New Year's Eve

I started this workday with high hopes. I was hoping for peace and quiet.

It was great for me until 3:00 p.m., I had been on the desk for five minutes. All of a sudden, I hear..........A BIG BANG ONTO THE TABLE(the tables are wooden.) I think nothing of it, maybe someone dropped something on the table. ANOTHER LOUD BANG, REPEATED BY AN EVEN LOUDER BANG!!!

I walk over to the computer terminal and ask the WEIRDO if it was he making all of that noise.

He said, " Yeah, I guess that would be me."

I said, "If you bang that mouse one more time onto the table, you will have to leave this floor and use the computer on another floor!"

He said, " I was only trying to make the computer work." NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT BANGING THE MOUSE ON THE TABLE AS HARD AS YOU CAN, DOESN'T CAUSE THE COMPUTER TO RUN ANY FASTER!!! So........I turned and looked at him REAL HARD, then turned back around to return to the desk.

3:45 p.m. Different man.

Patron: I must be stupid because I can't find what I am looking for.
(I let that one slide.)
As I am searching online for the author, he asks, "What's your New Year's resolution?"

Me: "I don't make resolutions."

Patron: " Do you know what mine is?"

Me: "No, why don't you tell me.."

Patron: "To flirt with more women."

Me: no response whatsoever................birds chirping

Patron: "Oh, you're like, my resolution is to ignore people like you."

Me: still no response...................birds chirping louder and longer

I was able to located what he was looking for and sent him in the direction, that he needed to go.

Erotic Fiction-----I can still be amazed...........

Tuesday December 26th, I had two different old men approach me at the desk to say that they couldn't locate the "sex" fiction in the online catalog, or on the shelves. (They actually approached the desk about 15 minutes apart.)

The first one was simple, I explained to him that it could not be located in the catalog under sex fiction, the term used is erotic fiction.

The second man was a different story. When he first asked about the books, I looked at him strangely because I thought he might be with the other man. I realized they weren't when he said, " You know, the real reason I want those type of books is medical!"

I looked him dead in the face and said, "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR REASONS ARE!"

I keep telling friends and family that I receive too much unneccessary information while I'm at work. Between the patrons and my co-workers, just telling me things that they should keep to themselves, my brain is full at the end of the day.

I had to share this story because, every time I think about that man wanting to tell me his MEDICAL reasons for wanting to read Erotic Fiction; I get a little sick. An old shrivled up man wanting to share his "medical" condition with me.

Rain and the need for a warm dry housing situation

This went down Thursday December 21, 2006 5-6:00 p.m. hour. I noticed a man whom I had told to lower his voice during the 3-4:00 p.m. hour. He was talking to himself loudly, "N*gg*s ain't this'n' that, fa**ots, and le**ians, f**k them, and on and on. He wasn't on my side of the floor, so I just made a comment and let him go on his merry way.

Well.......he stopped near the reference desk, we could hear him but we couldn't see him. One of the other librarian's said something to him and he was quiet for about five minutes. He then got even louder with his rants. The librarian said something to him again and called security. He proceeded to get even LOUDER. WHAT WE DIDN'T SEE WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. The man ranting was white, he sat next to a black man talking all of that mess!!!!

The black man got up and told the white man to do the same. The black man pushed the white man becuase he kept talking about n***as ain't s**t, they ain't goin do s**t. Well, the black man told him to keep talking about n***as and he was going to see what would happen.

Security was called again and finally we saw some of them approaching the area. Too late..... Black man cold clocked the white man and it was on. Security had them on the ground and cuffed. Why was the white man still talking mess????? He was saying that he was minding his own business, listening to his music and the black man attacked him. The black man was saying he didn't even touch the white man. The security supervisor told the black man that she saw him throw the first punch. She then told them both that she wasn't in the mood and they better do what they were told and be quiet while doing so(she's black!)

We (the librarians) find out that the dance between the two men had begun earlier in the day. The white man had been following him around the building and taunting him. Well, they were both homeless, it was raining(had been all day) with no sign of letting up, and it was cold( well, cold for us, warm for others.)

I have learned that this is sometimes the actions taken by those who don't want to spend the night on the street. The find a way to be hospitalized, or jailed. What, shelter you say.....Ah, but that is seldom a choice made with free will by those hardened by life on the streets.

Sometimes..... it just takes me a minute

This woman walks up to the Reference desk and asks me if anyone turned in a cell phone because she left it on the table with her belongings and it was gone when she returned.

I check the lost and found box behind the reference desk and call security to see if a purple cell phone has been turned in. As I turn to check for the phone, she says, "It's not turned on." (that was my first clue) No sign of the cell phone in either place and I report my findings to the patron.

She then says, "Well, something needs to be done." I inform her that she can make a report and she says that's what she wants to do. Security usually sends an officer to take the report, but not today. Chick that answered the telephone told me to tell the patron to go downstairs and make the report.

I told the patron that she must go downstairs and make the report. She told me that all her stuff is at the desk where she was sitting and she can't leave it. I told her that she must pack up her stuff and go downstairs to make the report. That was fiftten minutes after the hour.

Every fifteen minutes thereafter, the patron came to the desk and asked me if a purple cell phone had been turned in. She had a hot pink cell phone holder clipped to her pants. The last time she asked, she also asked if we had a book on how to file a police report on people in the library who steal cell phones. I said, "Not on this floor."

I admitt, I wasn't paying any attention to the woman. It took her second trip to the reference desk for me to realize something was wrong. She made no attempt to go downstairs and I never saw where she was sitting or any belongs (other than the cell phone holder.)

We can't have everything

This week was relatively smooth, or so I thought. No sign of the potential stalker from last week.......AND THEN..........This morning things took a turn for the worst.


The Green-eyed crackhead from a previous post resurfaced. I was listening to my co-worker rant about the headaches my ex-Manager is dishing out when.......Green-eyes says, "Excuse me, I am having a very bad day, can I have a hug".........I didn't miss a beat. I turned his way, said no and went back to speaking with my co-worker.

He was gross ya'll. Dirty clothes and white foam surrounding his mouth. Wow, just the thought turns you on hunh?

The buzz at my library

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=i_team&id=4808374

A news story aired recently regarding safety in the Bay Area's public libraries. The librarians are all talking about this story. This is just a mini recap of a portion of this blog's content for the past 7 months.

I am constantly wondering......Why Me???

It all began Sunday afternoon November 26, 2006. A man approached me at the reference desk. He was returning the external disk drive that he had borrowed. Upon retrieving the item he used to check-out the drive, I noticed that it wasn't either of the acceptable forms of identification.

The librarian before me had allowed this man to use his American Express Card(green) to check out the disk drive. The ONLY acceptable forms of identification used for said purposes are a library card or a picture California I.D. Since the librarian at fault is only part-time and was only working in our department for that hour that day, there was nothing that I could say to her.

The patron heard me telling my co-worker my discovery and back tracked to aske me if I was talking about him. I explained to the patron that I was discussing the error made by the librarian who gave him the disk drive. The patron showed me his Califronia I.D. All that did was add to my confusion.
I wear a wedding ring when at the reference desk, so he was like, " How long have you been married?" I ignored the question, so he then said, "You're not really married are you?" I told him that I am. He then asked me where I went on my honeymoon. I told him that I didn't go on a honeymoon. He then repeats, " Oh, you must really not be married then." I told him that I am and actually of all my married friends, only one couple has been on a real honeymoon. He then states, "Oh, maybe you'll go on a honeymoon after the next marriage."

