Searching

Go with the patron instead of pointing

When you need to direct a patron somewhere in your library, please make every effort to take the person rather than pointing.

Our libraries are very confusing to patrons, and patrons are often uncomfortable anyway about being in the library and asking questions. Pointing to a section and saying "It's over there" leaves the patron hanging. Perhaps library signage is not clear; perhaps the patron can't follow your point or has trouble navigating.

Studies show, and it seems reasonable, that whenever a library staff person can accompany a patron to the section of the library where the answer may be found, the chance that the question will be correctly answered increases.

Patrons feel more secure with the personal touch of having the librarian go with them to search.

This also gives you a chance to carry on a little more conversation with the patrons and may give you additional clues as to what the real information needs are.

Remember these important points:

Go to Keep track of where you searched.

Back to Cite sources.

Back to MORE Manual home page.

This page was updated November 24, 2003.