So I've started a new job. Wait, scratch that. I've started a second job. I'm the new Library Media Specialist at a middle school in a rural town about an hour away from my house. Yes, I must love to drive because both of my jobs have a substantial commute (actually, I hate to drive, I just need to work and that's where I've gotten jobs).
My first day was last Wednesday and as the principal was showing me around the library it really sunk in that I was actually going THE LIBRARIAN. Me. Like the person in charge. I came in and already has messages from the Scholastic person on setting up a book fair. I'm going to have to discuss that with the principal and the secretary. Anyways. The crummy thing was is that there really were no instructions left for me. My second day I was there for 6 hours and was able to find barcodes and figured out how to add books to the system, but other than that I didn't really do anything. I can't check anything out to students because their information needs to be downloaded into the school library system. BTW the library software is weird. It's all separate programs.
The good thing though is I'm really appreciated. Lots of kids were knocking on the doors asking if I was open yet, and all the teachers that I met were really happy to see me and very friendly. The library hasn't been open since June and everyone is very anxious to have it open again.
The next two weeks are going to be a bit crazy due the part that I'm working both my jobs on the same days until my schedule at my public library can get figured out. I might die of exhaustion because I am SO NOT used to getting up at like 5:30-6:30 in the morning to be at school. That makes for a grumpy librarian. But I'm sure I'll get used to it.
Viva la library! :)
--Ms. Teenage Librarian
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Computers?
A lady came in the other day and wanted me to print out her house association CCRs. Great. I'm more than happy to. Until I saw that it was 87 pages. Then she wanted me to look through the document and find the specific pages that were to do with her issues. Not going to happen.
I'm not an attorney, I'm not familiar with legal issues (which is what she is dealing with) and I certainly did not feel comfortable picking and choosing what information she would "need". In the end I printed out the entire document and charged her for it. I remember her being the same lady that came in and wanted to print out an entire cell phone manual because she lost it. I believe that was somewhere around 200 pages... eek.
Another gentlemen came in today and wanted me to print out a bunch of articles on Jews. Great. But it was going to cost money. I told him that we could get him on the computer and stuff but he was another one that was just not "into" computers.
I understand that there is a gap between those who use computers and those who don't. And I would love to teach people, especially the older generation how to use the computers to their advantage, but on the other hand... I feel like they are never going to get it.
There are some people that it is just easier to do the work myself and give them the print out. I don't have the time to sit next to them, read the screen to them, and teach them how to use the mouse. It's frustrating when people don't know how to use the techonology, but I have to remember that I am lucky. I basically grew up with it and I use it every day. They didn't, but it's still a hard thing for me to deal with.
I'm not an attorney, I'm not familiar with legal issues (which is what she is dealing with) and I certainly did not feel comfortable picking and choosing what information she would "need". In the end I printed out the entire document and charged her for it. I remember her being the same lady that came in and wanted to print out an entire cell phone manual because she lost it. I believe that was somewhere around 200 pages... eek.
Another gentlemen came in today and wanted me to print out a bunch of articles on Jews. Great. But it was going to cost money. I told him that we could get him on the computer and stuff but he was another one that was just not "into" computers.
I understand that there is a gap between those who use computers and those who don't. And I would love to teach people, especially the older generation how to use the computers to their advantage, but on the other hand... I feel like they are never going to get it.
There are some people that it is just easier to do the work myself and give them the print out. I don't have the time to sit next to them, read the screen to them, and teach them how to use the mouse. It's frustrating when people don't know how to use the techonology, but I have to remember that I am lucky. I basically grew up with it and I use it every day. They didn't, but it's still a hard thing for me to deal with.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Can professionals use facebook?
I just read an article Facebook--cautionary tales for nurses: nurses need to be wary about what they post on social networking sites that talks about how nurses should be careful of what they post online. While the article mostly talks about patient confidentiality, it reminded me of a situation that happened at my library recently.
