Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
Walls don’t only separate and defend. We support, both structurally and (in my case) emotionally. Still, if you insist on thinking of walls as only separating or defending, I would say that I certainly defend the books and people in this building from the elements. I separate levels of the building from one another (what is floor but a sideways wall?). I defend intellectual freedom and anonymity and support those who wish to learn.
Aaaawwww, thanks! Glad to know I’m A Great Wall. One of my assistants just visited my cousin in China, THE Great Wall. (Psst, don’t tell anyone, butI learned something from my assistant. The Great Wall’s name in Chinese is “Long Wall,” not Great Wall. More accurate, eh? But not quite as grand.) Here are a few pictures of Long Wall.
I’m a Wall. I ascribe to the philosophy, “Don’t just do something, stand there.”
1. It’s a common request. Watch this space for future opportunities. 2. They ain’t payin’ me.
(Wizard of OZ voice): I am The Answer Wall.
Love found, to love, and to embrace love. I never want love to end, and it doesn’t need to end, although it may morph into other forms of love over time. (P.S. impressive post-it printing)
Hey! Welcome to BC! I think you’re pretty cool too.
![UNSUBSCRIBE [Response: Unsubscribe]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aw040419-3.jpg)
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![Text me ;) [redacted phone number]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/aw040219-1-1.jpg)
I love a friendly invitation! But this Wall has a strict rule about sharing personal information. I can’t know whether a phone number is shared in earnest or as a cruel joke, so in an excess of caution, I remove all personally identifying information.
But then what would I do? I don’t have thumbs to twiddle. No, but seriously, watch for some opportunities for you (and others!) to provide answers later this semester.
What suggestions do you have for things you would like to see at the library?
All great ideas! Keep ’em coming! I’ll pass them all along to people who might be able to make something happen.
Seeing as this post-it was located on the stairwell bannister, perhaps you love the bannister? I *think* the bannister loves you, too. It’s hard to tell. Bannisters & walls speak linguistically unrelated languages. If you meant me, well, (blush) I love you, too. If you meant someone else entirely, I hope the love is requited.
Thank you, it’s good to hear these answers are helping. And I agree, UCS and the Dean of Students office are full of professionals who really care about students’ welfare.
Why, thank you! I answer the questions, of course. But I get a lot of help from my assistants, who come from all over the BC Libraries (and ITS), and people in all the departments and offices over campus – and beyond – who take the time to give me info when I reach out to them.
Yes, this is all anonymous. I will never punish anyone for asking questions here. The only questions that are out of bounds are ones that betray the anonymity of non-public figures or use language that could harm someone, and my response to those questions is to redact the problem material, not to punish.
I have a pretty big team of helpers who advise me on what to say, and who do the printing and blogging. So it’s not very much time at all for me, and not a huge amount for any one helper.
I am only sorry for your own sake that you spend so much time talking to a wall. (Metaphorically speaking.) I will pass along whatever information my assistants are able to glean.
I will do the best I can. I’ve had my assistants contact offices who might have some answers, but you will likely need to do some follow-up work to get more complete ones than will fit on a post-it.
I’m sure you’ve heard that thing before about the probability of a thousand monkeys with typewriters eventually producing all the works of Shakespeare? Well, it’s not like that. This library employs librarians, not monkeys. Librarians might not be as fun as monkeys, but they do know how to find answers, such as how to use a Word template to print onto post-its affixed to pieces of paper, and which font (courier) most closely resembles typewriter font. I’m cute? Gosh. Now I’m blushing.
It would be so great if that were what was going on, but I’ll believe it when I see the check. If it comes I might spend a little to spruce up my nook here, but it would mostly go to fund scholarships, particularly for international students. As for your billion? Well, we’ll see.
