#I'm currently signed up for the advanced reference class next and I think I'm gonna get my advisor to change my plan

[okayto]

I'm in a reference class right now and I just get so irrationally angry about the requirements.

Like, obviously, the purpose of the class is to make sure all the theoretically-future (or sometimes current) librarians know how to actually look things up AND verify sources AND in a wide variety of subjects and topics. Yes, good, valuable, important.

BUT I hate it so much. I hate questions that sound like they came from an alien whose best human impression comes from old chatbots: "Who is Zora Neale Hurston? What is she known for? Does Sparkle Library have any of her books?" why are you asking the first two questions if you clearly know them enough to ask the third "What's this geologic feature I saw in town? What's its history? Where is it?" can I point you to Google Maps please "What is the meaning of the word fandom?" why am I required to find you four verified resources on a dictionary definition "Can you help me find articles about this topic" yes but our professor hasn't actually given us examples of how they'd 'verify' articles so IDK if this will work even though it's literally exactly how I'd do this in my actual library job where I provide reference services to college students.

#maybe it's that the prof wants things formatted in what feels like an unnatural way to me #like sorry if I cite Best Ref Websites 2003 to someone IRL I think that'd sound Dubious even if the site is still good 21 yrs later y'know? #I don't even know if I think there's a better way to teach this--I just hate the formality of it all #it feels so unnatural even though it's a valuable skill/knowledge #I'm currently signed up for the advanced reference class next and I think I'm gonna get my advisor to change my plan #because I will explode with another semester of this #library school #grad school #I am trying very hard not to assume I know things just because I already provide reference services #(especially since my job usually keeps to a fairly narrow type of reference) #but it's difficult when it feels like the alternative is 'Reference Provided by Exactly Zero Real Life People Ever'