You Know its Summer when...

You register the first wave of Russian lifeguards. You would think I would have learned some Russian by now because no matter where I work there is always a group of them like clockwork when school ends.

If Summer Reading was a Person...

I would have punched it in its face 12 times today alone. Today is so damn busy. Our fearless "leader" only has 2 people scheduled on the desk per hour. But of course whenever the desk is slow there's 3 people scheduled. It doesn't take much insight to realize that the first weekend of summer for kids out of school will be INCREDIBLY BUSY.

A Must Read for any Library Worker...

Manager Meetings...

are a great time to kick your feet up, relax, and enjoy the time you don't have to deal with them.

Got Jokes...

Question: What do you get when you have two managers working the circ desk?

Answer: Absolutely nothing done.

I don't know if the ineptitude is just centrally located at this branch alone or what. Granted that at the first library I worked at a certain manager would be talking to a friend on the phone while checking out patrons. I call that multitasking, you can call it what you what but she was still working at the desk!

Punch a Patron in the Face Day...

I will be the first to admit that working the circulation desk is easy breezy. But like in all jobs, there will be errors, whether human or mechanical. Fortunately for me, the biggest possible error I could make is overcharge someone's credit card(which my manager has done) but that is easily fixed, no damage done.

So it pissed me off yesterday when I heard a patron ask a volunteer who was working the circ desk to check in her books because she's had problems with them not being checked in properly. After all of her returns were checked in she told the volunteer, " this wouldn't be necessary if you did your jobs." I was in earshot and the patron was lucky she was not in arms length because I would have popped her(ok in my mind I would have). After she stomped off, the volunteer and I just looked at each other and rolled our eyes.

Yes, there have been plenty of times were people have been charged for an overdue book(s) that was not checked in properly and found on the shelf. I know how frustrating it can be. But you know what, it is easily fixed. It does not involve bringing 2 state issued ID's and a urine sample to clear your name. It could even be done over the phone. The comment about not doing our jobs is just plain low. I did go over to the computer and made note of the patron's name --- let's see what happens next time...

Last hour

There are not many things as fine as working the phones during the last hour on a busy day such as a Saturday. While my coworkers have to deal with the always predictable last minute deluge of checkouts, I am back safely in my cubicle counting down the minutes. Why is there always a group of people who wait til we start turning off the lights to run to the check out desk with their arms full of books?

New nickname...

So within my first hour working the Circ desk on what started out as a slow Friday, I got my new workplace nickname. I was working with one of my older coworkers, Miss P, and during me helping an elder female patron, she mentioned that I was, "such a sweet thing." I blushed a little and told her to have a good weekend. Later on another coworker, Miss M, asked Miss P what names she chose for her new kittens, Miss P turned to me and asked, "what did that patron call you? Oh yeah! 'Sweet Thing.'" Miss M had a big laugh and I blushed hard because well, I'm not use to being called that, not at work. Fortunately for my the sake of my embarrassment one of my younger coworkers Miss V heard this exchange and ended up telling another coworker. And before the end of the day, I was christened, "Sweet Thing" or "ThAng" depending on who calls me it. My cubicle has even been pimped out by my coworkers with my name. Wonder what's in store at work tomorrow : \

Correction, one last minute phone call for a renewal.

Spent my last hour working the phones and not one call... At least I got today's online crosswords done.