ABSTRACT
Public libraries can vary from one-room buildings serving homogeneous populations to municipal libraries serving our largest and most diverse populations. A medium-sized public library in a thriving suburb, situated near several colleges, will have more in common with a midsized university than with a rural public library. Jennifer McCarthy wrote as a transplant from a large, metropolitan public library to a university library. Librarians were asked to name the type of library they were in prior to their transfer to academic libraries. The largest group of respondents came from public libraries. The academic library position often requires subject knowledge, so information was obtained about the educational preparation of librarians who handle business reference. Many business librarians, or those generalists who must handle business reference, reported that few library schools offer good courses covering business sources and services. Many librarians are not tempted to take these courses until they need them.
