Few Entertaining "Shows" at a Library...

SCENE 1:

Patron: I need to use Internet. Where are they?
I: You can use one of the three computers for quick 15 minutes access. Or if you need more than that, you can make reservation to use 1 hour or more with your library card using the computer where the young man is using.
Paton: But where is the internet computer?
I: ....................................

SCENE 2:

Student: I am looking for books on volcano.
I: Is it for school?
Student: No... I need books for homework...
I:........................................................

SCENE 3: Observation
It was MySpace that cause much of our headaches at the library with teens misbehaving (laughing out loud, fighting over who's turn to use, read out loud what's on (not very savory)) and now it is Facebook. Conclusion? Not the tool it is the people who use!

More scenes to follow in the future....  Can't really keep up with all those juicy and entertaining shows in the library... ;p

Don't think you are better than I and this town because I will show you where you belong!

I was reading one of the Blogs by my esteemed fellow librarians and one reminded me of few "incidents" I had with a couple of people. Mind you, I work at a community branch which it's sociology-economic level is pretty low....

SITUATION 1:

A woman came to the Information Desk wanting to apply a job working at a library. She had a pretty bad English, not the kind of English non-native speaker way of bad English, if you know what I mean..

Woman: how do I get a job working at a library?
I: what kind of job are you referring?
Woman: well, whatever there is..
I: (somehow I knew where it was going). Well, we have MCs who shelve books and Clerks who process materials and Assisi patrons checking out and returning materials. Clerk positions are Citywide position but currently City does not have any plan to give test for it.
Woman: what about your job Can I get it? ( the way she said was, I know I can do your job with my eyes closed)
I: ( ha! After I am done with you, you'll regret you ever came in today!!) Well, first of all you need to graduate High School ( I made it sound like she didn't even graduate from High School.. I know I was bad, but I can't stand people who look down on what I do!! Humph), then college and then Graduate School for Master's Degree. After that, you need to work as a Rank and File librarian for a while to have my job as a Branch Manager. Any other questions??
Woman: oh... ( and walked away)

SITUATION 2
A young college looking guys wanted about three titles for his English class.  One we had it on shelf and two checked out.  It was his attitude I didn't appreciate.  He had this astonished expression on his face regarding the fact that one of the books already checked out is actually checked out that he couldn't believe people in the Ghetto would actually read Heart of Darkness. 

He: What???  That book is checked out??  From here?
I: Of course it is checked out.  People read.
He: But from here?
I: (I just gave him the look but didn't respond at all..  what I wanted to tell him was, well, you are here in this Ghetto asking for the same book, aren't you, you little arrogant prick!!)

Library = free office supply store

Question to you all out there... When you walk out of your house do you always carry your ID? When you drive a car, do you always carry driver's license? When you go to school, do you carry at least a pen and a piece of paper?? When you mail something from the post office, do you 'buy' stamps?

Obviously, when people come to the library, they don't bring anything with them because the library should have everything to hand them out for free for them to keep.. Pens, pencils, papers, envelops, stamps, scotch tapes, staplers, rulers, file folders, floppy disc, highlighters, whiteouts, and etc... You get the picture... Of course we don't provide those services... So we say no, we don't have those... And guess what? They file complaints that we don't provide customer service for them because we don't go into 5 minutes to explain why we don't give out those 'critical' items in the library......

Why..... oh, why....

Well, it's been a while since I wrote my last entry....  You may think, oh, nothing really happened, I guess....  In truth, again, if I were to write everything, all my time will be spent writing on my blog... :DDD  Fortunately, there are many librarians' blogs out there that tell the library soap opera!!!

In my 14 years of career at a library, the most serious incident happened last week, Saturday exact....

It was around 4:50ish...  I was in my office (yes, I DO have my own office!!) and started closing some stuff I was working on the computer.  Then all of sudden I heard loud female voice almost to shouting and thought I heartd my name shouted out.  I was startled and walked out of my office and saw one of my MCs standing in front of an elderly woman screaming at this man in Spanish and the look on my staff's face was telling me something was really serious.

When I asked what was going on, my staff said the woman said the man exposed himself to a little girl.  When my staff told me, the man accused of lewd conduct started shouting back at her in English saying she was lying, all he did was pulling up his pants because it was falling down.  He was being falsely accused.  He was going to call the cops himself and file charges against her.

I knew instinctly he was an unsavory character and informed him that we would call the Police and he should stay until cops arrive and file charges.  He kept walking away from the woman and the woman kept shouting at him in Spanish.  And I kept telling him to stay until Cops arrive.  He pulled out his cell phone while walking toward the exit and he seemed to be talking to the cops.  All I could do was continuously telling him he should stay until Officers arrive but he kept walking and disappeared.

