"I could not have said this any better..."
Nicholas Sparks stated that he has no contemporaries. No one else does what he does. He writes unpredictable love stories, not trashy run-of-the-mill romance novels like Shakespeare.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Food + Meetings = Bad News
Every time there is some sort of food brought to any of the meetings, whether it's candy, cake, mixed nuts(weak sauce), etc, I am always skeptical as to why: "Why are they trying to butter us up?"-mentality. Sure, there has been the "Retiring" and "Going-Away" aka "I'm sick of you people, so I'm going to another branch" meetings where food is the norm, but if it's just a regular meeting and they bring food to butter everyone up, I always assume it can't be good.
There's a Circ meeting today and I just got an email saying there will be pizza... that can't be good.
The tomato topped, round doughy goodness is being brought in as the harbinger of bad news. If it's Domino's, there won't be any temptation, that stuff tastes like someone took a Thomas the Tank boardbook and melted cheese on it. They can't fire me if I don't accept a slice right!??
There's a Circ meeting today and I just got an email saying there will be pizza... that can't be good.
The tomato topped, round doughy goodness is being brought in as the harbinger of bad news. If it's Domino's, there won't be any temptation, that stuff tastes like someone took a Thomas the Tank boardbook and melted cheese on it. They can't fire me if I don't accept a slice right!??
Friday, April 16, 2010
Passive Aggressive Librarians with Printers on the Rampage
The secret's out. There is another stereotype for librarians out right now, passive aggressiveness.
To celebrate National Library week, Buzzfeed collected 20 Passive Aggressive Library Signs. If I knew they were looking for contributions, I could have added another 20 to that.
Here's to National Library Week!
To celebrate National Library week, Buzzfeed collected 20 Passive Aggressive Library Signs. If I knew they were looking for contributions, I could have added another 20 to that.
Here's to National Library Week!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Patrons Behaving Badly part II
Last Sunday, I ended up working at the County instead of the usual Sunday shift at the City library system.
Let me just say, that the patrons that come in on Sundays are NOT the same ones that come in during the other 6 days of the week. I only recognized a handful of the 1000+ people that walked through the doors.
My first hour on the desk started with a patron coming up to me and telling me, "Just to let you know, the guy at the internet sign up station is intoxicated. You might want to keep an eye on him." Great, yet another drunk in the library. This guy was surely drunk, and as I looked at the lower right hand corner of the computer screen, I was thinking to myself, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere (in the middle of the ocean.)" He was wobbling back and forth as he was jabbing at the keys to enter in his account number. I watched this go on for a good 5 minutes, wondering if someone at the Reference desk would notice the drunkard squinting at the keyboard. I could only assume that it was turned into a waiting game between Circ and Info to see who would have to deal with him.
Luckily the guy gave up, and wandered into the stacks. Before I knew it, he was passed out in a chair in the periodicals. Since Circ had a better line of sight on the guy in this location, the Info manager told us to watch him and I could read her mind as she told us this and it read, "SUCKERS!" He slept for an hour or so, and by the time I came back on to the desk he made his way out. Apparently this guy was found unresponsive at an internet terminal the week before.
You think that his tolerance level would go up and he would have been able to sign off the internet this time instead of drooling on the keyboard and having the space-bar imprinted on his cheek. At this rate, he'll be passed out just outside the front doors next week.
Let me just say, that the patrons that come in on Sundays are NOT the same ones that come in during the other 6 days of the week. I only recognized a handful of the 1000+ people that walked through the doors.
My first hour on the desk started with a patron coming up to me and telling me, "Just to let you know, the guy at the internet sign up station is intoxicated. You might want to keep an eye on him." Great, yet another drunk in the library. This guy was surely drunk, and as I looked at the lower right hand corner of the computer screen, I was thinking to myself, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere (in the middle of the ocean.)" He was wobbling back and forth as he was jabbing at the keys to enter in his account number. I watched this go on for a good 5 minutes, wondering if someone at the Reference desk would notice the drunkard squinting at the keyboard. I could only assume that it was turned into a waiting game between Circ and Info to see who would have to deal with him.
Luckily the guy gave up, and wandered into the stacks. Before I knew it, he was passed out in a chair in the periodicals. Since Circ had a better line of sight on the guy in this location, the Info manager told us to watch him and I could read her mind as she told us this and it read, "SUCKERS!" He slept for an hour or so, and by the time I came back on to the desk he made his way out. Apparently this guy was found unresponsive at an internet terminal the week before.
