I often receive e-mails from JMU students and faculty along with the occasional JMU alum. Only very rarely does a reference question from a complete stranger make its way to my inbox. This one came today:
Melissa,
Wuthering Heights was published in 1848 by Coolidge & Wiley in Boston and I am attempting to determine the exact date of publication. So far I have had no success.
One thing I would like to do is search Boston newspapers of 1848 and see if any has a column called "Books just published", a common subject of the period.
Can you help? I found you online.
Thank you, J** L******
The question itself is fine, but I'm slightly creeped out by the vague statement "I found you online." Found me where? How? And why me? :(
I'm debating ignoring the e-mail entirely.
3 comments:
Did this come to your personal email? I see that on the JMU Library website there is a form to fill out and submit in order to get help. How about directing this unknown person to use that official form. This would get at least one other librarian involved in the process.
Your mom stole my question.
It came to my personal work e-mail. The form goes to a general reference e-mail that is checked by whichever librarian is staffing the reference desk. I'm not sure I'm going to respond to him even to that extent...
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