At my library we were had started to implement a wiki page in order for all the employees to be update on current situations in the library. As there are a lot of staff that are part time and on opposite schedules it can be difficult to make sure that situations with patrons or just issues in general are passed along to everyone. Wikis are part of Web 2.0 and we thought it would be a great way for us to have a centralized location that we could all look at . We even got the support and go ahead from our HQ. Then they decided that the wiki was not on a secure network and it could violate patron privacy. They needed to discuss the idea of a wiki and create a policy regarding it. It was unfortunate, but not surprising. Sometimes with all the new technology coming so fast, we just get excited and want to use it and implement it! And then we find out that it doesn't really work out for us.
We were all very bummed about it, because it really was a great way for all of us to keep informed about current goings-on in the library. In Stephen's article The Ongoing Web Revolution he talks about how libraries are using different technologies in order to communicate and create new relationships with their patrons. I think his ideas are great, but what is slow to catch up is the policy that goes along with all these new technologies. We loved our wiki, everyone thought it was a great idea, and it was. But in order for all these new technologies to be implemented, new policies need to be implemented as well. And we all know how long it takes for policies to be made and voted on and implemented, they just don't match up to the speed of technology.
Stephens, M. (2007). The ongoing web revolution. Library Technology Reports, 43(5), 10-14.
Thompson, C (2010, August). Facebook--Cautionary tales for nurses: nurses need to be wary about what they post on social networking sites. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 16(7), 26.
At my library we were had started to implement a wiki page in order for all the employees to be update on current situations in the library. As there are a lot of staff that are part time and on opposite schedules it can be difficult to make sure that situations with patrons or just issues in general are passed along to everyone. Wikis are part of Web 2.0 and we thought it would be a great way for us to have a centralized location that we could all look at . We even got the support and go ahead from our HQ. Then they decided that the wiki was not on a secure network and it could violate patron privacy. They needed to discuss the idea of a wiki and create a policy regarding it. It was unfortunate, but not surprising. Sometimes with all the new technology coming so fast, we just get excited and want to use it and implement it! And then we find out that it doesn't really work out for us.
We were all very bummed about it, because it really was a great way for all of us to keep informed about current goings-on in the library. In Stephen's article The Ongoing Web Revolution he talks about how libraries are using different technologies in order to communicate and create new relationships with their patrons. I think his ideas are great, but what is slow to catch up is the policy that goes along with all these new technologies. We loved our wiki, everyone thought it was a great idea, and it was. But in order for all these new technologies to be implemented, new policies need to be implemented as well. And we all know how long it takes for policies to be made and voted on and implemented, they just don't match up to the speed of technology.
Stephens, M. (2007). The ongoing web revolution. Library Technology Reports, 43(5), 10-14.
Thompson, C (2010, August). Facebook--Cautionary tales for nurses: nurses need to be wary about what they post on social networking sites. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 16(7), 26.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
No I in team...
I hate teamwork. I really do. I'm not a group project type of gal, I don't like to share my duties at work, I just don't like it. I like knowing that I'm the one that is responsible for the work and if it's not getting done it's my fault. I don't like having to rely on other people because for the most part other people let you down.
Now, I know that working on group projects and as a team with fellow students is a big part of the MLIS program. I get that and am willing to do it but not without being a little grumpy about it.
Enid talks about every problem I have with teamwork in her powerpoint "The Monster Inside Library School Student Teams". I hate the lack of control. I don't have trust. Blah blah blah.
But the reality is, teams are a part of life. Teams are good, they solve problems, they bring different sides to the table and the allow for different ideas to be fleshed out. The best advice I can think of for a team to work out is to communicate.
Rules need to be set at the beginning of the team. Everything needs to be planned out and expectations need to be voiced and agreed upon. Respect needs to be held for each and every member and support as well.
I remember being back in elementary school and doing a group science fair project. Our group decided that it would be best if we split up the work and then put everything together at the end right before it was due. It didn't work out very well, we didn't communicate to each other what was expected and what really needed to be done in order for our project to be successful. Luckily I have gained some experience since then. I think that I will be able to succeed in teams in library school, as long communication is at the forefront of our teams.
