Finding out your patron's initial source of information on a topic really helps in your search to find more information. The source can give clues to other sources and will also explain more about the patron's information need.
For example, one patron asked for the definition of the Indian word "Cybis." After a long and fruitless search, the librarian found out that the source of this word was an inscription on the bottom of a porcelain figurine of an Indian. The answer was then easy to find - Cybis is the name of a famous company connected with porcelain sculptures.
Discovering the patron's source at the beginning of your search makes the whole process easier.
Go to Keep an open mind about the real question.
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