Library Life December 2023
by amandamae · 19 things on Twos
- When you ask your coworker for the status update as you take over a service desk and they point out the patron who's having "a very bad day," that patron has yelled at two co-workers already and you might be next (I managed to dodge that bullet)
- a regular patron started to loudly talk to himself, arguing with himself by the sound of it, and walking through all the students who are studying for finals. We didn't have to kick him out - he left on his own accord, talking loudly to himself the whole way
- I just learned, along with the patron who called, that “mazel tov” is Yiddish and “mazal tov” is Hebrew, so either can be correct
- This library has no less than FOUR accordion players on staff and I think that’s beautiful
- I just spent 10 minutes talking a woman through how to get to the library. She was RIGHT THERE but then proceeded in the complete opposite direction and I had to talk her through going around the block. The whole time she had a tone of not believing me, and thinking our building didn't exist. Eventually she found her way to our building and said she just got to town, had her luggage in tow, and was waiting for her friend to get her. “Well you’re having a day! Come on in and get warm!”
- Ugh. Got another gross guy who called the library to get his rocks off by whoever answered the phone, which was me. He asked how to get a library card, normal question, I heard some heavy breathing, and then he thanked me for having such a lovely voice. I hung up. This is the only place I’ve worked where this happens.
- I can't tell if GenZ doing FaceTime in public areas is more annoying than Boomers on speaker, but it's up there for sure
- Our current problem patron has now come up to the reference desk twice in five minutes to insist that it is Sunday, NOT Friday, despite the newspapers stating that it is Friday.
- There's an odd smell in the circ workroom, being described as either burning plastic, or old bandaids. Maintenance is called to investigate. Turns out it's parts for the Bookmobile (tire chocks) that are being stored in our workroom until the new year. So, that's lovely.
- Patron overheard me assisting another patron (who doesn't speak or read much English) with a job application, and suggested a translator through the local job office would be a better help for her. Well, we've tried to guide this particular patron to the local job office that does have translators, and she keeps coming back to apply for jobs at the library.
- A patron is trying to coordinate picking up something a friend is going to leave with the volunteer at our Friends bookshop, but there's been some miscommunication and I don't want the gift to end up in lost & found because no one knows what's going on because it's a personal matter not a library matter. I am reminded of the time a patron left some dishes (like, good dishes) on our hold shelf so a friend could come pick them up from there. I don't know why anyone thinks leaving personal items at the library is a good idea. Please do not do this.
- Super super quiet day at the library. Mostly people are calling because they can't get into Libby or hoopla or Kanopy and we need to update their library cards.
- Hey, if you're going to call the library with a question, can you please halt your chewing while you're on the phone?
- Now all the college students home for the holidays are getting overdue notices in their email for things they didn't return before they left and are worried they're going to get a big fine. We're fine free now! And if you get a bill, it's okay - return the item and the bill goes away! It's fun to reassure patrons that they won't get blackmailed by the public library.
- when a patron calls about needing their books longer, and the books are all about "fix your marriage" or "adult children of narcissistic parents" or even potty training... and you know what's going on
- I love that on the Friday before New Year's we seem to be getting an uptick in holds of people who are going to hit the ground running with their resolutions and/or reading goals
- We are open regular hours today, nevertheless every other call is "are you open today?" or "what time do you close?"
- Phone call: "Heidi Spelarent?" I'm sorry, can you repeat that? "HEIDI SPELARENT!" I'm so sorry, I don't understand. Is this someone you're looking for? "No, how do you SPELL 'parent'?" Oh, I see! P-a-r-e-n-t.
- No, slightly frantic sounding teenager on the phone, we will not close 15 minutes late on New Year's Eve. See you on January 2nd.