Exciting new feature for Rabid Librarian fans

I have been inspired by Bubby, whose blog is a sort of question-and-answer format akin to advice columns. I was falling asleep last night, thinking of how to turn that to good use for a librarian, and came up with...

Dum, dum, dum.

Rabid Reference. Yes, this is your opportunity to ask a reference question of an information professional and have it published here. Do you know how often I've watched people in various libraries do anything short of hanging themselves in the rafters to not ask the nice librarian the very question burning in their hearts? I don't know if this is shyness, intimidation (strange that, like nuns, librarians are seen as unassuming, retiring, and intimidating all at once; it must be from those images of horn-rimmed harridans sneaking up in crepe soles). So I thought it would be nice to have someplace to go on the net where you can ask without having to endure this. I won't identify those asking a question with any names, etc. (feel free to supply an appropriate monniker). The e-mail for submissions is:

rabid.reference@gmail.com

Now...as to, as they say in Fairly Odd Parents, 'Da Rules'.

1. Your question must have an answer available through standard means (Internet, books, etc.) I obviously can't come up with the answer to what brand of underwear you wear unless I know you very, very well (and there are only about three of you out there I can claim that of). Also, I don't have access to lots of fancy schmancy databases. If it's in something free--like Medline, of stuff I can get as a Kentucky citizen through the Kentucky Virtual Library, fine. But if it is something I don't have access, but know how to get, I'll at least point you to where you can get it (like your public or university interlibrary loan).
   
2. Please make sure you actually use a real e-mail address. I won't do anything beyond reply with the address, honest. But in librarianship we have this nifty magic thing called a reference interview. It allows us to find out what you really want/need, even if you don't really know yourself. Sometimes people ask the wrong question entirely. Sometimes they ask things like: what was the name of the red book I liked so much as a kid? Obviously more info is needed to give you a good answer.
   
3. What we're talking about here is ready reference. This is the bulk of a reference desk's questions (more in-depth than 'where is the bathroom' but not providing the bulk of research for your thesis, which after all, you should be doing.) As in: fact, source, everybody's happy.
   
4. The nice thing about this, though, is that reference questions are, by their nature, small bits of weirdness. Things that are totally off the wall to some are really, really important to others. I won't dismiss any request without reason, although given the fact that this isn't an X-rated site, I'll feel free to weed out any obviously lewd, spurious, or just plain annoying e-mails, as well as spam. On the other hand, if you have a drastic need to know what vulvodynia is, that's entirely legitimate. If the number stays manageable, I'll post them here. If not, I'll at least try to respond privately. Points will be given for particularly interesting topics or stumping the librarian (a rare thing, currently with only one person managing, of all things over the meaning of a surname...but hopefully a trip to the library will change that...I'm beginning to twich everytime I pass the name on a sign. Who knew it was so common here in Kentucky?--although apparently nowhere else!)
   
5. It also means that if it's not something out there on the Net, then it will be indexed here for someone else searching.
   

Okay, feel free to run amok! (Oh, gee, what have I let myself in for?)