The Value of a Reference Interview

In library school, you learn about the importance of the "reference interview." When a patron comes up to the desk, instead of tapping immediately at your keyboard or running to the shelf, you're supposed to answer the patron's question with another question. The purpose is to translate the question the patron asks into the question the patron means. Sometimes, as I was reminded tonight, these two things can be very different.

Girl: Do you have nonfiction science books?
Me: Sure. What kind of science are you interested in?
Girl: Mixing things together, I guess. To make things.
Me: Okay. Do you mean like chemistry?
Girl: I think so. Like potions?
Me: Um, okay. What kind of potions do you want to make?
Girl: Let me go ask my friend. It's his question.

The girl ran off to find her friend, a young boy, and I was left wondering if they wanted science fair books or Wizardology. No, my friends, it got stranger...

Boy: I need a science book.
Me: Right. What kind of science?
Boy: I need to know how to make things.
Me: Sure. What kind of things?
Boy: Animals.
Me: Um, okay. Make animals out of what?
Boy: Paper.
Me: Oh... do you mean ORIGAMI???
Boy: Yes! That's it! Origami!

And so we skipped off to the origami section, and the boy and girl picked out some books on making easy origami animals, and we all lived happily ever after—though the librarian among us was left both bemused and amused.