Page 98 - Training for librarianship; library work as a career

TBAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

student that he can answer for himself.'
Many times when students apply for help
and we are driven just at that minute, the
easiest possible means of getting rid of them
would be to answer their questions; but we
want our students to have the abihty to stand
alone and help themselves when there is no
one at hand to help them. Our question to an
applicant for help is, * Where have you
looked? We do this to familiarize him with
'
authors and get him out of the red, blue and
green book habit. Many times he is on the
right track. If he is not, we set him aright
by giving suggestions as to the particular
book in which an answer might be lurking,
and always we try to keep an eye on him until
he has finally found the information desired.
The next time a similar question comes up, it
will be solved with less effort and the next
time almost automatically. The teacher will
soon discover that these lessons are time-
savers rather than time-consumers, and the
pupils will be forming library habits which
will hold them after their school days
are over."
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