LIBRARIAN (British, Male): Hi. Is there anything I can help you with?
STUDENT (British, Female): Yeah, I hope so. I’ve spent hours looking for a book for my research project.
LIBRARIAN: All right. Why don’t you give me the title and I’ll check our system.
STUDENT: Uh, here it is on this piece of paper. It’s written by an author named Jack Greenwich.
LIBRARIAN: Hmm. It doesn’t look like we have it, I’m afraid.
STUDENT: How is that possible? It’s one of the most popular books out there in the field of urban sociology.
LIBRARIAN: I’m sorry, but I’m not the one in charge of ordering the books. Could you check another library, perhaps? Nearby universities might have it, and I can put in for an inter-library loan if that’s the case. It would only take 2 to 3 days to arrive.
STUDENT: Well, I suppose so. But don’t you think that our library should have such important materials?
LIBRARIAN: I understand your frustration. May I suggest that you make a formal request to the library to order the book?
STUDENT: I can do that?
LIBRARIAN: Oh, absolutely. We actually rely on requests from students and faculty, as you are the ones who know what materials would be most useful. I believe we receive something around, oh, 900 requests per year. And I would say we are able to fulfill around 60 percent of them.
STUDENT: When are requests not followed through with?
LIBRARIAN: A material…you know, a book, journal, or something…needs to have an evidenced demand so that the library knows the expense is worth the while. If there’s an out-there title that maybe one or two students might find interesting, it’s not really worth using our resources.
STUDENT: I see.
LIBRARIAN: Also, there are some materials that are simply inappropriate. I remember once a student requesting a photograph book of Led Zeppelin. And while I’m a personal fan, it’s hard to argue for the academic need of such a book.
STUDENT: Well, I certainly feel that this book would pass the test.
LIBRARIAN: Indeed. You can start the request process by filling out this form.
EXAMINEE GETS A 30 SECOND BREAK TO REVIEW THE QUESTIONS FOR THE SECOND PART OF DIALOGUE B
STUDENT: How can I make sure this request is successful?
LIBRARIAN: I recommend a few different strategies. One is to research what courses that this book could be useful for. Make a list of the courses and submit it with your request form.
STUDENT: There are a lot of courses on campus.
LIBRARIAN: Yes, but you can narrow them down to related subjects. It shouldn’t take too long.
STUDENT: All right.
LIBRARIAN: I also suggest speaking with professors who regularly teach those courses. Get them to vouch for the book, or even to make the request themselves. Usually, if a professor makes a request, it’s granted without question.
STUDENT: So, if more than one professor were to make a request then…
LIBRARIAN: Well, there you have it.
STUDENT: I can talk with the professors from my department. I know for a fact that one of them has mentioned the author in class.
LIBRARIAN: Very good, then.
STUDENT: Are there any other ways?
LIBRARIAN: Um, if you can’t convince some professors to get on board, then another option is to collect data on the book’s popularity at other libraries.
STUDENT: At other universities, you mean?
LIBRARIAN: That’s right. Other university libraries. Even public libraries. You just need to get some statistics on, oh, how often the book is checked out, how many copies each library has…anything that will show how useful the material is.
STUDENT: OK. Is that information easy to get?
LIBRARIAN: Quite. Just call or visit libraries and ask for the information.
STUDENT: And I just hand all of this in with the request form?
LIBRARIAN: Yep. It’s that easy. Then you’ll hear back from us within two weeks with an approval or a rejection.
STUDENT: Fair enough. I’ll get working on it right away.
LIBRARIAN: Let me know if I can be of any help.