Whether you’re looking for something to read for fun, or you have a specific topic you need to research, sometimes finding the right book is difficult. You can walk into a bookstore and easily be overwhelmed by the choices available, and while the clerk might know where to find books on a specific topic, they probably won’t know which books will help you most. Going into a virtual bookstore just means that you have a “virtual clerk” that will help you find things using keywords, but still there are many choices, and not much information to help you narrow those choices down to one or two.
When you walk into a library, you might think that your problems choosing a book are even worse, because most libraries have many more books than even the biggest bookstore. However, libraries have a critical resource that bookstores don’t: the librarians. These people know and love books, and can do much more than just show you the section where you can find, for example, texts on music of 19th-century Europe. Librarians follow trade journals and book reviews, and they’ll know the best choices for fiction as well as nonfiction on a variety of topics. What’s more, they’ll be able to guide you in your own study projects by helping you locate the resources you need.
Libraries have always been the first place to go for people who want to learn. When you’re in school, teachers decide what you’re going to learn, and direct you through the process. But when you’re done with school, that doesn’t mean you’re done with learning! Using the library, where you can find information on any topic, means that you can continue a process of lifelong learning. In fact, in the United States this lifelong learning process was planned for, and many libraries trained their staff to better help curious readers. At the New York Public Library, the Office of the Reader’s Advisor once had staff who would meet individually with people who wanted to pursue a particular subject, interview them, and come up with a list of book recommendations designed to help.
Some libraries don’t have the financial resources to provide this individual consultation any more, but to make up for that, there are electronic catalogs that give you access to more books than any one library can hold, and all library staff will be able to help you find things that you need. The next time you’re at a loss and wondering where to find the books you need, ask a librarian!
