If you are of a certain age, you may remember calling 411 when you needed to find a phone number. After all it was quick, easy, and best of all free. I guess you can still call 411, but it is no longer gratis. Which probably explains why librarians get so many calls at the reference desk requesting phone numbers (really). When this happens, the site this librarian turns to is AnyWho. AnyWho is basically an online phone book that is maintained by AT&T. As long as the person's number isn't unlisted, you should be able to find it. The site also contains yellow pages for business numbers, a link to international "phone books", area codes for the U.S. and Canada, and a reverse look up feature. If you have never used reverse look up, you might want to try it; just because it is that amazing. Well, maybe not amazing, but it is a cool feature. Let's say someone calls you and you see their number on your caller ID, but no name attached. To find out who this mystery caller is: log on to AnyWho, click on the reverse look up tab, type the number into the box provided, and click find. If that person has a listed phone number, their identity will be revealed!
I hope you have enjoyed this weeks Librarian Secret. The next time you need a number and don't want to pay the 411 fee, try AnyWho or call your local library. :)
FL
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12 comments:
Gee...I didn't even know that now charge for 411 calls! I need to get out more.
It depends on your phone service, but most charge. Thanks for the comment!
I always liked http://people.yahoo.com . It searches phone number, email, and by name.
I like that one, too.
Hi,
Thanks for visiting my blog! Your blog looks fantastic. I added it to my blog roll and look forward to reading it every week.
Have a great weekend,
Jess (Barney's Book Blog)
Thanks, Jess. I plan to visit yours as well and have added you to my blog roll!
That's a really cool tip! I would have never guessed that, that's for sure. When I worked at a bookstore, lots of folks would call us requesting phone numbers to local businesses... which I never really understood. Maybe since the library has the information available, they thought that we would, too? Makes more sense now! :)
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Jess, Thanks for visiting my blog. I really like yours and the books that you've reviewed, I'm interested in every title you have so far. Will be stopping back to visit again soon : D
BevE
Merry Weather
Hey Bev, I am the Forgetful Librarain. I think Jess is at Barney'
s Book Blog. Maybe you just got the names mixed up? Anyway thank you for visiting my site. I enjoyed your site as well.
I can't believe people call the library to get phone numbers. Amazing! I appreciate knowing about AnyWho. Bookmarked the page.
Yes, they do. Librarians don't mind though, its part of the job of giving good reference service. Thanks for visiting!
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