You think that his tolerance level would go up and he would have been able to sign off the internet this time instead of drooling on the keyboard and having the space-bar imprinted on his cheek. At this rate, he'll be passed out just outside the front doors next week.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Patron is Always Right
The patron is always right, unless I say so.
Last week a patron wanted me to check in her items to see what was still left on her account. I checked them in and showed her the screen of what was still checked out. She said that out of the remaining items, there was one she was sure she returned. Okay, routine shelf check, nothing new. She asked me if she would have to pay for the item, even though she is "100% positive" that she returned it. I assured her that she wouldn't have to, and she didn't believe me and asked who she would have to talk to fix the matter. I told her I could and she seemed okay with it, she then looked back at the computer screen and said that she also returned another title that was still listed. I told her, okay, I will check on that item too. She then asked yet again, if she would have to pay for items she knew she returned already, I told her no, AGAIN. And then she says, oh wait, those two were also returned. It was at this point, that I commented, that 4 items is a lot to have not been checked in, and she went on to say how she is very good at keeping track of her accounts, showing me a handful of due date slips in her purse. My spidey-sense was already going off, but I never take the route of accusing patrons. I know my coworkers, and I know that there will always be mistakes with people's accounts. I told her I would email her the results of my book hunting.
Well, shocker, none of the 4 items were on the shelves. I guess I have not been in the library system long enough to be jaded to go against the patrons, so I emailed her that I will take the items off of her account. I looked at all 4 items and they were just added to the system last year, I added up all of their prices in my head and I started to get angry at this patron. I'm not one to argue with a patron, unless I know for certain they are in the wrong. I just let karma handle all of the patrons who have pulled fast ones on me. A couple hours later, I get a reply email saying that she found all 4 of the books. It was at this point I did a face-palm.
Thankfully, this patron turned out to an honest one, confused - yes, but honest.
Last week a patron wanted me to check in her items to see what was still left on her account. I checked them in and showed her the screen of what was still checked out. She said that out of the remaining items, there was one she was sure she returned. Okay, routine shelf check, nothing new. She asked me if she would have to pay for the item, even though she is "100% positive" that she returned it. I assured her that she wouldn't have to, and she didn't believe me and asked who she would have to talk to fix the matter. I told her I could and she seemed okay with it, she then looked back at the computer screen and said that she also returned another title that was still listed. I told her, okay, I will check on that item too. She then asked yet again, if she would have to pay for items she knew she returned already, I told her no, AGAIN. And then she says, oh wait, those two were also returned. It was at this point, that I commented, that 4 items is a lot to have not been checked in, and she went on to say how she is very good at keeping track of her accounts, showing me a handful of due date slips in her purse. My spidey-sense was already going off, but I never take the route of accusing patrons. I know my coworkers, and I know that there will always be mistakes with people's accounts. I told her I would email her the results of my book hunting.
Well, shocker, none of the 4 items were on the shelves. I guess I have not been in the library system long enough to be jaded to go against the patrons, so I emailed her that I will take the items off of her account. I looked at all 4 items and they were just added to the system last year, I added up all of their prices in my head and I started to get angry at this patron. I'm not one to argue with a patron, unless I know for certain they are in the wrong. I just let karma handle all of the patrons who have pulled fast ones on me. A couple hours later, I get a reply email saying that she found all 4 of the books. It was at this point I did a face-palm.
Thankfully, this patron turned out to an honest one, confused - yes, but honest.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Ewe get a car! Ewe get a car! EWE GET A CAR!
So I am watching the new BBC/Discovery episode of 'Life,' and don't get me wrong, I love nature shows. I am a self professed Shark Week Geek, yeah, I know that sharks don't evolve each year but I still watch it every year.
But I cannot get into this series like I did with its predecessor, 'Planet Earth.' It's not the visuals that I am disappointed with, I have 52 inches of 1080i HD real-estate.
It's the audio. Why is the States' version devoid of Sir David Attenborough --- again!??!
You know, I let the fact that 'Planet Earth' was commented by the Alien movies lady slip by, most likely because of all the eye candy this ground breaking series had to offer. But the second time around, it is going to take more than that for me to believe all the hype. Not only is the US version "dumbed down" but Oprah's narration is unimpressive and does the series no justice. Score one for the Brits.