He took this as an invitation to talk to me. He gave me his e-mail address and told me that he was new to the area and was looking for friends. I guess I am supposed to be the fool because I know that it takes longer than two weeks for you to receive your picture identification in the mail. So he goes on and on with his lies, he is a computer programmer and he is looking for work, he moved here from Chicago, then he changed that to New York, when I looked at him crazy, he said it was both Chicago and New York. He worked for IBM, oh no, he guesses that he still does. But......he is looking for work here. How do I apply for a library position. I tell him and he still stays. Finally, a father and son approach the desk with a real question. He finally left the desk.

Yesterday, my first hour on the desk. He came running up to the desk like he was waiting for me to get there. "Oh they told me downstairs to go the the State Employement Office. They told me where it is, but um, is that where it is.?" I confirmed the address with the telephone book and sent him on his merry way.

Why is it that he came running up to the desk in the afternoon. He shoved a plastic card in my face talking about he is official now. I told him that I had no idea what he was talking about. Thankfully, a patron with a real reference question approached the desk. Ol dude walked away talking about, "I'll see you tomorrow!" My reply was, "Oh, okaaay!"

Woman and wave caps, at work no doubt

Maybe you, who read this blog can explain this to me. I really and truly am puzzled by this.

The black female clerk in this department is in her 50's. She wore a black wave cap with a pink head band on top all day today (she had done this on other days also.) Why people..........why????? Does she think that it's cute? I understand bad hair days, believe my I do. Every since I had all of my hair cut off, I can't just put it in a ponytail anymore. I have to just have frizzy hair all day, all week even.

Back to the subject at hand:


Help me to understand a wave cap with a head band on top!

It's too early for this mess!!!!!!

It's 10:14 a.m., my hour on the reference desk began at 10:00 a.m. Already, there has been a report of two men fighting in the one of the public elevators. There were also two men arguing at the fifteen minute express computers while waiting in line.


I HATE WHEN MY DAYS START OUT LIKE THIS. The library opened at 9:00 a.m.

You can never cease to be amazed

I was reading the staff e-mail this morning and came across this................................


Yes, Virginia - it's gone.
Sometime between 2:00 and 2:50pm this afternoon Public Internet pc # 379 (cpu, monitor and even the keyboard ) took a powder. So far it hasn't turned up. Nor has anyone come forward who might have witnessed just how this happened. Security has been informed.


The public has stepped up their game!!!!!!!!

Homeless shelter

A patron approached me at the desk last night, while another patron who seemed to be homeless and mentally ill was having a bit of a breakdown.

The patron says, "I thought you guys would have turned this into a homeless shelter by now.
That's the majority of the population in here daily anyway. You may as
well make this an outreach center or something."


All I could do was laugh and ask him if I could assist him in locating a book. It turns out that he had come in to pick up a book he had placed on hold. Before he left, he said, "Each time I come in here, it seems that their population just grows."

All up in my FACE, I hate that!!!!

This afternoon, a patron approached me at the desk to inquire about the computer time guidelines.

He was leaning over the desk all in my face. I saw what used to be his entire grill! There
was one thin pointy tooth in the front. Nothing but black space surrounding it. The bottom
of what used to be a row had some enamel points spaced here and maybe there(2-3.)
And......more BLACK SPACE, there were even craters. I was so digusted. He just kept
asking me more and more questions and leaning further over the desktop. It got to the
point where I was leaning backward in my seat. I was hoping the look of disgust was not
plastered on my face.

He finally understood and walked away. I had to explain the proceedures four times. At the end of each of the first three explainations, he would say, "I don't understand? Why is that policy in place?" I realize that he may have held hope that my explaination may have changed during one of those times, but it didn't. Policy is policy. I don't make the rules, I just explain them all day long.

****He was dressed in gothic attire, black leather trench coat and all********

And you said it with a straight face

The trend has not been broken. One of the many Shems approached me at the reference desk.

Shem: "I tried to book a computer but when I selected Main Library, the screen just went back to the home page. I need help with words, I mean I am illiterate. I mean, I can read and write, but I am a little dyslexic, but I can use the internet just fine. I just need you to write a few words down for me."

Psychiatry
Counselor
Transgender Resource
I took the Shem's library card and attempted to book internet time. When I asked what was needed, the response was, " I need the first available timeslot."

Well, the first available timeslot was the next hour. The Shem determined that would be too long of a wait. Razor shaved eyebrows, man's longsleeve sweater, woman's tight pencil skirt, socks and tennis shoes.


WHY DID I SEE:

A patron walking past a stink zone while holding his nose closed. MAN, HOW I HAVE WANTED TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING MANY A DAY, TIME, HOUR, BUT I didn't want to offend anyone by my actions.

Pissed off to the highest pisstivity!!!!!

Last hour on the reference desk, last 10 minutes. Why did I answer the telephone?

Bruh Man on a cell phone outside somewhere with someone giving him the words( yeah, I heard all of that.)

1st question: " Which president fought in the French/Indian War before he was president?"

My colleague and I conducted the search (trying to end the call as soon as possible because our time was almost up.) The answer we came up with is George Washington.

I retrieve the telephone and tell this fool: "George Washington fought in the scuffle that became known as the prelude to the French/Indian War"

Bruh Man says: "Negative." This angers me, because I felt as if it was a game and he had decided to call the library and just mess with someboday and I happened to be the one who
answered the telephone. I asked him, " Well, who is it then?" He told me he didn't know and proceeded to:

Bruh Man then asks: "Can you look something else up for me?"

I said, "No, you need to come into the library and conduct your own search!"

He says," You can just Google the question? I want to know who said Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes."

Finally, I look it up after debating with him on his need to come into the library and look these things up himself.

Wikipedia says it has never been determined who made the statement, there is a debate between it being Colonel William Prescott or General Israel Putnam.

*update***I have conducted further research for this post and found that it has been deemed that Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Andrew Agnew made the statement on June 27, 1743.

The fool tells me that is not who it could have been and I need to search further. I told him, " No, you need to come in here and do the search!" He then tells me that he is in another state and not able to do that. I told him that he was outside and calling from a 415 area code, so if he was out of state, he was on a cell phone. Me not thinking, the prefix was a ghettro cell and you know he wouldn't have been able to call from another state on that. You can barely call from another county.

The fool asked me how I new he was calling from a 415 number. I told him that I had caller-id. He then said, " I can come in and you can help me!" I said, " No, because I probably won't be here by the time you get here." He asked me what my name is. I told him that I wasn't giving him my name. He then asked me where I work. I asked the fool, " Where did you call?" We went back and forth, until I finally gave him the address of the library. He said, "Well, I want to know where you are!" I gave him the address of the library again and hung up in his face.

By this time my supervisor had come to the desk and he said, " Breath!" I told him that dude might call back because I hung up in his face.

2 Days later and a new attitude

Dude from Tuesday's post approached me at the desk as if he didn't insult me two days earlier. He asked me question after question. I answered his questions. The more he spoke, the clearer it became that he is uncomfortable with his lack of knowledge. He was trying to complete an application for an overseas ministry. He was having trouble understanding and completing the questions.

Oh but see.......Helping you with your job application is not in my job description. He asked for the history of the company. I gave him a printout of what they have on their website. He asked for a list of the countries in which they outreach. Once again, I gave him a printout of what is listed on their website.

He then proceeded to stand in front of me at the desk and expect me to go over each question with him. I surprised his butt. I helped the next person that approached the desk, which forced him to move out of the way.

Say WHAT?????

How is it that you think you can curse me out because the free internet access isn't working as fast as you think it should?