Now, I know that working on group projects and as a team with fellow students is a big part of the MLIS program. I get that and am willing to do it but not without being a little grumpy about it.
Enid talks about every problem I have with teamwork in her powerpoint "The Monster Inside Library School Student Teams". I hate the lack of control. I don't have trust. Blah blah blah.
But the reality is, teams are a part of life. Teams are good, they solve problems, they bring different sides to the table and the allow for different ideas to be fleshed out. The best advice I can think of for a team to work out is to communicate.
Rules need to be set at the beginning of the team. Everything needs to be planned out and expectations need to be voiced and agreed upon. Respect needs to be held for each and every member and support as well.
I remember being back in elementary school and doing a group science fair project. Our group decided that it would be best if we split up the work and then put everything together at the end right before it was due. It didn't work out very well, we didn't communicate to each other what was expected and what really needed to be done in order for our project to be successful. Luckily I have gained some experience since then. I think that I will be able to succeed in teams in library school, as long communication is at the forefront of our teams.
Just an FYI
I'm currently enrolled in a class for grad school that requires me to make a few blog posts. Because I'm lazy and did not want to create another blog just for that class I'm using this one. The next two posts will be assignments for that class.
To be honest, I've put off the last two assignments because they were requiring me to post on my blog and I was just feeling a little blog lazy. But now that the class is ending tomorrow, I need to get my last two assignments in.
To be honest, I've put off the last two assignments because they were requiring me to post on my blog and I was just feeling a little blog lazy. But now that the class is ending tomorrow, I need to get my last two assignments in.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
On a positive note...
Our frogs broke the "no having sex" rule in the library.
We're classy. Super classy.
Also! I found a 1970's People magazine in the library. The back cover had a cigarette ad with Tom Selleck. I love me some Tom Selleck. I put it in a plastic cover and hung it by my desk. My collection of men grew though. It now consists of not only Tom but Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Alan Rickman, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. I'm thinking of adding Mark Ruffalo but I'm not sure he would meet the minimum age requirement...
Sshhhh don't judge my man collection. It makes the library more happy.
We're classy. Super classy.
Also! I found a 1970's People magazine in the library. The back cover had a cigarette ad with Tom Selleck. I love me some Tom Selleck. I put it in a plastic cover and hung it by my desk. My collection of men grew though. It now consists of not only Tom but Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Alan Rickman, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. I'm thinking of adding Mark Ruffalo but I'm not sure he would meet the minimum age requirement...
Sshhhh don't judge my man collection. It makes the library more happy.
Not funny crazy
Dealing with the crazies is a part of the job description that is never mentioned. I think this mostly refers to public libraries but I'm sure academic and other libraries get their fair share as well.
Today was a BIG TIME CRAZY PEOPLE day. Now while most of the time I write blog entries to make light of the situations that I witness and the crazy weird people I encounter, I try not to make fun of them too much. This crazy person was a little too crazy for my liking... it was kind of sad and I almost feel bad for writing about it.
There is a lady that we call Babushka Lady. She has been in a few times before. I can specifically remember helping her, but I don't remember what I was helping her with. I do remember that she was very disoriented and did not seem to be "all there" when I was helping her. Anyway, she came into the library today and sat down in the picture book room with all of her papers and suitcase and everything spread out. She was blocking access to the shelves and was harassing a teen volunteer. She was informed that she would need to move to a table so that patrons and staff could access the books and she became very upset. I believe she was even name calling out ASL (Adult Services Libarian). Now after she moved to a table she started saying that she was missing her cell phone. Then she said that someone stole her keys and ID and that she had no way to get home. ASL called the county mental services and was referred to an older adult services entity. She started getting more outrageous and yelling so ASL called our local police office.
