I was reminded of this story today when I was discussing research with my students. Way back in that tacky decade called "the 80s," when I was finishing up my undergraduate degree, I worked in the main branch of my college library at the circulation desk. Great job. Except for the last couple of weeks of the quarter, the place was empty, and I got paid $.05 above minimum wage to do my homework.
Anyway...
While I worked at the main library, we had other libraries as well. Connected to us via walkway was the law library, and halfway across campus was the music library. Our college has a fantastic music school (really), so they have their own library.
Those who don't know the Library of Congress classification system will need to understand that in general, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Books listed under "S," for instance, are about agriculture, and world history is listed under "D." The one thing that does make sense is that "M" is for music and books about music. ALL of the "M" classification, and almost nothing else, was in the music library. Since they were in a regular campus building, their hours were vastly different than our hours--they closed at 9, we closed at midnight, and the main library stayed open until 2. It's also worth remembering that this story takes place before the glory of the Interwebs--we still had a paper card catalog.
One night, I am working the circ desk with a couple other undergrads and Joe the Malaysian Grad Student. The following exchange (to the best of my memory) occurred around 10 pm:
Dramatis Personae
MSDTF: Moronic Student Doomed to Fail
JTMGS: Joe the Malaysian Grad Student
MSDTF: Hey, I was just up on the third floor, and the collection goes from L to N. Where are all of the books listed under M?
JTMGS: They're in the music library.
MSDTF: Where is that?
JTMGS: In the music building.
MSDTF: Oh, okay. (Picks up things, prepares to leave.)
JTMGS: It's closed. They close at 9.
MSDTF: CLOSED! I HAVE A PAPER DUE TOMORROW AT 9:00! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
JTMGS: Fail, I guess.
And that, friends and neighbors, is when Joe stopped being Joe the Malaysian Grad Student and became Joe the AWESOME Malaysian Grad Student.
Anyway...
While I worked at the main library, we had other libraries as well. Connected to us via walkway was the law library, and halfway across campus was the music library. Our college has a fantastic music school (really), so they have their own library.
Those who don't know the Library of Congress classification system will need to understand that in general, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Books listed under "S," for instance, are about agriculture, and world history is listed under "D." The one thing that does make sense is that "M" is for music and books about music. ALL of the "M" classification, and almost nothing else, was in the music library. Since they were in a regular campus building, their hours were vastly different than our hours--they closed at 9, we closed at midnight, and the main library stayed open until 2. It's also worth remembering that this story takes place before the glory of the Interwebs--we still had a paper card catalog.
One night, I am working the circ desk with a couple other undergrads and Joe the Malaysian Grad Student. The following exchange (to the best of my memory) occurred around 10 pm:
Dramatis Personae
MSDTF: Moronic Student Doomed to Fail
JTMGS: Joe the Malaysian Grad Student
MSDTF: Hey, I was just up on the third floor, and the collection goes from L to N. Where are all of the books listed under M?
JTMGS: They're in the music library.
MSDTF: Where is that?
JTMGS: In the music building.
MSDTF: Oh, okay. (Picks up things, prepares to leave.)
JTMGS: It's closed. They close at 9.
MSDTF: CLOSED! I HAVE A PAPER DUE TOMORROW AT 9:00! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
JTMGS: Fail, I guess.
And that, friends and neighbors, is when Joe stopped being Joe the Malaysian Grad Student and became Joe the AWESOME Malaysian Grad Student.
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