This man called me over to help him because the terminal he was at wouldn't shut down. He didn't take into consideration that he had four different windows open and he wanted the computer to shut down immediately.

I turned the hard drive off and tried to explain to the man that he wouldn't be completely logged off that terminal until it had reboted. He started yelling," THAT'S SOME BULL SH*T" along with some other stuff that I tuned out. Finally, I said, " You know what, it is what it is and you can take it however you want." I then walked away while he was still talking.

These people never cease to amaze. How is it that you can complain about something that is made available to you at no cost whatsoever?

Wrong foot, Wrong statement, wrong time of day

5:25 p.m., I get off at 6:00 p.m. A young African American man approached me at the desk.

I ask, " Can I help you?"

He says, "I want to test your knowledge."

I am tired and I really didn't feel like playing games, so I told him so. He says:


"I guess it is gonna take a white man to answer my question." THAT WAS THE WRONG STATEMENT!!!!!!!

I said, " I suggest you go find one who will answer the question for you because I AM NOT IN THE MOOD TO PLAY GAMES!!!!!!!"

He says, " Oh, okay, take the I want to test your knowledge out of the question."

He wanted a continent or nation without a governing body. I gave him two possible books for him to find the answer. He didn't look too happy to discover that I wasn't just going to look up the answer for him.

***It sounded like a trivia question that instructors throw out for extra credit.**** I stopped giving out answers after my first semester as a Reference librarian at the community college.

Highlight from the week of 10/2/2006

Wednesday evening as I was preparing to leave for the day, one of the supervisors came into the work area looking flustered.

Me: "What's wrong?"

Sup: "Is it a full moon today?"

Me: "I don't know, you need to check that out."

He lets out a huge sigh. So I ask.........

" What's wrong? You only have one more hour to go."

Sup: "There is this man who keeps coming back to the desk and asking if this is the 5th floor( we are located on the third floor.)

I began laughing because "the Brotha Man" character from the Martin show came to mind.
The supervisor was giving me an odd look. I thought about whether or not I should explain what made the incident funny or if I should leave it alone. In the end I decided to leave it alone for the evening. It was time for me to go and it would have taken to long to explain the connection.

To the left, to the left please

Ususally it's the librarian who sits on the left side of the reference who receives the most questions from patrons. THAT IS NOT THE CASE whenever I am at there. I get all of the walk-ups. There was a line in front of me and the lines starts..................you guessed it, to the left.

My revenge tactic for my co-workers.................I stopped answering the telephone reference questions. Since most of these folks will let me answer a line of questions, while they are doing whatever it is they do, I stopped answering the telephone. If I mention the line, I hear, "Oh, I didn't realize there was a line." Well if you looked up from the computer, your book, magazine, whatever, you might see the line!

Educating Librarians

My fellow cocoa librarian stopped me yesterday and informed me of the conversation he had with a few of the vanilla librarians earlier. He was asked by one if there was a Negro National Anthem and if so, what is it? As he was explaining to one, another jumps in and admits that he had never heard of the song(folks are nosey up in here and they will butt in on your conversations from 1-3 aisles over.

He was disturbed by that lack of knowledge that our fellow librarians exhibited. I told him that maybe it depends on where and how you are raised. He insisted that a person's upbringing had nothing to do with what they should know in aduthood.

Final Result: He will be conducting a mini-cultural awareness training during the next staff meeting. The sole focus will be what the Negro National Anthem is and it's history.

Sending messages through people............

Like we're in high school. Most of the security guards in this building are black. For a while now, I've figured out that one of them has a crush on me ( everytime I think of this, that Jets song plays in my mind.)

Yesterday the other black librarian on this floor(male,) announces, "Oh yeah, C said to tell you hello last week." My reaction was on pause. This is a grown azz man sending messages through someone else.

Co-worker, "You know he likes you."

Me: " Yeah, but did you tell him that it won't work?"

Co-worker: "That ain't my problem. Yaw need to work that out."

My co-worker and I have discussed this situation before. C is married with a child and rocks a gold band on that left finger so there is no mistake about his situation. He has not come out and said that he likes me, but he takes every opportunity to make small talk whenever he sees me.
(Read: makes a beeline to wherever I am or whatever direction I am walking)

I noticed him five months ago when I started this gig, but I also peeped the ring. My response to him has always been pleasant, but I also keep it moving. In no way shape or form am I trying to give this man the impression that his situation is okay with me.

I done pissed off somebody..........But I could care less!!!!!

Today is when I finally realized that I had pissed this woman off. She usually speaks to me whenever she sees me, be it walking past my cubicle, or in the staff elevator. NOT TODAY!!!!

There are only three black females who work in this department. One is a Technical Assistant (assistant to the clerk), one is a page( shelver/assistant to the assistant clerk,) and myself, a librarian.

Yesterday the Technical Assistant brought some damaged books to my desk. It is my job to determine if the books will be repaired or replaced. That's fine, because the books were a part of the collection for which I am responsible. Here is where things got funky.

She returned with a cart that held three stacks of those books. She asked me where she should place them, I told her and she left. Since I hate clutter, I began to sort the books once she left. The books were not a part of my ordering area. I didn't tell her this. I went to my boss to ask whether or not he had added another section to my responsibilities and failed to let me know(We had discussed this possibility last week.)

He asked me why I wanted to know and I explained what happened. He told me that he hadn't made any changes and he would talk to the TA. I told him it wasn't a problem and I would place the books on the correct librarian's desk. He told me, "It doesn't matter, I have to talk to her anyway because she does this all of the time. I just told her whose desk she should place those books." This occured early afternoon.

When I saw her later that afternoon, she didn't speak or look my way. I didn't think anything of it at the time because I am not fond of speaking to most of these folks anyway.

When it happened again today, I had to stop and think what could have happened. It dawned on me that "ol girl" is saltly because I caused her to be called on her lazy actions. She don't know me! She is one less person that I have to waste my breath on!!!!!

I did have to laugh to myself when I figured out what her problem is.

Passover dates for the next five years

Last five minutes of my last hour at the reference desk.

Patron: " I would like a computer printout of the Passover dates for the next five years."

Me: "Didn't I give you a printout of national holidays for the next five years a few months ago?"

Patron: "Yes."

Me: "And...................What happened?"

Patron: Oh, I threw those papers away because I just read stuff and throw it away.

Me: "Well, that is not my fault! You should remember the dates since you had them before."

Patron: " I don't keep or remember stuff, just look it up! It's in a book back there."

So I give the patron a book of American Holidays and Festivals. By this time another librarian was on the desk and he proceeds to complain to her about the book I gave him.

I did look in one more book, but then I decided to leave the search and him alone. My time on the desk was over and I wasn't waisting my desk time on a search that I had done a few months back for the same person.

This was my day for drunks

Why I gotta get the questions from the drunks that smell like they had the liquor drip in through an I.V.?

The last one kept tellling me he couldn't find the books because his eyes are so bad. Let's try, you are too drunk to read the small print. After I located the book for him, he tells me, "You are so pretty."

My response, "Un huh, thank you." Yet he didn't go away, he wanted more.

*****The kicker: He only wanted books by Sandra Browne! *******

You can run, but you can't hide

Yesterday evening, as I looked up from the computer terminal, I see a man waving to me as if we are long lost friends. Not! This is the same man who tried to make my days miserable at the old location.

Example #1: He would call whenever my boss was on vacation and ask for "The most senior
librarian."

My response was always, " You know BB is on vacation, so how may I help you?"

His response, " Well, that makes you the most senior librarian on duty!"

Me: "Well, is there something that I can help you with today?" While thinking:
"Did you call here to just mess with me or do you really have a reference
question."

