In a message dated 27/7/01 11:28:55, [log in to unmask] writes:
>"I was considering doing my dissertation on vegetarianism in the
>archaeological record and wondered if you could give me guidance on books
>and journal articles on this subject and where to find them."
I'm very surprised that this has been posted to Railway Studies but may I
repeat something I have said before. As a librarian brought up in the bad old
days, I know that there is no substitute for hard work searching through
indexes and abstracts. I know that many people gave up along the way. They
wanted a "quick fix". With the advent of computers the whole process has been
considerably simplified. Librarians are there to help, are paid to do so and
they should be used.
Where exactly has this student looked? Indexes, abstracts, internet,
specialist library? Which instituion is s/he connected with? Has s/he
consulted a librarian? This information should be presented before assistance
is requested.
I'm not against people giving advice, but the student learns nothing about
searching for themselves and becoming an independent learner. People who are
not able to do this simply open themselves to manipulation by others in
society. It's interesting to read in the latest issues of "rail" and "Modern
Railways" how people are now interpreting the Government's railway policies
over the past four years, with the ECML franchise the latest in the
"blunders". I wonder how many people believe Stephen Byers or, after a few
years, would know where to find the information to disprove what he said.
Roy Killey, MLS ALA Cert Ed
28 Howe Lane
Nafferton
DRIFFIELD
YO25 4JU
01377 254718
(Formerly Academic Liaison Librarian, Design and Communication Systems,
Anglia Polytechnic University; now MPhil student researching into psychology
of transport)
"Information IS power, but for many who wield that power, THINGS have come to
matter more than people"
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