reference
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Finding Potter’s Field: Indigent Burial in the United States
A patron recently called the library to ask what happens when someone dies without means to pay for cremation or burial. In some cases, such a person might have no living relatives. In others, the identity of the deceased is simply unknown. Here’s what we learned: Continue reading
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January Question of the Month – an irregular series
The reference librarians at Seattle Public Library are pretty darn amazing. They don’t know everything, instead they know where to find everything. As part of an irregular series of posts we salute the talented and dedicated reference staff at your local library. Names and other identifying information have been removed from the questions we showcase.… Continue reading
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Historical Statistics of the United States: A portrait in very small strokes
This amazing compendium must warm the heart of any reference librarian. Historical research generally creates portraits of events and eras in very broad, sketchy strokes. The image is there, but depicted in terms of ‘trends’, or ‘patterns’ which wash away the minute differences that are reflected in peoples’ lives. This historical approach is not… Continue reading