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If you talk to a number of librarians, they’ll tell you some of the most dreaded questions for many of us involve things such as “Does this look infected?”, “I have a cold/flu/Strep/stomach virus/black lung, is it contagious?”, or similar medical-themed inquiries. I beg of you: ask a doctor, not a librarian. Or at least ask it over the phone.
But! for when need be, a handy-dandy reference guide such as Answering Consumer Health Questions : The Medical Library Association Guide for Reference Librarians is a relief. But you know, it isn’t just a librarian’s perusal tool. Much like questions related to law, librarians aren’t always in the proper position to dish out medical advice, so library users may benefit from a flip-through or two of a guide like this. Michele Spatz guides her audience through resources, procedures, and limitations of what can be done by librarians. Remember: just because librarian’s have all the answers doesn’t mean they won’t use common sense in dolling out the wisdom.
