Library Tales

2004-01-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2004

Well the computer classes start today and I am already in a panic. We are offering close to 200 classes at our Central location and 12 neighborhood libraries. I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn't stop thinking of all the things I needed to do today and for the next 14 weeks. So I am sleep deprived on top of stressed.

I've been registering patrons like crazy these past few weeks and it kills me when they don't show up. With the snow today, I am certain a lot of patrons will not come and want to reschedule. More phone calls.

When I started registering I had close to 400 patrons to call. I had never been so excited by a disconnected number because it was one less call to deal with. I used to be guilt ridden when I couldn't get a hold of someone. But after almost 5 years, I've mellowed.

Unfortunately, I still take it as a personal failure when attendance lags, or someone complains aout a trainer. When we thought the program would collapse without funding last month, I felt like my mission, my purpose had crumbled with the program.

So I am thankful for the stress and know that the classes are making a difference in people's lives.

2004-01-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2004

I thought I reached the end of my rope this morning only thirty six minutes into my day. But I took a 15 minute break and feel a world better. I know I am slowly turning into one of those librarians I would swear I would never be like. You know the one who seems continously irritated by everything and everyone. The Librarian who seems like might go over the edge the next time a patron asks a question. I am not sure when it happened. But I know it's happening. A regular patron came in on Monday and wanted to know if I was feeling better. He said last week when he called he didn't even recognize me when he called. He said I was irritable and cranky. "Really," I said, "I must have sounded like everyone else here then." He laughed and said, "I didn't say that."

So this is how it started. A patron approaches the Info desk and starts shouting his question at me before he even nears the desk. One of my pet peeves is when someone starts yelling his/her question at me from across the room. It's up there with people who try getting my attention by yelling, "hey you." But I digress. So, he asks if I can tell him what books he has checked out. "No, sir, once you've turned them in, we do not have any record of those items." Well, I need a book on grief and it was written by a woman, can't you find it? He has no recollection of the title, the author, but it was in the 200s, and isn't that enough? He's exasperated. Whatever it is about this guy is making me more irritable each minute.

There are some patrons who could have the same predicament. But I am already in a bad mood and his tone of voice or something is bothering me. It's like my nerves are a huge block of cheese and this guy is a grater. All I can think is how can I lose it on a guy who wants a book on grief. "Is it Kubler-Ross?" No. Then he remembers, it was a paperback. Well that helps. Our non-fiction paperback section isn't nearly the size of the regular stacks of hard covers. So I direct him to look at the paperbacks. Can't you help me. So we start walking to the paperbacks and he stops it our display books. "Was it a display book." No, but it was this size, picking up a small book from the display tables. "Did you find it on this table." Yes, it was this size. In my head I know he is confused by the display tables and I don;t know if he is really listening to me. Is it, yes it's a display book from this table or is it yes it was this size. "So it was a display book?" No, it's a paperback but I got it from this table. "Well, sir, the book may no longer be on display. These are chosen to highlight areas of the collection and are cycled pretty regularly." No, it was a paperback. "Ok, well the paperbacks are around the corner."

So we're in front of the non-fiction paperbacks, and he doesn't see it. Although to tell you the truth he seems to be spacing out. "Well it could be checked out by someone." He is upset. Why isn't it here. It was a 200. But he doesn't even seem to be looking at the 200s he keeps walking over to the 800s and I am losing it. And at this point the exchange gets so utterly confusing. Can't you help me find the grief books. "Sure, why don't we go to the stacks where the hard covers are we have a much bigger selection." Oh no, I don't want to be responsible for a hardcover. And that's when I mentally give up.

But my morning improved. I helped a man find an article from an old newspaper and showed him how to use the microfilm readers. And he was happy, and all is good.

2004-01-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

January 6, 2003

It's tax season. At least my last five phone calls have been for homestead forms. "No they are not in. We expect them end of January." Another three months of "where are the tax forms?" might drive me insane. Anybody ever heard of a reference question? Can someone actually have some sort of information need other than using the computers for chatting, chess, and porn?

2003-12-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2003
Well, it's been one heck of a day. I am working the Info desk right now, but my phone has stopped ringing and no one has a question to ask. The library is packed though. Like usual for a cold day in the midwest. So far I haven't had any one go ballistic, I haven't encountered any bodily fluids, and for the most part I haven't found myself close to passing out from the plethora of smells of a public library. So, it's been a good day.