I am rather new in the field and possibly I'm too green for my own good, but I have heard from my colleagues where I work, that it is a waste of time for a librarian to sit at the reference desk. Several feel that most of their questions are related to technical issues students have on our computers and it is not their job to have to answer these questions (yet they see no problem in coming to my office and asking me to answer these questions for them).
When I was hired, I was hired because of my technical skills and because of my strong background in media arts. I was asked to create an information commons and to bring a fresh look to the library. Now they are asking me to train students to man the reference area so they do not have to answer "printing problem" questions or assist students with software problems. .
Does anyone else feel the reference desk has become more of an IT help desk?
Do we still need to have a reference desk?
Is it our duty to be there to answer these questions?
I feel it is but maybe I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time.