Melvil Dewey was an interesting guy in the world of libraries. (Note: This is a story about personal customer service, but I have to start with Dewey.) Among other things, he gave us the Dewey Decimal system for numbering and identifying books. For example, if you need a book of medical information, that book will be in the 600s. If you’re interested in psychic or paranormal experiences, your book will appear in the 100s. Without Dewey and his numbers, books and subjects would be all mixed up. Paranormal medicine might not be what you need—so it’s a good thing that we keep those 100s and
600s away from one another.
          Dewey also believed in simplifying spelling, making spelling rules more logical. He began life as “Melville,” but shortened his name to “Melvil.” Alas, poor Melville/Melvil; his simplified spelling never
caught on. Or perhaps I should say, “Hiz simplifid speling nevr kawt awn.”
          Now for the rest of the story. When I got back into librarianship after years away from it, I returned to the University of Illinois to learn about computers, computers, and, ah, computers. While I was at the U. of I., I joined an electronic mailing list for reference librarians. Reference librarians from everywhere in the world would ask questions on the list. Maybe they were stumped by a patron’s question. Perhaps they couldn’t find a book anywhere. And so they would ask other librarians for help.
          One day, a librarian in New Zealand was desperately looking for a document published by the U. S. government. He had exhausted all the resources that he had. Now, U. S. government documents
come with their own system of numbering and classification. Most libraries use that system and do NOT assign Dewey Decimal numbers to government publications. But the University of Illinois did. Using the computerized card catalog, I was able to find the book that my New Zealand colleague needed, and to e-mail him that the U. of I. owned it. My feeling of personal success, almost of triumph, was pretty swell.  Though I hope it didn’t cause my head to swell. And it all came about in the course of offering personalized service.
          A good librarian is like a detective. Some people think that everything they need to know can be found on the Internet. Perhaps a lot of it can, but countless folks don’t really know how to search for the
more hidden information. Or they need help in using Internet-based information services which are not free, but which libraries pay for, and provide to, the public. That’s where your Alpha Park
librarian-detectives can offer genuine personal service. So if you are stumped by a question, or need information and don’t know where to turn, please consider your local library. We will be happy to help you–
personally!