iPalimpsest

Could you print me out a list
Hmm? A list of what?
You know, like, of all the books.
In the entire branch, or the system?
No. I mean, just in this section.
(The information desk is in the middle of the adult room, near all the adult and YA fiction and non-fiction) Which section, exactly?
You know, the list that used to be here?
We used to have a list of all the books?
Like, a list of books that might be interesting.
In a moment of inspiration I realize the patron might be asking for the Books for the Teenage guide, and when I hand it over, turns out that was it.

But I'm noticing a dangerous (for the environment) trend at my branch. People really want us to just print them lists of things all the time. I'm often asked for a printed list of all the Dave Pelzer books in the system, or people want lists of all the DVDs at my branch, or all the romance novels. They want paper to print out all the spam they receive, and kids want computer appointments so they can just print out pages from the online encyclopedia rather than taking notes from a book.

I'd rather they'd let me take the time to show them how to search the catalog themselves, so they can access the information anywhere they have Internet access. Though, I guess the digital divide is still enough of a problem that lots of people wouldn't have access to computers at home.

We need to change that. We need to not only teach people how to use computers, but also get them access to affordable or free ones-- Per Scholas is an NYPL partner (to Click on @ the library), and they're great. We need more organizations like this one. Also, if you've got old computer parts, donate them to Per Scholas instead of just leaving them on your corner to be landfill.