Looking back, I am almost embarrassed at how little I have visited my local library since I left elementary school. It used to be a weekly trek for my mom, my sister, and I to get books and we went twice a week during the summer to their special programs they would have. Before my observation I had barely been inside the doorway in years (the doorway is where they sell used books and I always get sucked in when I am trying to waste time downtown.) I was quite amazed at how little it had changed except for the large row of perhaps 20-25 computers in the center. Every section was just as I remembered...even the same turtle lived in the same aquarium...in the same spot about the periodicals shelf.

The library seemed stuck in time, but the patron's obviously weren't. During my observation, 85% of the people that walked through the door promptly signed up for a computer terminal. The only reference questions they had were about the cost of printing and where the printer was located. Two patrons came in to use the fax machine, three returned books and hung around to discuss the impending snow storm this weekend, and one guy came in look at old yearbooks (the follow up to an earlier reference question on the phone.)

There were only two genuine reference questions that stuck out to me. One lady phoned in to ask what the title was for Dave Pelzer's brother's book (it was A Brother's Journey and his name is Richard Pelzer.) The other was quite a bit more interesting...but was already wrapping up as I got there. A lady had come in from Minnesota and was in Mount Airy for a limited time doing genealogy research. She was looking for a certain listing on microfilm, but all the other libraries she had called said they didn't have it. The librarian I was observing was able to locate the item in the Regional listing and found that it was located at the Surry Community College Library (where the lady had previously called and was told no.) We called them from the Yadkin Library and had them go actually check their holdings where it was listed as being, and they found it. The lady was so excited about finding the record and was very grateful for the help.