He would proceed to ask me to search the online catalog for a book. Whenever I
would return to the telephone, he would proceed to tell me the call number, the
location of the book, and whether or not it can be checked out.

At this point, I would be heated but I didn't let him hear it in my voice. I always
felt as if this fool sat at home and thought of different ways in which he could
annoy the library staff.

We went through this same routine if he came into the library.

So yesterday as I realized who it was waving at me, I gave him a look that said,"You must be
crazy. You know we ain't friends, never have been and never will be!"

Racism 101

Sunday September 9th. 4-5 pm hour. It was my turn on the reference desk. The floor manager was working yesterday. He was helping a patron and there was another patron in line waiting to be helped.

I asked the elderly anglo man if he needed help and he told me that he would wait for the manager. I thought that they might be friends, so I just let it go and went about my business.

When the manager finished up the reference interview with the female patron, the man approached him. The manager asked the man if he would kindly refer his question to me because his time at the desk had ended. The elderly man said, "No, I will simply return when you are at the desk again. When will you be at the desk again?" The manager told him that he would not be on the desk again until today. The elderly man then asked, "Will anyone be replacing you?" The manager said, "Yes, a female librarian." The elderly man then asked if he could just direct him to the World War II history section. The manager did, and the elderly man moved in that direction.


The manager turned to me and asked, "Should I have let him know that the librarian relieving me is a white female?"

I answered him by telling him that I had asked the man if I could help him and he turned me down.

The elderly man returned later and asked the other librarian for help. She wasn't able to find what he was looking for and I didn't offer any help whatsoever. I had an idea of what might help him, but he wanted help from someone who looks like him, so I left the situation alone.

The whole time he was at the reference desk, I thought: I hope he finds himself in a situation where the only person who can help him happens to be of African descent.

Thursdays scenes from the library

1-2 o'clock hour. 10 minutes into the hour "CALL SECURITY!!!!!!............CALL SECURITY
NOW"

There are two 15 minute express internet computers on this floor. You don't need your library card to access them. Grown men were arguing over the use of said computers.

Security finally arrived and the area was clear.

Another 15 minutes pass and we hear "HEY!"............."NO, CALL SECURITY!" It was a different set of adult men. They finally settled their issues without the help of security.


5-6 o'clock hour. Ladies don't ever complain about cellulite. My eyes were assaulted!!!!!

Anglo--- about 6'2" Headband (think Oliva Newton John in the "Let's Get Physical" video)
Similar hair also.
Grey gym shorts revealing cellulite thighs, calves, and legs.
Blue tank top revealing cellulite filled upper arms.
He circled the floor twice before approaching me.


Patron: "What is that room in the corner with the beautiful metal doors?"

Me: "That's the Gay/Lesbian Center"

Patron: " IT PAYS TO BE GAY, DOESN'T IT"

Me: "Ummmm......I guess."

Patron: "WELL, IT PAYS TO BE GAY IN SAN FRANCISCO!"

Me: "Oh, okaaaay!"

The patron made a big show out of making a semi-circle around the floor. Once again he approached me.

Patron: " Where's the closest pay telephone?"

Me: "Near the men's restroon."

He returns 15 minutes later.........................................

Patron: "The same man has been on the telephone the entire time that I waited. When I asked
him when he thought he would be done, he told me when he was good and ready." If I
worked here, I would call security because he should not be allowed to hog the
telephone."

Me: "There are pay telephones on each floor, you can always go to another floor and use the
telephone."

Patron: " I don't want to go to another floor. I want someone to make him get off the
telephone. He just keeps dialing 1-888 numbers. If I go to another floor, someone
may be hogging the telephone on that floor."

Me: "There is a bank of telephones on the first floor and in the basement"

Patron: " I am not going to another floor. That is why I don't like coming here. The books are
never where you can find them and there are always a lot of strange people in here.
This is the third time I have been here since this building opened." (This building has
been open since April 1996.)

Me: " Would you like a map of the building? It is a diagram of each floor and where the books
are located."

Patron: "No, I think I will just go back to my hotel room!"

It has taken me a few days to figure out the best way in which to share this experience.

It must be magic in the number 6!

Today, I heard two of my co-workers discussing the things they have seen while in the staff break room on the 6th floor.

a) An elderly anglo couple having sex.

b) A young couple near the point of......

I commented on Miss Ahmad's blog not two weeks ago that the 6th floor men's restroom was the spot at Georgia State Library. Well, they are not in the confides of a restroom here because there aren't any public restrooms on the 6th floor. Each couple has been in clear view of the staff break room and terrace.

At least when I worked down the street at the Department of Human Services Bldg., they saved it for the alley behind the building. They would be in clear view of all staff who had access to the windows facing the alley.

True Crime

I get a question regarding True Crime books at least once a week. Sometimes it's individuals, sometimes it's couples. The amount of people who find joy, want morbid details, or want to see crime scene pictures is scary.

The men who approach me and ask to be directed to the true crime books and announce that they only want the books with pictures really scare me. My supervisor and I were at the desk one day, I had directed a man to the section. The man returned to the desk and said, " I can't find the books, can you show them to me?" When I returned to the desk, I asked my boss, "Did he think telling me that he wanted to see crime scene pictures was a turn on?"

Patrons even steal the true crime books. Yeah, I know, patrons steal every type of book in the library.


************************Free Blackjack on the internet*********************


Patron: "I can't play blackjack on the computer!"

Me: "Did you type the website address in the browser?"

Patron: "No, what is the address?"

I walk over to the terminal where the patron has logged onto the internet. He has typed Free Blackjact practice in the search box on Google.

Me: "Why don't you just click on one of the websites listed?"

Patron: "I did, but they want your login identification and password."

Me: "Have you played blackjack here before?"

Patron: "Yes."

Me: "Why don't you just go to that website?"

Patron: "I don't know what it is, can you tell me the address of one?"

Me: "No."

Patron: "Can another librarian tell me a web address?"

Me: "Probably not."

Patron: "Why not?"

Me: : " Because we don't play blackjack on the computers."

For all the researchers, writers, etc......

If when reviewing your notes, you notice that you failed to include vital information needed for your citation page; please do not do any of the following:

1. Call the library and ask for the information that you already have and get mad because we
retrieve it from the internet.

2. Fail to mention that you already spoke to a librarian and received the internet information, or
database information.

3. Tell the librarian that you want someone to go on a specific floor and retrieve a book.

When I did research in the past and even now, if I fail to get all of the citation information; I go back to the source and retrieve it. There are tons of people who approach the reference desk every hour and they expect speedy service. That isn't possible when someone on the telephone wants the librarian to run all over looking for information that they failed to get!

We will gladly do the foot work if you are honest when you call. Simply inform the librarian that you failed to write down all of the vital information. If you have the title and or the author, let them know this.

Yesterday this old man did all of the above mentioned. Finally, he told me I want the encyclopedia and the page number where the exact information is located. I finally found the information, 10 minutes later and after speaking with him three different times. Not once did he mention that he had already been here and failed to get all of the information. ****** The information was in a biographical dictionary and not an encyclopedia. As I was giving him the information, he proceeded to tell me, "Everything is not all on one page so what is the exact page number for each item." This let me know that this man could have saved me a lot of leg work if he had just let me know what happened when he came into the library.

I was heated and my supervisor knew it. He asked me, " Do you want me to takeover the reference question?" I told him no, and let him know that it had been an extremely difficult reference call.

3:30 p.m. and I thought I would get away smooth.