Now, normally when we call the police we kind of get a brush off. The only time I had ever had the police interested in what I had to say was when I was sitting outside on my break and some guy walked up to me and asked me if I wanted to buy drugs. (Super classy right?). But this time when we called the police they were very very very helpful. Officer KO came and talked with her and listened to her stories and complaints. He then made the effort to find out her living situation, call county services and request that a mental health professional come down to evaluate her. AND he stayed for 1.5 hours until said mental health professional made it to the library. Above and beyond in my book.. but probably just his job. Anyways Babushka Lady's family friend came and picked her up. She has a history of mental illness as well as a history of outbursts at different libraries in our system. She apparently had an outburst in a local library about 2 weeks ago and refused to leave and when she finally did continued to yell and scream at the library staff and spit on another person who tried to calm her down.
Now for the story's sake it would have been fun to say that she was carried out of her dragging and screaming and in handcuffs. But she wasn't. She was really calm. She was really apologetic. Her friend came to pick her up right about the time that the mental health professional arrived but the mental health service is going to follow up with her so that's good.
Most of the crazies I deal with are funny crazy. Babushka Lady is sad crazy and sometimes it's hard to deal with the sad crazy.
Today was a BIG TIME CRAZY PEOPLE day. Now while most of the time I write blog entries to make light of the situations that I witness and the crazy weird people I encounter, I try not to make fun of them too much. This crazy person was a little too crazy for my liking... it was kind of sad and I almost feel bad for writing about it.
There is a lady that we call Babushka Lady. She has been in a few times before. I can specifically remember helping her, but I don't remember what I was helping her with. I do remember that she was very disoriented and did not seem to be "all there" when I was helping her. Anyway, she came into the library today and sat down in the picture book room with all of her papers and suitcase and everything spread out. She was blocking access to the shelves and was harassing a teen volunteer. She was informed that she would need to move to a table so that patrons and staff could access the books and she became very upset. I believe she was even name calling out ASL (Adult Services Libarian). Now after she moved to a table she started saying that she was missing her cell phone. Then she said that someone stole her keys and ID and that she had no way to get home. ASL called the county mental services and was referred to an older adult services entity. She started getting more outrageous and yelling so ASL called our local police office.
Now, normally when we call the police we kind of get a brush off. The only time I had ever had the police interested in what I had to say was when I was sitting outside on my break and some guy walked up to me and asked me if I wanted to buy drugs. (Super classy right?). But this time when we called the police they were very very very helpful. Officer KO came and talked with her and listened to her stories and complaints. He then made the effort to find out her living situation, call county services and request that a mental health professional come down to evaluate her. AND he stayed for 1.5 hours until said mental health professional made it to the library. Above and beyond in my book.. but probably just his job. Anyways Babushka Lady's family friend came and picked her up. She has a history of mental illness as well as a history of outbursts at different libraries in our system. She apparently had an outburst in a local library about 2 weeks ago and refused to leave and when she finally did continued to yell and scream at the library staff and spit on another person who tried to calm her down.
Now for the story's sake it would have been fun to say that she was carried out of her dragging and screaming and in handcuffs. But she wasn't. She was really calm. She was really apologetic. Her friend came to pick her up right about the time that the mental health professional arrived but the mental health service is going to follow up with her so that's good.
Most of the crazies I deal with are funny crazy. Babushka Lady is sad crazy and sometimes it's hard to deal with the sad crazy.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Day of Weirdness
I love my job, I do. But sometimes the crazy and weird all converge on one day and it gets a little hectic!
I had a gentlemen come in who wanted to find an article about this man who was a veteran and drew comics about WWII. I honestly had no idea who he was talking about and he didn't have a name or anything, but I figured that I would be able to find out who he was looking for (Bill Maulden). Once I found the article that he was looking for, he began to tell me about Jesus. About how Jesus had told him to go visit Mr. Maulden in the hospital. And then he began to ask me about my beliefs and handing me tracts. "Do you know where you will spend eternity?" Now. I am all about people having the right to believe in whatever they want...but that's not an appropriate question for your lovely, local Library Assistant.
We also had one of our regular paranoid guys who is completely convinced that we are spying on him through the computer. That's why his e-mail never works and his print jobs never come out. Ugh.
Homeless lady who had a VERY animated yet quiet conversation with herself.
