Tutor profile: Nolan R.

What is the purpose of the reference interview?

The reference interview is essential to discovering what the patron is actually looking for. A good reference librarian will ask general questions to narrow down the subject area and the purpose of the information to the patron. A general question for art books might actually be a question for art history, painting techniques, opening an art gallery, how to become an art curator, or how to teach art to children. A series of thoughtful questions can narrow the patron's query down to the essential information being sought, even when the patron is unsure of what they are actually seeking.

Discuss the importance of literature to society.

Literature is important to society because it allows people to identify with others, imagine social constructs other than their own, and view the world beyond their own experiences.

Discuss Impressionism and the impact it had in the transition to the Modern Art movement.

Impressionism upset the art world by demonstrating that art could take many forms beyond the era of realism that preceded it. Impressionists were concerned with capturing moments of life and the how the light affected their subject. They painted traditional subjects such as still life scenes, landscapes, and portraits, but attempted to capture the life of the subject--the impression the viewer is left with--rather than details. This break from traditional art allowed artists to explore more open forms of expression and led to the beginning of the Modern art period.