NOT!!!! Why do they always chose me????? This woman approaches the desk and asked me for two desk reference books. That in itself is fine, but you need to leave either your library card or a CA ID. I tell her this and she proceeds to look for it. I help two other people while I waiting for her to produce the ID. Five minutes later, she pulls out her social security card and tells me that is the only ID that she has. I repeat to her the forms of ID required for her to use a desk reference book. She tells me that she wants to speak with a supervisor. I tell her that there aren't any supervisors working today.

I offered to look up the information for her and gave her a piece of paper so that she could write down what she needed and she refused my help. She told me that she didn't know what she was looking for and I couldn't help her.

She goes on to argue with me about the rules regarding the policy. I explain the rules and finally get tired of the interaction and tell her that I will let her use them. I inform her that this is against the rules and if she returns again without the proper ID, she will not be allowed to use the books.

AND SHE ARGUED WITH ME ABOUT ME FINALLY LETTING HER USE THE BOOKS WITHOUT THE PROPER ID.

She started telling me some mess about losing/and or having the mess stolen. I wasn't trying to hear it. At this point, I told her, " I will let you use it but know that it won't happen again!"

Maaannn!!!!

Yesterday evening I was helping an elderly man with microsoft word. He was trying to print what he had typed and he just couldn't get it together. He didn't ask for help, he said, "Hey, I need help!"

He is old, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and helped him even though he was rude.

I got his print job set-up. All he had to do was go to the printer and retrieve the job. NOOOOOO, he sits in front of the printer, turns around and yells at me," YOU HAVE TO HELP ME, I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF!!!" I was leaving the desk because it was time for me to go home. Those words he uttered, stopped me in my tracks. I told my co-worker, "I got this!"

I went over to the man and whispered in his ear, "When you need help, you must use courtesy words. We don't work on command up in here!!!" He then said, "Well, I'm 86 years old!" I replied, "And you think that makes a difference?"

I helped him retrieve his print job and walked away while it was still printing. He tried to say thank you, but I was already near the exit doors.

Some people

I have written this before, but I will do it again just in case some of you have forgotten. There are only two cocoa librarians in my department, myself and a guy. This guy was on vacation last week. Yesterday, he was scheduled to return to work.

Like any other Monday, he was scheduled to work the reference desk the first hour that we were open to the public. I was scheduled to work the second hour. When I approached the desk, I noticed that the department manager was alone at the desk. I asked, "Did you work the whole hour alone? You took it like a champ!" The manager, " Where's your friend?" Me, " I don't know, you are the one who has his telephone number?" The manager, " I am not his supervisor, so I don't have to call him!"

These people do this whenever one of us isn't at our desk. Whenever they ask me where dude is, I always look at them like they are crazy. I know they would be upset if I asked, " What, we are attached at the hip because we are the only cocoa librarians on this floor?"

Sunday, oh Sunday.........

A man approached the desk with an Army Duffle Bag stuffed to the brim. He had on an oversized blue button down shirt that was knotted in the back, black khaki pants that were folded at the waist and cuffed at the ankles. His hair was brown and gray with blond streaks, cut in a bob style. The sides of the bob were up, not flipped(like we women do,) but just up and out. He stopped in front of me and proclaimed, "All librarians are the same, it doesn't matter which one you are speaking with." I ask, "Do you have a question, or do yo need help with something?" He goes on, "They don't tell you that you stink, they don't tell you to wake up if you are sleeping, they just call security to have you escorted out of the building." ( I had never seen this man on this floor before.)

I ask him again, "Do you have a question?" He finally stops his rant. "Yeah, I have a question! I am going to get a book and then I will be leaving this floor!" I simply looked at the man and shook my head. What else could I do. After the last outburst, he walked away from the desk.

I often wish that I could take digital pictures of these people and post them.

What makes it so hard to understand when you are wrong?

Each day, at least once, sometimes more, I find myself spending anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes explaining to a patron why they are wrong.

They never seem to accept what I am saying and move on. I work in the General Collections and Humanities department. There aren't any business, cooking, computer, electronic, art, music,or government books on this floor. The magazines and newspapers are housed on the fifth floor. There is a whole floor dedicated to the history of this city and Northern California.

The layout on each floor is the same. There are two reference desk, one on each side of the floor. I will give the partons that much. There is an automated voice that announces the floor number whenever the elevator doors open.

This man insisted that I go behind the desk and look for a business reference book that is shelved at the reference desk. I told him many times that the book wasn't at this desk, it's upstairs. After going behind the desk twice, while he watched, he finally asked me once again what the floor number is. I told him for the third time that this is the third floor and the business reference desk is on the fourth floor in the same location. He finally said, "Oh," and walked away. No, "I am sorry for wasting your time." No, "I am sorry, I should have listened to you at least once when you tried to explain that I was on the wrong floor."

Some days, I am at a lost for words

Do you remember the dude from Cooley High who wore the trench coat and had a doo-rag on his head? Okay, the movie was made in 1975 and depicted the life of the class of 1964.

I saw an exact replica of him walking past the reference desk yesterday afternoon, dragging a suitcase on wheels behind him. The only thing missing was a cigarette dangling from his lips.

*********************************************************************************

Moving on to 7:15 p.m. There is a bum who hangs out at the bustop where I catch the bus after work. The bustop is right in front of the library. He and I have exchanged words in the past. I have never been nice.

He carries a sign that says, " I bet you $1 that you will read this sign." The first time he flashed it in my face almost 4 months ago, I told him that his best bet was to get out of my face!

Last week, he approached me with dollar bills(many plural) in his hand and asked me for a dollar. I told him, " You have money in your hand." His reply, " Yeah, I know but I want more." I said, "Everyone wants more money." I turned my head and quit paying him attention.

Yesterday: The bum walks past me a few times. I ignored him. The last time, he shoved the sign in my face(I was looking in the opposite direction.) I turned in his direction and said, " I WILL TEAR THAT SIGN UP!!!!

Teenagers, MAN!!!!!!

This morning, a call was transfered. I was given the call number and the title of the book the patron wanted by the librarian who transfered the call.

I told the patron that I had to look for the book and asked that he hold on.

I returned with the book in hand. I asked the patron if he wantedto pick the book up here or have it sent to one of the branches. The boy says, " I don't want to pick it up until the 28th."

I asked him, " Do you mean August 28th?" The boy, "Yes, I don't want to pick the book up until August 28th. I told the boy, " You can pick the book up here today, or have it sent to one of the branches, but we will not hold it here until August 28th for you." The little *** hung up in my face.

Last night my Mom commented, "Doesn't school start soon? I mean, isn't this the month when they go back to school?" Those are my sentiments exactly after a call like this mornings.

***The book he wanted is on the reading list for many high schools*****
"White Fang" by Jack London

U Gotta Love Sundays

Caller: "Have you ever heard of the word hallelujah?"

Me: "Yes."

Caller: "Can you look that up for me and give me the definition?"

Me: "Yes, I can do that for you. Hold on please."

I retrieve the Oxford English Dictionary volume six, and read the first definition.

HALLELUJAH: The exclamation of 'Praise (ye) the Lord (Jah or Jehovah)' , which
occurs in many psalms and anthems; hence, a song of praise to God;
= ALLELUIA

Caller: "So what does that mean?"

Me: "It means that the word Hallelujah is used to praise the Lord."

Caller: "Hallelujah, and that's a good thing! Please and thank you."

Security AGAIN!!!!!

A patron approached the desk to tell me that two other patrons were yelling and cursing at each other. They were behind the stacks, in the corner by the windows, so we couldn't hear them at the desk.

I approach them:

I asked each of them separately, " What seems to be the problem?"