The man who called asking if we subscribed to a particular journal, which we did. But did not have access to the particular volume and edition that he wanted. When I asked if there was specific article or something that he was looking for, he said no and that he wanted the whole thing because he didn't know how long a journal was.. and why didn't we keep back issues of EVERY JOURNAL PUBLISHED!??!
The regular who was now harassing our patrons into signing petitions or registering to vote. When he was informed that he wouldn't be able to do that in the library, he contacted a lawyer who told him he could and he wanted to bring that to our attention that our policy was incorrect..
I think it all has to do with the full moon...
I had a gentlemen come in who wanted to find an article about this man who was a veteran and drew comics about WWII. I honestly had no idea who he was talking about and he didn't have a name or anything, but I figured that I would be able to find out who he was looking for (Bill Maulden). Once I found the article that he was looking for, he began to tell me about Jesus. About how Jesus had told him to go visit Mr. Maulden in the hospital. And then he began to ask me about my beliefs and handing me tracts. "Do you know where you will spend eternity?" Now. I am all about people having the right to believe in whatever they want...but that's not an appropriate question for your lovely, local Library Assistant.
We also had one of our regular paranoid guys who is completely convinced that we are spying on him through the computer. That's why his e-mail never works and his print jobs never come out. Ugh.
Homeless lady who had a VERY animated yet quiet conversation with herself.
The man who called asking if we subscribed to a particular journal, which we did. But did not have access to the particular volume and edition that he wanted. When I asked if there was specific article or something that he was looking for, he said no and that he wanted the whole thing because he didn't know how long a journal was.. and why didn't we keep back issues of EVERY JOURNAL PUBLISHED!??!
The regular who was now harassing our patrons into signing petitions or registering to vote. When he was informed that he wouldn't be able to do that in the library, he contacted a lawyer who told him he could and he wanted to bring that to our attention that our policy was incorrect..
I think it all has to do with the full moon...
Fun Questions From This Past Week
Do you know where you will spend eternity?
The computer is stuck. Can you unstick it?
Does the printer need more paper when the paper light is flashing?
Do you have to whisper all day?
What's a journal?
The computer is stuck. Can you unstick it?
Does the printer need more paper when the paper light is flashing?
Do you have to whisper all day?
What's a journal?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Too bad I'm already corrupted.
The other day I was working on the reference desk, you know, doing my thing. Answering questions, processing DVDs, watching the cute Kindergarten class tour the library. They were so cute, it was a local Christian school and they just look adorable with there little uniforms and everything. LOVE IT!
Anyways, the phone rings and I answer it and the caller is a gentleman who sounds either really nervous or really sketchy. I'm going to say nervous because...well.. it makes me feel better about the conversation if I think that he was honestly looking for information but was embarrassed/nervous about asking about it instead of getting his jollies asking about stuff.
So lets refer to him as Nervous Patron... or NP
NP: Uh Yea.. Uh hi.. I have a question.. and it's uhh well.. uhhh it's going to be pretty weird.. well uhh.... I'm looking for some books on this topic.. and it's kind of an old topic.. and I'm not sure you would have anything on it.. and um yea..
Teenage Librarian: Okay.. Well what are you looking for?
NP: It's kind of weird.. I mean..
Teenage Librarian: Don't worry, I've had requests for anything and everything before..
NP: Really? What was the weirdest thing?
Now.. I'm thinking we're getting a little off topic.. just spit it out!!!
Teenage Librarian: Um... people asking me for books on bicycles! (I don't know.. I get weird stuff all the time.. let's get on with it!!)
NP: Well.. it's kind of an old term, I mean it might not be in the catalog as this... it's umm it's um.... well.. cuckold.
Teenage Librarian: *blink blink* Okay.
Now.. here's the thing. I know what cuckolding is.. I do. But he was right, nothing came up in our library catalog under that term. Normally when that happens I google the term, find some other ways of putting it and then use those as search term. Minor problem with cuckold.. is that I'm pretty sure some not work apro-pro stuff would come up. So.. you see my problem.
