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.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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!"
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!"
Thursday, November 16, 2006
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
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.
I HATE WHEN MY DAYS START OUT LIKE THIS. The library opened at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
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!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
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."
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."
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