Thanks Lauren for sending this. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Barnes, Lauren <lauren.barnes@credit-suisse.com> Date: Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 11:29 AM Subject: FW: New York City librarian To: "Barnes, Lauren" <lauren.barnes@credit-suisse.com> ** For my Librarian friends . . . Metropolitan Diary *Dear Diary:* In a world before search engines, the go-to source for instant information was the human mind. And no mind searched faster than a New York City librarian’s. Two decades ago, I needed the source of an obscure hymn for a research project. When thumbing through old hymnals proved fruitless, I headed for the reference room of the public library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. I stated my mission to the young woman behind the desk, chanting “Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings.” She lifted her eyes to some point far, far away and immediately said, “Sounds like Cowper.” Like a shot, the librarian led me past rows and rows of shelves and selected an antique book. Of course, she was spot-on. Today, Google instantly tracks the same hymn. But can it hand me an elegant old volume of verse in half calf as well? I think not! *John Hazard Forbes* ** [image: New York Times] <http://www.nytimes.com/> Monday, July 4, 2011 ** ============================================================================== Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://www.credit-suisse.com/legal/en/disclaimer_email_ib.html ============================================================================== **** -- chirp elt Dr. Thomas T. Surprenant Professor & Acting Chair/Director Queens College Graduate School of Library & Information Studies