Teenage Librarian: I'm not finding anything under that search term...
NP: Well, maybe search under polyamory? And maybe specifically interracial?
Teenage Librarian: Um. Ok.
NP: Yea... my wife starting working on the base and she's come home and is interested in this.. and I just want to understand the dynamics of it..
Teenage Librarian: Um. Ok.
NP: You just sound so young...
Teenage Librarian: Um. Ok.
Teenage Librarian: Yea, well I've found a book that has a bunch of different essays about different types of relationships including polyamory. Would you like me to hold it for you?
NP: Well, I don't want it under my name....
Teenage Librarian: Well I need A NAME to hold it under... so just give me a name...
NP: John Smith.
Teenage Librarian: Fine..
NP: Are you sure that this wasn't too weird.??
Teenage Librarian: No no.. is there anything else I can help you with?
NP: No.. I don't think so..
Teenage Librarian: Okay, thanks. Have a good day *click*
Oh the joys of the library!
Teenage Librarian: Okay.. Well what are you looking for?
NP: It's kind of weird.. I mean..
Teenage Librarian: Don't worry, I've had requests for anything and everything before..
NP: Really? What was the weirdest thing?
Now.. I'm thinking we're getting a little off topic.. just spit it out!!!
Teenage Librarian: Um... people asking me for books on bicycles! (I don't know.. I get weird stuff all the time.. let's get on with it!!)
NP: Well.. it's kind of an old term, I mean it might not be in the catalog as this... it's umm it's um.... well.. cuckold.
Teenage Librarian: *blink blink* Okay.
Now.. here's the thing. I know what cuckolding is.. I do. But he was right, nothing came up in our library catalog under that term. Normally when that happens I google the term, find some other ways of putting it and then use those as search term. Minor problem with cuckold.. is that I'm pretty sure some not work apro-pro stuff would come up. So.. you see my problem.
Teenage Librarian: I'm not finding anything under that search term...
NP: Well, maybe search under polyamory? And maybe specifically interracial?
Teenage Librarian: Um. Ok.
NP: Yea... my wife starting working on the base and she's come home and is interested in this.. and I just want to understand the dynamics of it..
Teenage Librarian: Um. Ok.
NP: You just sound so young...
Teenage Librarian: Um. Ok.
Teenage Librarian: Yea, well I've found a book that has a bunch of different essays about different types of relationships including polyamory. Would you like me to hold it for you?
NP: Well, I don't want it under my name....
Teenage Librarian: Well I need A NAME to hold it under... so just give me a name...
NP: John Smith.
Teenage Librarian: Fine..
NP: Are you sure that this wasn't too weird.??
Teenage Librarian: No no.. is there anything else I can help you with?
NP: No.. I don't think so..
Teenage Librarian: Okay, thanks. Have a good day *click*
Oh the joys of the library!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Oh the joys of my job
My poor blog! I just can't seem to keep up to date with it. That isn't to say that I don't have a lot of stories for it, I'm just extremely busy with life. I started working a second job which has nothing to do with libraries (although the customers could require their own blog) and it has left me with little to no time to do anything else besides work, work, and school. Speaking of school!! I will be graduating with my BA in Liberal Studies on May 15. I'm very excited because that means I can start my MLIS in September woot woot! :) But alas, for now I have 38 days filled with lame undergrad classes and my other job and dealing with the crazy patrons that we all know and love.
Today we had a lovely patron angrily inform us that there was no X button on our keyboards. Yes, we've systematically pried off the X key because we want to mess with you. (Actually not a bad idea hmmm).
I was also welcomed onto the reference desk with a smelly lady, a smelly old lady who was wanting my co-worker to look up recipes and TV show times. This was the same lady that asked me to look up all of the times that ice skating, snowboarding and the luge were being shown on TV for the Olympics. She kept telling me they were on channel 4. Not really understanding that my channel 4 is different that her channel 4 because shockingly there is different providers for cable. Weird. Anyways, she wanted the times for such high quality shows as Millionaire Matchmaker and Tough Love. She loves the hosts on those shows and just sung their praises. It's all very interesting. and smelly.
