Subject: GEN: Who Am I?

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 20:30:29 -0800

From: cmartz@eee.org (Carlton Martz)

I have been meaning to write this little essay for a while. If you can use

it with your students, teachers, administrators, or parents, please do so.

Carl Martz

Librarian, Yucaipa High School

Yucaipa, CA

WHO AM I?

Who am I? I am sort of like an Internet search engine. Give me a subject,

name, or any keyword and I will point you in the direction of the

information you want. But, unlike Yahoo and Alta Vista, my results list

will not have a gazillion hits. I will usually take you directly to the

most likely source of the information you need. This might be an

encyclopedia, atlas, almanac, special book, magazine or newspaper article,

CD-ROM program, or a particular Web site I have bookmarked.

Who am I? Unlike a machine, I will ask you questions about your

information quest: What exactly are you looking for? Who is your teacher?

What is your assignment? What have you already found? Asking these kinds

of questions helps me decide what sources will be best for you to look

into. Together we will track down what you need. Along the way, I will

explain what I am doing and involve you in the search so that you can do

more for yourself next time.

Who am I? I can show you how to find a novel for a book report, but I

can also advise you. By talking with you, I will learn something about

your interests, reading habits, and command of the written word. I will

make suggestions to you for books to try. I know, I know, a book has to be

short, interesting, and preferably in video. Nevertheless, I will try to

help you find a book that you will enjoy.

Who am I? I am the one thing that the cyber/super/information/highway.com

will never have: a human being who can customize a search with a

a conversation. I am your personal information expert and reading advisor.

I am your school librarian.