The man: "I sat down and she just started cursing and yelling at me."

The woman: "I don't know what he is talking about because he was the one doing
all of the cursing and yelling."

Me, " Well, I will solve everything, I am calling security to deal with you!"

The woman: "Oh, go ahead. That is fine."

As I was walking away, I saw one of the security officers walking toward the staff elevator. I caught him just before he pressed the button. I explained the situation and led him to the area.
MISS SUPERBAD WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

The officer said that he would speak to the man and see what was going on.

He reports to me 3 seconds later that the woman jetted as soon as I turned my back.


******Minnie Me and Magilla Gorilla returned today. They were late, therefore unable to
secure their regular spot. They are sitting behind one of the pillars facing the reference
desk. Minnie Me was "mean muggin'" me over the top of the laptop.******

I guess he had me mixed up with somebody who cares and is scarrrrred!!!!

Why I gotta always be the bad one?

This morning I had to have a couple removed from the library. They were eating and drinking while watching DVD/Music Videos on their laptop and portable DVD player. I suspected it, but had no proof...........UNTIL........I heard the click.......fizzzzz.......from a can of soda being opened.

I did the "LINDA BLAIR " head turn. They hid that mess real quick. I told my co-worker what was going down. I called security and said, "There is a couple watching DVD/Videos, eating and drinking. I am going to speak with them, but I want reinforcement from security." Said couple had been caught yesterday and nothing was done.

I go over there and say," There is no eating and or drinking in the library and you can't tell me that you weren't doing either because I heard you." Magilla Gorilla (the chick) had the nerve to say something smart under her breath. I said, "Excuse me?" She said, " I know you heard because you were looking out for us!" Minnie Me(her man) said, " Anyway, it's gone now!" I looked at them hard, rolled my eyes and walked away.

On beat, security approached the desk and asked me what the problem was and who the culprits were. I simply pointed because they were scrambling to gather all the junk they had stashed under the table. The female officer said, "Didn't they get in trouble yesterday?" I told her that they did. She then said, " They gon' have to go?"

This is the same couple who the librarian suspect are stealing the DVD's people have on hold and burning/watching them. There are here all day almost every day. They skip the "first of the month." I had to explain to my co-workers what that meant. When I explained that they probably receive SSI benefits, my co-workers said," On yeah, that makes sense now."

This is my whole problem with eating and drinking in the library.

1. It you are going to do it, be slick about yours. Don't sit where the librarians can not only
see, but hear everything that you are doing.

2. If you have been caught once, move to a different area and or floor. You know the librarians will be looking out for you.

3. The regulars who visit the floor I work on, have seen me kick people out of the building, off the floor, etc.
For: computer hacking, talking loudly, whether on a cell phone or not. I do warn two times.
I always say, " If I have to come over here a third time, you are leaving!"

If you don't know, don't tell others

This happened yesterday at work and I should have posted it yesterday, but I was in shock. Let me give some background information.

There are six floors in this building, with at least two reference desks on each floor. 1-2 two librarians are stationed at each reference desk. On the first floor, there is an information desk with two librarians. They direct patrons on where they should go to find whatever information they may need. They also answer all telephone calls, they are supposed to gather as much information from the caller as possible and transfer the call to the proper floor and or librarian.

Yesterday, we receive a call at the General Collections and Humanities Reference Desk from the librarians at the first floor Information Desk. The librarians want to know the difference between the USB computers and the computers that have USB and Floppy Drives(These are the choices patrons have when signing up for computers.) This option has been in place since April of this year. One of the librarians boasted that he has worked here for 10 years and he doesn't know.

They were so confusing that myco-worker was stumped. She put them on hold and asked me. I explained the difference and told her that I was amazed that the would admit to not knowing the answer. The answer to their question can be found on the library home page.

The USB computers have the wiring for patrons to use thier own flash drives, or our external Floppy Drive. The USB and Floppy Drive computers offer the option of using a flash drive or a floppy disk because hardrive has the floppy drive.

These people have a Masters Degree in Library Sciende just like I do. I often wonder how they were able to obtain the degree because the program is no joke.

It started early this morning!!!!

10:00 a.m. Two of the tween hackers who like to frequent this floor are here and wreck
havok. My boss reports that a computer terminal's monitor isn't working.
It was the computer directly behind the two hackers.

10:05 a.m. An elderly gentleman approaches the desk and ask that I show him how to reserve a
internet computer. I was so proud of him, he had his floppy disk in hand and he was
ready to go. He also asks me to show him how to insert the floppy disk into the
drive.
While I am explaining the process to him, another man approaches who is just gone.
He states, "The stocks must be transfered to Austraila. The interest rates in
Austraila are 12%. I repeat what he has just said to make sure that I am clear.
He then tells me that he thinks the interest rates in Austraila are 6%. I tell him
that I don't know, but the business department is upstairs on the 4th floor and he
can find out. He finally walks away.
The elderly gentleman then asks me what steps he must go through when he wants
to print what he has typed. This man looked to be in his seventies and he was trying
harder than people more than half his age( he smelled like a bucket of pee, but he was
trying.)

10:25 a.m. Another man approaches the desk and tells me that his pin number isn't working
because he doesn't have his cell phone with him. I was confussed, so I asked him
to repeat himself. I tried to explain to him that his cell phone had nothing to do with
whether or not he was typing in the correct pin number. He didn't seem to
understand the words coming out of my mouth. I finally gave up, asked him for his
library card and changed his pin number to the one he kept repeating.

I keep running away!!!!!

I have had this project in my cubicle for a month now. I've have started and stopped this project so many times. I just can't believe that in more than 10 years, no one has weeded these books.

This is the deal. There is a truck of books in my cubicle that need to be sorted. I need to decide what will stay, what will be destroyed, what will be donated, etcetera. So far, the oldest book was published in 1898. Now management knows darn well that if these books have been in storage for more than 10 years, no one is missing them. But, like the good worker bee that I am, I will go through the dirty, dusty books. I will sneeze my way through this project. Dust is an allergy/asthma trigger for me, so I will suffer for the sake of my job.

PLEASE SEND POSITIVE THOUGHTS MY WAY, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO CHUCK ALL OF THESE BOOKS AND CALL IT A DAY!!!!!

I'm baaaack!

I took a few days off. I try not to work on my birthday, if I don't have to. I came to work yesterday, only to discover that I was not on the schedule. My boss had scheduled me for another day of vacation. I happily packed up my stuff and went home. My co-worker tried to convince me to let her have the day off instead. NOT!!!!!

My second hour on the desk. Computer troubles, oh my. A male and female start to argue LOUDLY. The man was trying to hog the computer that someone else had reserved. I go over and calmly tell the man that he can't do that, he must wait until 7 minutes after the hour and if the computer is free, he can log on.

He yells at me, telling me that if he does that then there won't be any computers available. He then storms off, yelling that he's going downstairs to file a complaint. He was yelling as he walked away, talking about he was going to report what STUPID BYTCHES weren't allowing him to do up here. The floor manager had just left the floor. He always seems to miss the major drama.

You can never leave the ghetto behind

This morning, a former Teaching Assistant who works at a public school near my old job came in. She approached the Manager ( who happened to be my reference partner for the first hour of the day) and asked for assistance. She had her whole class with her( I guess she finally got her BA and her teaching credentials.) When she noticed me, she annouced to the class, "THERE'S A LIBRARIAN FROM THE BAYVIEW." Now everyone who happened to be on the floor at that time, knows the neighborhood from which I hail.

