Director of Libraries Message for October
My first professional job was as a reference librarian in a neighborhood branch library in the mid 1990s. The internet was just beginning to arrive, but the resources we relied on to do our work day to day still consisted of shelf upon shelf of print encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries, country guides and other information guides. Clearly, the way most people gather information today has changed dramatically, with print resources struggling to provide the up to the minute information the internet can surface on a personal device. Still, through this entire evolution, helping people find the information they need is an important service offered by Santa Cruz Public Libraries. After all, many people still need help researching a broad range of topics, and many others could benefit from vetting that “up to the minute information” from the internet with a trusted expert. A recent sample of reference questions we received included looking for resources on ancient Mesopotamian creation myths, help finding historic Sanborn fire insurance maps, guidance on writing a paper using the MLA style guide, information about the history of gambling in Santa Cruz, help finding a mobile mechanic, and a query asking which three suspension bridges John Roebling designed before working on the Brooklyn Bridge.
While our branches are equipped to help with basic research and homework help needs, and we offer numerous online resources available for free under the Research tab on our website, SCPL has dedicated reference librarians available at the Downtown Library for more in-depth research. Additionally we offer telephone, email and chat reference services during open hours, just click the “Ask Us” button on the Research page of our website for more information. Each of our Children’s Rooms also keep current with the World Book Encyclopedia, the only multi-volume general encyclopedia still available in print, published annually for the past 100 years.
If you’re curious about the answer to the Roebling question above, our staff found the three bridges to be the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, the 6th St Bridge in Pittsburgh, and the Covington-Cincinnati Bridge (renamed the John A Roebling Suspension Bridge) that still spans the Ohio River between Ohio and Kentucky.
Christopher Platt
Director of Libraries
Mensaje del Director de Bibliotecas
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