I became a librarian partly because I have a terrible memory. I knew that I’d do well in a field where it was acceptable to look things up frequently. This is helpful when my kids ask me questions.

I indulge their inquisitive nature by looking up answers from trusted resources. Sometimes, they give me the toughest questions when I’m in no place to look them up. Usually it’s when I’m driving.

I get questions from my son, the scientist: How hot is the sun? What fish swims the fastest? How many kinds of tomatoes are there in the world? I also get questions from my daughter, the philosopher: Who made God? Why are some people not nice? And always, everything begins and ends with “why?” These are not questions that can be quickly answered while driving to school.

Thanks to the wonders of technology and in my car’s bluetooth adapter, we can call The Answer Line any time. To my kids, “I don’t know” is an unacceptable answer from a librarian mother. My son knows to ask for The Answer Line. My daughter asks why I don’t know anything.

The Answer Line has been around for more than 20 years for quick answer reference. They’ve tackled crossword puzzle questions, settled bar bets and kept patrons updated during storms when libraries are reporting closures. There is even a special red phone at the Library Connection at Crossroads that will connect you directly to The Answer Line for any tough questions. The staff is smart and quick and I’d be honored to have any of them on a trivia team.

The nature of the questions received continues to evolve and the most popular is help with ebooks. Every year, after the holiday season, patrons across the county call The Answer Line for help in downloading books to their new Nook or Kindle.

Recently a substitute teacher called between class periods to get an exact literary definition for the word “hyperbole” because she had to teach it in the next class. “I knew I could look it up,” she said, “but there wasn’t time. I knew Answer Line could tell me quickly.”

Ever wondered how many left handed presidents the U.S. has had? Don’t ask me. I’m calling The Answer Line.

The Answer Line is available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. You can reach it at 425-462-9600.

Darcy Brixey is the teen services librarian at the Bellevue Library. She’d like to tell you she loves to read, but it’s an expectation of the job.