Sundays at the library are special

During my first hour on the desk, this Anglo woman who looked to be in her fifties approached me and asked for help. Normally, that is okay but this time I was in the middle of helping someone with a computer issue. I explained to the woman that I was helping someone else and she would have to get in line at the reference desk to have her question answered. There were three people in line waiting to be helped. When I turned to see how many people were in line, I noticed that they were throwing "mean mugs" toward the woman. Her response" I only approached you because I recognized you as a former student in one of my classes." I tell her, " No, it wasn't me." She insists that it was. I stand firm and tell her," No, it wasn't me." I resume helping the gentleman. She then tells me that it must have been my sister in her Early Childhood Education Class. Anglo people just kill me. Little did this know, my sister and I look nothing alike and we have the same mother and father!

I REPEAT, "IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU MUST GET IN LINE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE." She looks at the line, then looks at me and says,"I DON'T HAVE TO GET IN LINE!!!!!" The woman is crazy. She was talking up a storm to herself as she walked back to her seat. That is when I noticed that she had a pajama top over all of the other clothes that she had on. This happened in the 12:00 noon - 1:00 o'clock hour.

Fast forward to 3:45 p.m. One of the many he/shes approaches the reference desk to complain about a woman in the restroom. He/she approached my co-worker because my treatment and responses have been deemed unacceptable(more on that later.) The complaint: " There is a woman in the restroom who began yelling and cursing me when I entered the restroom. She said if I am too cheap to get the operation, then I should use the men's restroom." He/she says , "We are allowed full access to women's services, so someone needs to speak with that woman. She was extremely rude." My co-worker's response, " What does the woman look like?" He/she describes the crazy Anglo woman who was bothering us earlier. My co-worker says, " Oh, that woman is crazy." Co-worker then asks me, " Doesn't that sound like the woman from earlier." I tell her yes. Co-worker then describes to he/she exactly what the woman is wearing. He/she agrees that the woman has on those clothes and is carrying a lot of bags. My co-worker states again that said woman is "crazy," he/she shouldn't pay her any mind. He/she goes on to state that he/she has experience working with mentally challenged people and a lot of them are faking.

I didn't agree with that statement but since he/she didn't approach me, I stayed out of the interaction. I was thinking that if he/she has so much experience, he should have spoken to the woman himself and left us out of it. That is one of the reasons he/she no longer approaches me. I don't jump to what he/she deems his needs are.

My co-worker does nothing while he/she is standing there. He/she eventually walks away without receiving the immediate response that he/she wanted. My co-worker told he/she that she would look out for the woman and speak with her when she exited the restroom. Five minutes after he/she left, my co-worker telephoned our security to inform them of the incident.

You can't even walk to your job in peace

While on my way back to the job, after picking up my lunch. Standing at the corner, waiting for the light to change in my favor. A man walks up to me and says "Hello." I say hello in return without even turning in his direction. Then....................it starts.

Bum:"Thank you for speaking to me. Most girls don't even speak to me." That statement would have been fine, except he went on to tell me why they don't speak to him. He goes in for the kill.........."You see, the PROBLEM IS......." I stopped him right there and said, while holding up my hand "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!!!!!!

I am 5'5" and he was shorter than me. He was ugly and dressed like he probably STANK to the high heavens!!!! That was the problem, not anything he could have possible come up with as and excuse for the reasons women chose to ignore him.

No...........he didn't..............!

10:05 a.m.I see this man that I guess needed help, but not really. First, I hear a loud whistle. I look, and I see this man put his arm in the air. I return to what I was doing on the computer because he obviously didn't need any help, trying to obtain it in that manner. Two seconds later, I hear pssssssssst real loud. I look, and it is the same man. He raises his arm in the air again. Once again, I return to what I was doing because he obviously didn't want any help from me. I guess he felt that the third time would be a charm for him.

I hear him clear his throat really loud and psssssssssst. Now I am mad. I looked at him and he motioned with his arm for me to go where he was. Since he had already irritated me the first two times; I told him that if he needed help or was trying to get my attention, he was going about it in the wrong way. I also informed him that he needed to approach the reference desk and ask for help.

GUESS WHAT? I guess he really didn't need any help because he stayed right were he was and quit trying to get my attention.

"Companion" pets in the library

There was a time when the only pets allowed in the library were "Seeing Eye Dogs." A new day has come. Anyone can claim that their animal is a "companion pet" and they are allowed cart blanche in the library.

Today gave us a reason why the old rule should apply, that rule, and that rule only. I was on the reference desk from 2-3:00 p.m. I hadn't been on the desk for 5 minutes when a patron approached the desk to tell me that there was dog poop on the floor. It was in the middle of the first aisle where the internet access computers are. But of course, it had already been stepped in and was working it's way toward leaving a few permanent stains in the carpet.

I called the custodial department. No answer, only voicemail. I didn't leave a message, because this was urgent. It was stinking in my area! I called building security and asked them to page the custodial supervisor to alert him of the problem. I also submitted a requisition form via e-mail for the clean-up( They now require a req. form before they respond to a telephone call.)

That was 2:05 p.m. at 2:30 p.m., no one had shown up, nor had we received a call acknowledging the request. I telephoned the custodial department again. Once again, there wasn't an answer, but I left a message this time. 2:50 p.m. rolls around and still no response from anyone regarding the dog poop on the 3rd floor. This time my co-worker called security and she stated, "If no one comes by 3:00 p.m., I will inform the floor manager and leave it up to him to handle it." STILL NO ONE CALLED OR CAME BY!!!!

When I went on my break at about 3:07 p.m., a custodian was finally exiting the staff elevator. ALL SHE HAD WAS PLASTIC GLOVES, NO BUCKET OF WATER, NO PLASTIC BAG, NO PAPER TOWELS, NO WET/DRY VACUUM!

I was on the reference desk again at 5:00 p.m. and they had finally cleaned up the poop! City and County Employees are no joke, they work on their time and their time only.

One eyed Jack!!

Yesterday afternoon, a man approached the desk and asked what section the religion books were shelved. I told him the 200's and pointed him in that direction. He returned to the desk five minutes later and told me he couldn't find the books. He asked if I would show him exactly where the books were shelved.

As I began walking in the same direction in which I had directed him earlier, he had the nerve to say as he was walking behind me, "What's wrong you don't want to do your job?" I didn't even respond because I knew that I didn't have anything nice to say. As I walked down the aisle where the books are shelved, I scratched my head(I need to wash it.) As I did this, he stated, "Oh, maybe you can't do your job!" Since there are rows of bibles, I stopped walking and turned to ask him which version he preferred. I didn't get a chance. He turned and looked at the books in front of us and proclaimed, "Oh, you knew just were the books were and you led me right to them." This was all said as I was walking away. I turned, looked at him and said "Uh huh!" He said something smart about me as I walked away. He and all of the other men who happened to be in the area got a good laugh on my expense.

"One-eyed Jack" returned to the desk again. This time, a half hour had passed since he first appeared at the desk. He approached me and said, "I just want to thank you for showing me where the books were." I said,"Un huh, after you talked about me bad" He said, "Oh, I appologize, I didn't mean it." I gave him a smirk and told him that I bet he would be doing it again.

HE HAD THE NERVE TO HAVE ONE OF THE STOLEN MAGNIFYING GLASSES IN HIS POSSESSION. I will remember his face from now on and I will have something for him when I see him agian!

Some days I wonder about people!!!!!

For my first hour on the desk, I was paired with the librarian who loves to talk about me the most. 10 minutes into the hour, she has the nerve to ask me to handle a parton for her. It was a teenager who wanted to sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Program. She says to me, " I don't know anything about the program, can you do it for me?" You know I didn't answer her. I kept helping the patron that I was helping when the teenager approached the desk.

