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In early days, I tried not to give librarians any trouble…

“In early days, I tried not to give librarians any trouble, which was where I made my primary mistake. Librarians like to be given trouble; they exist for it, they are geared to it. For the location of a mislaid volume, an uncatalogued item, your good librarian has a ferret’s nose. Give her a scent…” quote by Catherine Drinker Bowen
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“In early days, I tried not to give librarians any trouble, which was where I made my primary mistake. Librarians like to be given trouble; they exist for it, they are geared to it. For the location of a mislaid volume, an uncatalogued item, your good librarian has a ferret’s nose. Give her a scent and she jumps the leash, her eye bright with battle.”

Catherine Drinker Bowen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Librarians thrive on solving problems; they are eager to locate missing items and enjoy the challenge.

In simple terms: Librarians love solving puzzles.

Key Takeaway

Provide clear clues to librarians.

Themes

knowledge service problem‑solving

Mood

appreciative practical

Type

professional motivational

When to use this quote

  • research assistance
  • cataloguing errors
  • finding lost items

Key Concepts

library science attention to detail collaboration

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you assist librarians effectively?
  • When should you seek professional help?
A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on librarians can burden them; self‑service options help.

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