Interlibrary Loan Functionality September 21, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentDear Answer Person,
You do many amazing things, and your colleagues at the library are some of the people I admire the most. Dukeref is definitely my favorite IM Buddy. I’m sure someone is working on it, but wouldn’t it be convenient if the interlibrary loan login was tied to one’s netid so that it would be easier to keep track of login information and maintain continuity through the Duke computer systems?
Thanks!
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Oh, yes, this would be a lot easier, and we at the library know it. The system uses completely different software that apparently can’t communicate with OIT’s NetID services (or no one has figured it out yet). The “My Library Card” feature of the Catalog does work with your NetID without even having to register, but apparently the Document Delivery (a.k.a., Interlibrary Loan or ILL) system can’t.
If you register into ILL with the help of library staff, sometimes they hint that instead of accepting the default Username (which is your DukeCard number plus issue number), you replace that with your NetID and password if you want to synchronize the systems. Then, you won’t have to think about it next time. Of course, you still have to register the first time, and it would be nice to get rid of that step. Also, you can’t go back and change your Username once you’ve gotten a crummy one, unless you ask ILL to reset your account so you can start over.
Thanks for the input.
biggest parade September 21, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentWhat is the biggest parade in the US by people in attendence? Is it the West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The West Indian Carnaval in Brooklyn is supposed to have at least 2 million attendees, so it likely is. Certainly in NYC, and so likely in the USA. Estimates of such crowds are notoriously fuzzy, so there’s no official winner. The Sao Paulo Gay Parade bills itself as the largest in the world: http://www.v-brazil.com/tourism/sao-paulo/gay-parade-history.html at over 2 million attendees.
Russ Ferguson September 21, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentDo you think Russ Ferguson’s hair is overrated?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: It all depends on the sort of hair you like. Some people may very well prefer the tidy hairsprayed look.
What’s the matter with y’all? September 21, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentWhy do so many people have such a hard time writing the term y’all? Although it’s southern slang and not proper English, it’s just a simple contraction of the words you and all… I’ve seen ya’ll, you’ll, and all sorts of ridiculously off-the-mark attempts. It just doesn’t seem that difficult to me…
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: I suspect that since it’s generally spoken, and not part of “official” written English, the contraction is confusing to people. I think y’all makes the most sense, but if it’s not official, then perhaps people can be given some leeway. What about yawl?
Since “proper” English doesn’t have a distinctive 2nd person plural personal pronoun, and since “you” and “all” are legitimate English words, why not accept the term as “proper.” “Youse” is also completely legitimate.
Book purchasing takes too long. September 21, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentMy name is [...]. I sugested to purchase “Modern Organic Synthesis” around two weeks ago, and it is still on oder, even though Duke Book store already has this book.
When do you expect that I can get this book?
Could you explain why it takes long time?
Thank you.
PS - you can email me, if you have any question.
Thank you.
[email address]
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The appropriate subject librarian has been asked to “rush” catalog this book and you’ll be notified when it’s ready for you. It appears to be in a processing backlog.
The library gets books from intermediate vendors, not directly from the publishers. If the book isn’t ordered “rush,” then it won’t be shipped by itself immediately, but will wait to be included in a large shipment from that vendor, maybe even a week or two or more. Then, the shipments have to be unpacked, then the invoices paid, and the books put in a queue to be cataloged, and then the call number labels need to be applied, and then the books need to be shelved. If the book comes through an automatic approval plan, as did this one, it is also reviewed by subject librarians for appropriateness for our collection. All this takes much longer than the process in a bookstore, especially given staffing and funding shortages at the library that create cataloging backlogs, where the book may sit for several weeks on a shelf. The time in various backlogs depends a lot on issues with the particular book (whether it’s been cataloged already by another library, what language it’s in, whether it has supplemental material such as a CD or map). A softcover book may need to be sent off to a bindery to have a hard binding put on it.
The online “suggest a purchase” form will not guarantee that the book is ordered and cataloged quickly. If you need a book quickly, then you should indicate this on the form or contact one of the subject librarians directly: http://library.duke.edu/about/directory/subject_librarians.html
Rudeness September 21, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a comment[A library employee] is extraordinarily rude to patrons.
[...]
Is there anything that can be done about this?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Your complaint has been passed on to the employee’s supervisor.
Marching to Glory! September 8, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentdid you watch the blue devil marching band win 3rd place in the dci championship last night? can you think of a more invigorating way to spend the evening! i bet you cant! oh it was a spectacle!
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: I hate to spoil your fun, but this is a group of “Blue Devils” from Concord, California. Their website: http://www.bluedevils.org/ In any case, you can catch it all again. The ESPN2 website says “The first half of the program can be seen on Monday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. Eastern time (ET). The second half will air on Monday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m. ET.”
Yoga September 8, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentCan yoga actually make you taller? I heard a claim that it could make you up to 4 inches taller. If you do get taller, how long would the height last?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: It may not physically stretch your bones, but to the extent that it improves your posture the top of your head may become farther from the ground. For as long as your posture remains better. Four inches isn’t possible from what I’ve seen, unless you’re just 10 years old. In that case, just wait several years.
yikes September 8, 2006
Posted by Library Answer Person in : Uncategorized , add a commentWas Hitler a virgin? If so, did that add to his craziness?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: I think you’d have to ask Eva Braun that question. Another woman, merely rumored to be his mistress, was his niece Geli Raubal. Historians generally seem to believe the answer to your first question is “no.”