Now the Teen Libraraian has been very good about leaving instructions for the other librarians regarding the sign-up process for the Summer Reading Program and prize distribution.

Mis Mouth goes to the drawer with all of the essentials for the Teen SRC program and gets a registration card for the girl. I guess she thought I would do the rest(NOT.) As I walk past her, she asks, "What do I do now?" I tell her the other items that she must give the patron. She then asks me where she can get them. I tell her that they are in the drawer with the huge sign that says Teen Summer Reading Program." I was amazed. She had the nerve to actually think that I would just take over for her. The is the woman who talks about me each and every chance that she gets.


I JUST HAD TO MENTION WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. THURSDAYS ARE MY FRIDAYS. MY OFF DAYS ARE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!!!!



This past Thursday, I see my boss and his boss(the floor manager,) along with the Library Technical Assistant for the floor walk past my cubicle. I didn't think anything of it until the second time that I saw them. I passed the trio as I was on my way back to my cubicle. My boss says to me," Big Boss(manager) has something planned for you." My response was, "Oh No!" My boss says, " Don't worry, it's something good." My response was, "Since you put it like that, I know that it is something to worry about."

After returning to my cubicle, I had been at my desk two minutes when the Big Boss leans on the wall of my cubile. He sartled me because 1) I didn't hear him approach my desk and 2) He was in my face when I turned. He says to me," There are a lot of books in storage that aren't in the online catalog. They are very old books and guess what? Most of the books are in your subject field. The Library Tech will be bringing the books to your cubicle for review one truck load at a time. We should go over the books together on the first truck." I have to determine if the books will remain in the collection and where the should be housed.

They were conspiring behind my back! Unlike all of the other librarians on this floor, who have been here 10, 20, 30+ years, I like a clean cubicle and an uncluttered desk. When I receive books that need my attention, I get on it right away. I like to have the books on the way to the next destination within two days. The other folks here have stacks piled so high in and around their cubicles, you can't even see them. I realize that this tactic serves three purposes, 1) You can't tell what they are doing or if they are at their desk, 2) They always looks busy, 3) Because it seems as if they have so much work to do, you will be reluctant to add to the pile. The bonus is that since things seem to get lost on their desk, so you are reluctant to place anything you may need at a later date on their desk.

For me, a clean desk also means tha t if and when I decide to move on, I will have less stuff to lug home and less work to clear from my desk. Yes, I am already comtemplating my next move after two months. I cannot be a Librarian I for the rest of my career!!

Drunk Natty Dread

He approached me twice. The first time he asked me where the restroom is. I told him and he just stood at the counter. He then asked me something I didn't understand and proceeded to pull his California Identification and platinum visa out of his wallet and place them on the counter in front of me.

He asked me when the last spare the air day was. I told him that it was yesterday. He asked me what day that was. I told him it was Monday June 26th, yesterday. This whole transaction took forever because he was mumbling and I couldn't understand half of what he was saying. He decided that he wanted a print out of the spare the air days. Ifound some of the information, but not all. I simply wrote the dates on the paper and gave it to him. HE JUST STOOD THERE AND WOULDN'T MOVE. I FINALLY REMINDED HIM THAT HE SAID HE HAD TO USE THE RESTROOM. He asked for directions once again.

He returned. 5 minutes after he left. When I saw him walking toward me, I said, "If you don't have a real reference question, don't come over here because I don't want to be bothered with mess!" He said, " I do have a real reference question. Why did the tree fall in the white house lawn the other day?" I told him that I didn't know and he proceeded to tell me that I did. I finally said, " No, I don't and quit playing. I told you not to come over her with some mess." He says, "The tree fell because you can't have rain for days and not expect a tree to fall because the soil with give." I told him that isn't true because it doesn't always happen. Why didn't I just let him talk and not respond to anything? My dad has been dead for two years, so sometimes it slips my mind that a drunk is the last person you want to have a conversation with. No matter what, they have to have the last word and they are always right.

FINALLY, I just kept repeating myself. I was telling him to leave the reference desk because he didn't have any reference questions. THEN, he asked me to have dinner with him. (Why oh why must I receive attention from the WRONG type of man?) I told him "NO. " He proceeded to tell me that he is a nice guy. He asked me to check the balance on his new platinum visa card. I told him that he needed to do that for himself. He asked me again to go out with him, and I told him no. He then said, "On yeah, it's because my breath stinks." I told him no, "It's because I am not interested in you!" He still didn't leave. I kept telling him to leave and he finally did.

My co-worker had been on and off the telephone during this whole transaction. When it was finally over, he got off the telephone and asked me what that was all about. I told him that I had just been harrassed and he did nothing about it. He laughed. I didn't think anything was funny, and I told him so.

In the mandatory sexual harrassment workshop, they announced that there is nothing management can do about librarians who get harrassed by patrons. The only time something can be done is when it is the same patron all the time. THAT MADE ME MAD!!! I get harrassed almost every week and it is never the same person. Sometimes, the same person does it more than once but never in the same week.

"Dream Lady"

That's the nickname the librarian's on my floor have given her. She calls the reference desk at least 3-5 times per week and we are open 7 days a week. Today was my lucky day. I was the one to answer her call this morning. She began the conversation by saying," I want the definition of a word." I said, " Okay, what is the word?" She then said, "No, I don't want the definition of a word. I want to know what linens mean." Before I could ask, she clarified her queston. She said, "I want to know what a dream about linens means, bed linens that is."

I found the book and told her that it says a dream about linens means wealth and pleasure. She didn't seem as if she understood what I was saying. Her response was," That's all it says?" I told her yes, wealth means money and pleasure means you will have a good time or enjoy yourself.

*****I must give some background after sharing this incident. When I began working here two months ago, I was told about an elderly woman who calls all the time. They told me that she always wants to know the meaning of her dreams. I received this description/explaination, as I was being shown a shelf of books about dreams and zodiac signs located directly behind the reference desk. They said that she calls so often that they made a space for these books on the shelf.

For a whole month, I never answered the telephone when this woman called. I always wondered about a woman who supposedly dreams so much. My day came one Sunday afternoon. She called and low and behold, she didn't like my answer to the meaning of her dream. She then asked me to look it up in another book. I told her that I was looking in one more book and if she still didn't like what I found too bad. She said okay. I gave her the second answer, she then asked me if that was all that the book had on that particular situation. I told her yes,l and she hung up in my face.

I FAILED TO MENTION: THIS PARTICULAR WOMAN ONLY WANTS TO HEAR GOOD NEWS!!!!!

The other librarians in this department make up answers if what is written in the book is not good news. They have warned me that if you don't tell her anything good, she will keep you on the telephone until you do. I have told them about her hanging up in my face because I told her two books was my limit. **The red book has positive answers, usually*** Like I care!

A week after the hang-up incident, I was at the desk when she called. She asked me my name. I told her that we only give out our badge numbers as instructed by management. She then told me that I was lying because another librarian had given out her name. I informed her that it was a new policy. She said that she wanted my name because it was some woman who works here who doesn't like her and she doesn't know why. COULD IT BE THAT YOU SPEND YOUR DAYS THINKING OF WORDS TO CALL AND ASK US THEIR MEANING IN THE DREAM BOOKS????

This woman has said to me,"There are some dream books at the desk. You can look up what I dreamed about." Does she think our only reason for coming to work each day is to tell her words of encouragement?

I have told my co-workers that I will tell this woman whatever it says in the book, that's it, that's all!