Are questions about finding specific types of libraries on topic?

There have been a couple questions today about wanting to find a specific type of library for a specific purpose.

I find that these questions aren't too useful, considering it is going to vary widely based on where the asker is located, and what specific thing they are looking for - it seems like these sorts of questions would be too localized, or not constructive.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Ashley Nunn

• discussion
• scope

Comments

• dsalo: I've seen other Stack Exchange properties handle this, at least in part, by turning commonly-asked "type" questions into wiki pages. (See e.g. the bicycling site's wiki page about bicycle transport on public transit in cities worldwide.) Would that be feasible for the questions you're seeing?

Answer by KatieR

While geography is a factor with specific libraries, Interlibrary Loan can be very useful in overcoming that barrier, as well as directly contacting the library itself.

I think it is important to know what libraries are in existence because often times the smaller and very specialized libraries are the ones that get overlooked and forgotten. By creating and answering questions about specific types of libraries and their purpose, we are collecting this information into one place which is the purpose of stack exchange.

So, I think it is important to ask and find specific libraries of specific types.

Comments

• Jakob: It is important to know how to find specific libraries of specific types. But this is *one single question* that should not be repeated.
• Kode: I think this begs the question "What can we provide that a google search can't?" The answer, I think, is not much. Part of being a library is promotion and to that end I can't think of a reason for a library not to have a web presence of some kind in this day and age.
• Joe: @Kode: Well, with that argument, who needs librarians? Google search can do it all, right?