As the saying goes, the sequel is never better than the original.
But I cannot get into this series like I did with its predecessor, 'Planet Earth.' It's not the visuals that I am disappointed with, I have 52 inches of 1080i HD real-estate.
It's the audio. Why is the States' version devoid of Sir David Attenborough --- again!??!
You know, I let the fact that 'Planet Earth' was commented by the Alien movies lady slip by, most likely because of all the eye candy this ground breaking series had to offer. But the second time around, it is going to take more than that for me to believe all the hype. Not only is the US version "dumbed down" but Oprah's narration is unimpressive and does the series no justice. Score one for the Brits.
As the saying goes, the sequel is never better than the original.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Patrons Behaving Badly
Last week it was the patron who came in well beyond the point of intoxication. We had to call the cops and later an ambulance to get rid of him and his alcoholic vapor breath.
The week before that it was a recurring problem with the Quiet Study room. The first incident involved a patron turning the carrel desk into their private bar. They downed some beer and left the bottles for us to pick up.
A few days later, a patron decided that he wanted to eat his steak dinner in the Quiet Study. He pretty much had a picnic spread with him, replete with all the necessary accoutrement: a dinner plate, fork, steak knife, bib a la napkin, and sauce. When he was told that food was not allowed in the library, he was completely indignant.
Where do these people come from?
The week before that it was a recurring problem with the Quiet Study room. The first incident involved a patron turning the carrel desk into their private bar. They downed some beer and left the bottles for us to pick up.
A few days later, a patron decided that he wanted to eat his steak dinner in the Quiet Study. He pretty much had a picnic spread with him, replete with all the necessary accoutrement: a dinner plate, fork, steak knife, bib a la napkin, and sauce. When he was told that food was not allowed in the library, he was completely indignant.
Where do these people come from?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Bookdrop Find of the Week
Sunday, March 7, 2010
I Spy: Library Edition
Yesterday was incredibly busy. There was a children's program in the morning and it was raining book returns from the sky. The door count just eked over the 1500 threshold.
But it was a good Saturday because certain managers were not working which can just make your day.
With the masses of people coming through the doors, it was a great opportunity to people watch, if you weren't too busy trying to explain to patrons why they have late fees. I had one lady get so upset over a .75 (7-5 CENTS, 3 quarters) late fee, that she didn't want to borrow the items she brought to the Circ desk and stormed out of the library.
I spotted this one patron and he really stood out, I asked one of my coworkers, "Hey, did you see that guy in the zebra print button up?" I mean, how could you miss something like that? She said she didn't and asked where he went, I pointed her in the direction of the study desks in the corner of the library.
On her way back to the Circ desk, she stopped by the Info desk to ask another coworker if she saw him as well, to which our Info coworker said, "No but did you see the homeless guy with a tampon stuck up his nose?"
It was at this point that I could only concede that that trumped my find and I lost this round of 'I Spy' but I'll be back (shakes fist towards the Info desk).
But it was a good Saturday because certain managers were not working which can just make your day.
With the masses of people coming through the doors, it was a great opportunity to people watch, if you weren't too busy trying to explain to patrons why they have late fees. I had one lady get so upset over a .75 (7-5 CENTS, 3 quarters) late fee, that she didn't want to borrow the items she brought to the Circ desk and stormed out of the library.
I spotted this one patron and he really stood out, I asked one of my coworkers, "Hey, did you see that guy in the zebra print button up?" I mean, how could you miss something like that? She said she didn't and asked where he went, I pointed her in the direction of the study desks in the corner of the library.
On her way back to the Circ desk, she stopped by the Info desk to ask another coworker if she saw him as well, to which our Info coworker said, "No but did you see the homeless guy with a tampon stuck up his nose?"
It was at this point that I could only concede that that trumped my find and I lost this round of 'I Spy' but I'll be back (shakes fist towards the Info desk).
Monday, March 1, 2010
Lost and Found
Yesterday a patron returned the best 'Lost and Found' item in recent memory: a license plate. Right when the doors opened, this gentleman was one of the first through. He shot straight for the circ desk where he slapped down the plate with a metallic thud and said, "Someone might be looking for this."
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