Reference Anxiety Disorder

is, Gary Archer from Solihull Libraries writing in Refer Volume 26 Number 2 (Summer 2010) tells us (based on the article referenced below):

the feeling an information specialist experiences when s/he can’t find the information they’re seeking

I'm not a reference librarian nor do I consider myself an information specialist except in the field of careers information (and since Opportunity has not been published for some years I'm even a bit out of touch with that field) but most have had their impossible questions – “ what does a shoemaker earn?” springs to mind.

Have you, as a careers information practitioner, had the impossible questions?

How do you deal with them?

It may be that Adam Bennington's article A practical Guide to Reference Anxiety Disorder will help you (but it will cost you $2.95) – and maybe, just maybe, asking me to look both online and in the British Library will bring you the peace of mind you need!

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