What is Al Qaeda? Who are the Taliban? The Sept. 11 attacks blindsided Americans, sending many on a search for answers.

One logical place to turn: the library. Christine Bardwell, a librarian with the Boston Public Library, was there to help the curious – as she has done for more than nine years.

The reference staff anticipated the onslaught of inquiries about Afghanistan and US foreign policy, says Ms. Bardwell, speaking softly from her desk on a hot summer day. People were hungry to know more about terrorism, US foreign policy, Arab-Israeli relations, Iraq, biological warfare, and, of course, Osama bin Laden.

"Many people would ask about the burqa," she says, as well as the overall dress code in Afghanistan. They wanted to know what happened when a woman violated the laws of the Taliban. They learned that if a woman revealed part of her ankle in public, she would probably receive a beating. Or if a woman wore nail polish, the tip of her finger might be cut off.

"People also asked about fiction," adds Bardwell, with a hint of surprise in her voice. One of her recommendations: George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman." "It is a historical novel which takes place primarily in Afghanistan during the Afghan rebellion of 1842," she explains. "People liked it for its bawdy humor and for references to places in Afghanistan."

At first, Bardwell was apprehensive about working in a public building. "I was fearful that this may be a target," she says. Security at the library was tightened. Up until last month, all bags were checked. (Now, the security staff reserves the right to inspect bags on a case-by-case basis.) The library's health and safety committee confirmed a solid evacuation plan.

Today, she says the interest in the war on terrorism has waned a bit. But as always, Bardwell and the reference staff stand ready to recommend reading that will help the public better understand their increasingly complex world.

– Kirsten Conover, photo by Stuart S. Cox Jr.