I also had the pleasure of dealing with our most demanding patron today. She came in and sat down in front of me, handed me a list and asked me if we had this one book. I looked it up and told her that we did have it in our fiction section under the author's last name. There was another title on her list and before I even had the chance to ask her if she'd like me to look up the other title as well, she snottily said "Well, are you going to go get it for me?" Now. I will go and get books for people all the time. I will go with people and show them around the stacks and take them to whatever section they are looking for. But I am not someones maid and I don't appreciate being treated as one. Especially with her holier than thou attitude. Grrr this is the same lady that was microwaving books and telling all of her friends to microwave books to kill the germs on them. Apparently Dr. Oz told them to do this. Well, maybe you haven't been to your local library in some time, but most libraries cover their dust jackets with nice PLASTIC covers. Guess what happens when you stick a PLASTIC COVERED book into the microwave? Yea. It totally happened. And the thing is, is the lady had checked out the book and loaned it to her friend and her friend returned it like that. She assumed responsibility for it, paid for it because it was checked out under her card, and then 2 days later called to complain and say that she wanted her money back because she didn't do the damage. UGH!
We also had crazy dog walker lady in today who even though she comes in every day and knows the rules, wanted to get back on to the computer. Apparently she was told earlier that she could and when she came to me I told her no (as per policy). So she then went shopping around to other people and finally got the ASL to let her on (most likely just to shut her up). So she was given a new reservation but then she complained about which computer it was!!!! Why you ask? It wasn't the one on end where the plug was. You see, she needed to plug in her motorized wheelchair (btw I REALLY don't think she needs it but that's a different story). "I don't even need to get on the computer, I would sit in the back and plug in my chair but someone is by the plug and now I need to sit here where there is a plug". WAIT A MINUTE, you just bitched your way into getting a computer, we finally give you one and now your BITCHING about what computer we give you. And then you tell us that you don't even WANT to be on the computer. You, my dear, suck. Hard.
As I was typing these out I was looking at another draft of a story that I started in February. Oh man is it a doozy! Can't wait to finish it and post it :)
Today we had a lovely patron angrily inform us that there was no X button on our keyboards. Yes, we've systematically pried off the X key because we want to mess with you. (Actually not a bad idea hmmm).
I was also welcomed onto the reference desk with a smelly lady, a smelly old lady who was wanting my co-worker to look up recipes and TV show times. This was the same lady that asked me to look up all of the times that ice skating, snowboarding and the luge were being shown on TV for the Olympics. She kept telling me they were on channel 4. Not really understanding that my channel 4 is different that her channel 4 because shockingly there is different providers for cable. Weird. Anyways, she wanted the times for such high quality shows as Millionaire Matchmaker and Tough Love. She loves the hosts on those shows and just sung their praises. It's all very interesting. and smelly.
I also had the pleasure of dealing with our most demanding patron today. She came in and sat down in front of me, handed me a list and asked me if we had this one book. I looked it up and told her that we did have it in our fiction section under the author's last name. There was another title on her list and before I even had the chance to ask her if she'd like me to look up the other title as well, she snottily said "Well, are you going to go get it for me?" Now. I will go and get books for people all the time. I will go with people and show them around the stacks and take them to whatever section they are looking for. But I am not someones maid and I don't appreciate being treated as one. Especially with her holier than thou attitude. Grrr this is the same lady that was microwaving books and telling all of her friends to microwave books to kill the germs on them. Apparently Dr. Oz told them to do this. Well, maybe you haven't been to your local library in some time, but most libraries cover their dust jackets with nice PLASTIC covers. Guess what happens when you stick a PLASTIC COVERED book into the microwave? Yea. It totally happened. And the thing is, is the lady had checked out the book and loaned it to her friend and her friend returned it like that. She assumed responsibility for it, paid for it because it was checked out under her card, and then 2 days later called to complain and say that she wanted her money back because she didn't do the damage. UGH!
