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October 26, 2009

Librarians with computers are remarkable

By Liz Ciancone The Tribune Star Mon Oct 26, 2009, 07:57 PM EDT

I’m here with an update on Najwa bin Laden’s book.

I should have known that the Vigo County Public Library could find the information for me. Anyway, Laura Mitchell from the Reference Department of VCPL located it and sent it via e-mail. I now know the name of the book, Najwa’s co-author (it’s the boy, Omar), the name of the translator and the date of publication. I don’t know if the library owns a copy, but if not they would get me a copy through interlibrary loan.

“Osama’s Wife & Son Take Us Inside Their Secret World” was translated by Jean P. Sasson, and made available to those of us not fluent in Arabic, earlier this year. Ms. Mitchell tells me that while Najwa may have written other books, there are none indicated in translation, so it seems likely this is the book I was wondering about.

Apart from gratitude, I feel a degree of wonderment at the many things our local library can dig out for those of us who are not adept at the computer. I assume she used Google. I have heard about Google, but until recently I thought it was a new candy bar. It turns out that it is a veritable encyclopedia of information on almost any topic. I’ve seen the word at the top of my computer screen, but ignored it.

This should give you a clue that I haven’t a clue when it comes to computers. When the Tribune-Star first went to computers in the newsroom, I almost retired. But, I figured that I wasn’t a complete idiot (only semi-complete and stubborn) so I’d give it a try. I mastered enough computer savvy to write and send my stuff and, essentially, that’s still where I am.

I go to the library to request a reserve book and marvel that the librarian can twiddle a few keys and have the job done in a matter of seconds. Libraries, and librarians, are remarkable.

I watch my son do the twiddle thing and bring up maps and pictures! No. 1 grandson is currently an exchange student in Shimonoseki, Japan, and his Dad showed me (on MY computer — who knows what else is in there!) a map of the town and was even able to zero in on the university and the apartment complex where Jack is living!

So, for now, I am stunned at the miracle and shall be departing to go downtown to reserve Najwa’s book and to thank Laura Mitchell for going to the trouble of finding it for me.

I should know better than to underestimate librarians!

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Liz Ciancone

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