Then I knew he did what he did.  After I made a call to the Library Security, I went to talk to the woman via interpretation of my staff.  The girl had her head down on the table and obviously has been crying.  I asked her whether she was OK, and she nodded.  There were few other kids next to the desk and when I asked whether anyone saw what happened, one young girl said she did.  I asked whether she saw the man doing something he was not supposed to do to the other girl, and without hesitation she said "yes!".

GSD arrived and they went to talk to the grandmother and the little girl.  One of the officers came to me said they firmly believe he did what he did and they would pursue until they catch the pervert.  Fortunately, we knew of his first name but no last name nor any other information.  But one of the former Teen Volunteers knew him very well....  Hoping she would come back to the library and we are allowed to talk to her to get the information...  Or better, that useless pervert, air theif will walk into the library like nothing happened and have his sorry ass arrested right in the library!!!!!

Well, now matter went above my head (paperworks and report are sent) and hopefully the 4th floor will deal with this properly...  The only thing I am worried about is the wellbeing of that little girl...  But I am hopefull because she had enought clear sense to get her grandmother's attention right away instead of waiting for that bastard completely disappear without getting our attention to the matter....

Well...  one aspect of a life in the public.....

Did I force you to return materials late with fees over $50.00???

A teenage boy (or perhaps he is 19 or something but still..) approached me when I was still on the phone helping a patron..  Here is what happened....

I: (on the phone) Ok, what was the title again?  (typing) ok.. ok... OK, Would you hold on a second?
Teen: Excuse me Excuse Me (this was happening while I was talking on the phone!  So some of you already know me, that is my BIGGEST Petpeeves!!! Obviously, he will have to wait a LLLLLOOOOONNNNGGGG before I turn my attention!!)
I:  (got the book and finished help the lady on the phone.  Meanwhile he disappeared!)
.
.
.
.
(after a while, he reappeared)
He: Well, the library keeps bothering my house I owe money.  I want to pay it with DVDs.
I: Excuse me?  What do you mean you want to pay it with DVDs? (of course I knew what he was trying to do!)
He: Ok.  I owe money and I want to bring new DVDs for fines.
I: Sorry but it doesn't work that way.  If you own fines for late returning, you need to pay fines.  You can't substitute.
He: Who do I need to talk to?
I: I am the one you need to talk to.
He: Who do I need to talk to bigger than you?
I: (Now you are pushing my button) When it comes to fines that owed to this branch, I am the only one you need to talk to.
He: What about to other library?
I: Since the materials belong to this branch, I am the one who makes the decision.
He: But I want to bring new DVDs instead of paying fines!
I: It doesn't work that way.  If you owe fines, you pay the fines. (You bloody idiot!!  With that attitude, even though it is under my discretion to do so, but in your case, I am doing it by the BOOK!!)
He: (he just stopmed away from the Ref desk cursing in Spanish!!  Yes, I've around long enough to know what they say!!!)

Note to others: If you want me to do something nice to you, such as work with you on fines, have nicer attitude and make me feel I have the ultimate power to do so and be thankful that I am doing it for you!!  If you demand? Guess what?  You will pay every single penny that's on your card!!!!  And another  note, that's the most important fact!!  No one, I repeat NO ONE forced you to keep items longer than due dates!!!

Another Brilliant Mind regarding Restroom Key

A nicesly dressed sharp looking young woman (and a tutor..  I should've guess by her questions following this introduction!) approached the Reference Desk this morning...

Woman: Where is the restroom key for women?
I: Where the sigh says "Restroom Keys."
Woman: I don't see it.  Where is it?
I: (Literally staring at her and felt my smarta$$ attitude starting to come out) I wouldn't know where it is if it is not there.
Woman: Well, if it isn't here, how am I supposed to go to the restroom?
I: (Seriously???  I wanted to tell her, well, if you don't see it, where do you think it is??)......  Perhaps, someone is using it already??????
Woman: Hmph! (and walked toward the actual restroom to wait outside!)

Yeah....  And person like HER is teaching the children.....  Brilliant, isn't it???

Back to the reality

Well, three days of Conference in SD is over..  Technically still going on, but for me at least...  Wanted to stay one more day, but kind of wanted to have one day to just relax and take care of some things back home....

It was really good to see some of my colleagues who share the same concern/problems/visions in person, at least every 6 months.... 

I ran into two friends at the Exhibit whom I've known for over 10 years but kind of lost touch..  One who moved out of the state and the other I've known outside of the profession also...  I think that is why I keep going to Conference even spending my own money not only to learn and discuss professional concerns but also to meet old friends and to make new ones who understand each other, professional at least at first and eventually blossom into real friendship....

Well, the next one will be in N'awlines, one of my favorite cities....  Very excited...