We also had crazy dog walker lady in today who even though she comes in every day and knows the rules, wanted to get back on to the computer. Apparently she was told earlier that she could and when she came to me I told her no (as per policy). So she then went shopping around to other people and finally got the ASL to let her on (most likely just to shut her up). So she was given a new reservation but then she complained about which computer it was!!!! Why you ask? It wasn't the one on end where the plug was. You see, she needed to plug in her motorized wheelchair (btw I REALLY don't think she needs it but that's a different story). "I don't even need to get on the computer, I would sit in the back and plug in my chair but someone is by the plug and now I need to sit here where there is a plug". WAIT A MINUTE, you just bitched your way into getting a computer, we finally give you one and now your BITCHING about what computer we give you. And then you tell us that you don't even WANT to be on the computer. You, my dear, suck. Hard.
As I was typing these out I was looking at another draft of a story that I started in February. Oh man is it a doozy! Can't wait to finish it and post it :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Why I'm the mean one?
We have a really obnoxious patron who thinks that we are constantly spying on his computer doings. Or that we're controlling the computer from a remote location. Or that basically we just want him to fail. Anyways, one day he came back into the library in a tizzy because he had had a letter that he had typed up "stolen". He had only gone from the library to the Kinkos across the street and he was pretty sure that another patron had "stolen" his letter. But since he had already used his logon to the computer he was not able to get back on.
The policy is that people one get one logon to the computer for up to an hour a day. So I told him this (he knows the policy, but because he always has a "problem" he always needs to get back on, so he was expecting me to let him back on.) and when he realized that I wasn't going to put him back on (mostly because I felt like ticking him off because if I wanted to I could put him back on) he became very upset and asked for the manager. Now the manager wasn't there that day and the person in charge was another LA who has been here longer than I have and she was at lunch. When I told him such he said he would wait. For 45 minutes. In front of my desk. Glaring at me the entire time.
So off I went to go "ask" the person in charge what to do, in reality I went to the break room to have a cookie. And told me coworkers how my plan was backfiring because while I do enjoy upsetting the guy, I did not want him sitting here for 45 minutes. He won. :(
I came back and sweet as pie told him that I was now authorized to put him back on the computer, so I put him back on and then I set about discussing what to do about his "stolen" material. I told him that we would be more than happy to help him file a report for this "theft". His eyes lit up! (I'm assuming that he was very excited that someone was playing in to his paranoia) So I told him, "Great! I'll call the sheriff's station and have someone come down and meet you". You know in movies when they have music playing and then something happens and it's suddenly cut and there is the sound of the record being stopped and the needle scratching sound? It was like that. "Oh no.. I don't think that we should get the sheriff involved I just want to file a report with you at the library" annnnnnnnd the backtracking begins! :) "Well," I said "we don't file theft reports so if you'd like to file a report I'm going to have to call the sheriff..." "Oh.. well.. um I don't want to accuse someone wrongly..." Now in my head I'm thinking "YOU ALREADY DID! Why? Because you're nuts!!!" "Okay! Just let me know if I can help you any more"
And of course he messed up what he was doing, he didn't follow all the prompts for printing and thought he sent his material to the print station and he didn't but he had already logged off so I had to log him back on again. And of course he thinks that this is us deleting his material because we spy on him. Oh did I mention he wrote a book? It's pretty horrible and he bullied us into adding it to the system. I don't think it's been checked out once, except for when he checks it out himself or meets someone at the branch and tells them about it and basically forces them to check it out. I've seen it happen! Usually about halfway through the conversation with him the unsuspecting patron realizes that he may be a little nuts but they don't really have a good escape from him. So they check out the book and then return it either the next day or as soon as he leaves.
Did I also mention that he has to come in and sharper 20 billion pencils on our pencil sharpener every single day? And that he then has the audacity to tell us that our pencil sharpener is not sharpening as sharp as it used to. HMMMM I wonder why? Perhaps because you sharpen a billion pencils at once, and do it every single day??! We usually respond to his complaints with "Oh.. well that's unfortunate. We would have to have a new one donated to us.." HAH!
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