you point them in either the collection or online? Please give us your thoughts!

Here are the steps for posting a comment:

Click on the word comments at the bottom of the post.

Click on the drop down menu next to Comment as and choose Name/URL.

Click on the box below Name and type your name, then click Continue.

Click on the large comment box, type your question or questions (plus whatever else you'd like to contribute to the discussion) and then click Post Comment.

Question #2: Where can I find out information on how to start a small business?

2009-06-08T09:00:00.002-04:00

Now that we have settled the whole "Free Money" issue, how about people who come in for legitimate information about starting a small business? What materials in the collection do you guide these patrons to? What websites? We all know about the Small Business Administration, but are there any other reputable sites that might help (especially local organizations)? Please give us your thoughts!

Here are the steps for posting a comment:

Click on the word comments at the bottom of the post.

Click on the drop down menu next to Comment as and choose Name/URL.

Click on the box below Name and type your name, then click Continue.

Click on the large comment box, type your question or questions (plus whatever else you'd like to contribute to the discussion) and then click Post Comment.

Question #1: Where can I find free money to start a business/pay my bills?

2009-06-01T09:00:00.002-04:00

Our first question is a tricky one. For those of us who have worked at a Main desk, it's a query that is all too familiar. Most patrons who ask have been inspired by a man on TV wearing a suit covered in question marks (otherwise known as He Who Must Not Be Named).

The simple answer to this question is that there is no actual free money, but patrons aren't always swayed by such a declarative statement. They may actually think your purposely hiding the free money from them. I mean, if you can't trust a guy who shops at the Riddler's estate sale, who can you trust?

So, by presenting this question in our project, let's try and create a stock answer that is both concise yet detailed enough so that patron's don't think your hiding something from them. If you know of any websites that go into further detail, let us know about them so they can be included as well. And if you know where any actual free money is (and you don't care to take it yourself and retire early), please let us know so we can use that information, too.

P.S.: I promise the remaining 41 questions won't be this sarcastic. :)

Here are the steps for posting a comment:

Click on the word comments at the bottom of the post.

Click on the drop down menu next to Comment as and choose Name/URL.

Click on the box below Name and type your name, then click Continue.

Click on the large comment box, type your question or questions (plus whatever else you'd like to contribute to the discussion) and then click Post Comment.

Step One is now complete!

2009-05-12T11:16:00.002-04:00

I and the rest of the REVU committee will now be going over the submissions and hashing out 42 specific questions to use for this project. We should be starting the individual questions and answers sometime in June or July. Stay tuned!

What is the Forty-two? You're about to tell me.

2009-04-20T16:11:00.002-04:00

OK, folks. It's time to begin.

For the next three weeks, I want you to come to this post and let me know the questions that the people of Jacksonville are eager to get answered. This is a brainstorming session, so we're looking for both quality and quantity.

For those new to Blogger, here are the steps for posting a comment:

Click on the word comments at the bottom of the post.
Click on the drop down menu next to Comment as and choose Name/URL.
Click on the box below Name and type your name, then click Continue.
Click on the large comment box, type your question or questions (plus whatever else you'd like to contribute to the discussion) and then click Post Comment.

And that's it. Go to it!

Mission Statement

2008-12-02T18:39:00.000-05:00

The following is a project for the Jacksonville Public Library. Over the course of the next 18 months, this blog will be the focal point of a Ready Reference discussion. Specifically, the librarians and staff of JPL will pool together their experience and come up with the top 42 reference questions that are asked throughout our system.

Once the 42 have been decided upon, They will be considered one by one through individual blog posts. The comments section will serve as the discussion forum for each question. Each question will be considered for a minimum of one week.

Once the discussion has been completed for each question, this information will be used to manufacture a ready reference page no more that one page long (3 to 5 paragraphs). Not only will this page have the necessary links, but it will also have text to explain in detail what the user should look for and keep in mind while addressing this question.

Once the entire process is done, we will have 42 separate, detailed ready reference sheets for patrons to consult. Ideally, there will be a link on the JPL homepage called "The Forty-Two" and this will lead to a page with a list of the questions. Each question will link to the ready reference page for that question.

It is my hope that this will be of great use to both our patrons and our staff who assist them. Please stay tuned for further developments on this project.