Click, click, click.
Into the computer I type,
Topical search terms predetermined.
Database or world wide web,
Information I seek.
I will not be deterred,
Terms altered to find sources,
And multiple places checked.
The information may be the end,
But the thrill of the hunt is the joy.
Flip, flip, flip.
Paging through a book.
General topics determined.
The table of contents and index,
friends and useful tools.
I will not be deterred,
cross-reference and check subheadings,
And try other books.
The information may be the end,
But the thrill of the hunt is the joy.
Click, thumb, flip.
Archival research leads to primary sources.
Index terms and subject headings determined.
The detailed finding aid,
guides one to useful collections.
I will not be deterred,
search all relevant collections,
And check multiple archives.
The information may be the end,
But the thrill of the hunt is the joy.
Click, click, click.
Flip, flip, flip.
For me or for you,
Information is sought.
As a librarian and historian,
I will not be deterred.
I know the tools of the trade,
I use them as weapons in my hunt.
The information may be the end,
But the thrill of the hunt is the joy.
Yes, I dabble in poetry from time to time. While I enjoy writing, the hunt for the information is a puzzle I truly enjoy solving and that’s one of the reasons I chose to enter the library field over classroom teaching a core subject. It’s also one of several reasons I enjoy studying history. Plus, after the seriousness of my last post, I thought something lighthearted was in order.