----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I have "lurked" on this research question for some time and have also encountered it on other lists. The key definition here is "research", isn't it? Similarly, I feel uncomfortable attempting to stereotype certain questions as coming from students, ignoring them, while attempting to answer others that I think are coming from non-students. It is perhaps the electronic version of the letter that we have all seen that simply says: "Please send me a list of all the maps you have?" I'm tempted but I don't answer that one either! I must admit that I almost totally ignore a request that comes from someone who does not sign their name and therefore requires wasting listserv time. I agree with Alice and Joan but will assist someone on the Net if they show some review of research that they have already completed. There are reasons for periodical indexes - whether in paper or online - and I should not have to be the one searching these for someone just beginning their research. The "library without walls" is a concept that has many positive implications and yet the anti-technologist in me wishes to tell these people to "get to the library and slog through the paper and computers and learn something" since I am not here to spoon feed you! This is a serious issue and one not related only to the Internet. As GIS creeps into more libraries the expertise and experience required to produce maps will require more of our staff time. At what point do we cross the bridge from answering a reference question to actually doing the research? A lively discussion, on this very topic, was held one evening at the recent ARL training session in College Park and revealed several different opinions. Such discussions should continue. ***************************************************************** David A. Cobb PH (617) 495-2417 Harvard Map Collection FAX (617) 496-9802 Harvard College Library [log in to unmask] Cambridge, MA 02138 VE * RI * TAS *****************************************************************