Miss Information is annoyed by lawlessness
Miss Information is now working in a library in a "nice part of town" and yet, there seems to be a lot of criminal activity happening which is not just limited to the team of purse snatchers that are working the branch. Miss Information hopes they're working together anyway. It's possible there are two completely independent theives on the premises. And talk about blatant! One of the pair was spotted because a woman suddenly noticed her handbag sliding across the floor, something it was not in the habit of doing. Another woman had her bag lifted from the back of a chair she was sitting in.But this isn't the thing that annoys Miss Information. She's had a couple of encounters recently with patrons who probably hate purse snatchers, but who cheerfully admitted to actively breaking rules and/or laws.
A woman with an adorable little Paris Hilton-esque dog stuffed into her coat came to the desk with a complaint. Miss Information told her that she would be very happy to listen but that dogs were not permitted in the library. The woman announced that she was well aware of that and she was on her way out anyway, but she just needed to say this one thing.
She wanted to complain at length about cell phones in the library. Ooooh, can Miss Information ever relate! However, she pointed out to the woman (and her little dog too) that cell phones were permitted in the library--oh, and that sadly dogs were not. The woman knew...but she wanted Miss Information to do something about those cell phones. Um...ok...Miss Information is already not enforcing the "no dogs in the library" rule which is an actual rule but you want her to enforce a non-existent "no cell phones in the library rule" so that you and your dog can surf the net in peace? Sorry, lady.
Another very nice, slightly off customer also wanted to complain. She really does not like the public transit system. She had been riding a bus that suddenly broke down and she was really annoyed. She pays way too much for her bus tickets for this kind of service. Well, anyway, she would...except she borrows her sister's bus card so she's basically riding for free--not to mention defrauding the city. Nice.
Probably a grey area.
5 Comments:
You know, one of my co-workers, who has worked at the library for about 20 years now, says if ever someone wrote a book about all the things that happened at the library, no one would ever believe it. She thinks we would have a great sit-com.
I'd read that book!
Someone already did, it's called Free for all : oddballs, geeks, and gangstas in the public library by Don Borchert
Yeah, I just read that book - a classic!! Should be on every single reading list for every single library school course. It was written a couple of years ago and the writer works in California but every incident is as true here as it is there. Recommended reading!
(but, Miss Information, your book would be even better).
Can you please write a book or something? I love your blog.
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