Interlibrary loan as a research tool for writers--I just want to call the Seattle library staff and ask them some questions about what's the most unusual request they've gotten, if they have tips for patrons, etc., and then to call the Farmington, NM library because a disproportionate number of the books I request come from there, and I want to find out why they have such a good military history collection.

That'll be good.

I don't have any trouble calling people for an article. People like to be interviewed. No one else in their life will ever listen to them the way you will. I basically have two personalities: Ginger the Intrepid Reporter, who can call anyone, and Everyday Ginger, who hates to talk to strangers.

I like that.

I hate cold calls. But this sounds like interesting research, so there's that. Also, erika, you're my hero--that sounds like a nightmare day for me.

Can you tell I once worked as an LDO, back in the misty reaches of time when there were such things? Every work day was a performance. We had a script, but we also got audited by supervisors, so mechanically following the script was as bad as not following it at all, in the push (at that time) for "customer satisfaction". Didn't help with the long-term cold-call aversion, though.

I had to call slaughterhouses/abbatoirs once for research and basically convince people to tell me how cows are slaughtered. After that, I never had phone fear again.

Very cool on the article, too -- a Writer's Digest credit would be lovely to have.

What is an LDO, Bev?

That stuff happened in the course of about two weeks, not one day. But, anyway, ma'am, I was just doing my job. In between using the Bible for rolling papers, of course.

Woof. Just wrote another 3300 words. ita shall have the first half of chapter ten for her plane ride.

Book is now at 48K and 225 pages.

blinkblinkblink

Just sent to Nic, to make sure I handled the jargon properly.

Arguably I just chickened out--I found a way to email rather than call. But I couldn't readily find a direct contact # for ILL, and I figured it was better to start the process by emailing each library's communications/general info office. Phone fear aside, it's just more efficient to email under those circumstances--instead of sitting there on hold while the receptionist shunts you around trying to find the right place, you can detail your request in the email, and hopefully the person on the receiving end can forward it to the right person.

That said, if I don't hear back within 24 hours, I'll have to gather up my courage and pick up the phone.

Susan, I totally understand where you're coming from. I've had a variety of jobs where using the phone was important and since it was my job, I had no problem making calls. But for my own personal use? I hate it with a passion. I'll talk to you until your ear comes off if you call me, just don't ever expect me to be the one to call.