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!

Cubicles, oh how I hate them

I have been at this new location for two months now. The staff area has cubicles. People forget that they aren't at home when having private telephone conversations. These are professional people who are allowing their fellow co-workers to be a part of their drama.

1. Loudest of all has been sued for plagiarism and has until the end of this month to appeal. He
does realize his errors and for extremely private calls, he uses the department head's office.
(He closes the door, but you can still hear his as you walk by.) He sits two aisles away.

2. Next up. The woman who has gone through an ugly dissolving of a romatic relationship.
They finally sold the home they shared. There is now the problem of amicably parting ways
and possessions. They have enlisted a third party to act as a mediator. HOW DO I KNOW
????? I currently hear her conversation with the mediator regarding last nights incident.
I am sorry, I don't care to know anything about the personal lives of my co-workers. She sits
in the aisle next to my area.

3. The woman who sits behind me sounds as if she is trying to get the attention of someone who
is three blocks away when she is on the telephone. When her friend comes down to visit her,
if I am at my desk, I must go elsewhere.

4. The woman who sits in the cubicle on the other side of mine. I believe that she has finally
gotten the message. She rarely holds conversations when I am at my desk. This is also the
one who was talking about me to another co-worker as I sat a my desk.

5. The woman who sits behind woman #4. Not only are her conversations loud. She adds her
two cents to everyone else's conversations. She is calling her girlfriend all day long to check
on her and profess her love for her. Something must be wrong with me because I have
always hated corny sappy people/couples.

After two months, it is still hard for me to get adjusted to these LOUD conversations that surround me.

6 Days!! Yeah, I know.......

Time flies by. Sometimes it doesn't jump off until the end of the day. I can't blog while at the reference desk. Well, I did once. The incident was so good, I didn't want to give myself time to forget any details.

This Friday, June 23rd, there is an Open Mic/Poetry Slam Contest at my old job. My former co-worker who now works upstairs, asked me to go with her. I told her that I would think about it and get back to her. That was last month. I really don't want to go. I live in the same neighborhood where the library is located. I haven't even been on that side of the neighborhood since my last day at that job. I have no desire to see that side of the area.

It's not that I don't like my former co-workers. I do like them and enjoy talking to them. I have no desire to see the former patrons. I don't feel like answering a million and one questions regarding my whereabouts.

I must have offended someone in another life

There are two librarians sitting at the reference desk. Each patron that has approached me so far this hour, has bypassed the other librarian. She is not busy. There isn't a patron in front of her. She is simply surffing the internet. She isn't even working on a project.

The first guy says that he has a free Greyhound ticket for travel around the United States this month. He asked if copies of United States maps were given away at the reference desk. I told him no, but there are Rand McNally Road Atlases laying on the counter beside me. He glanced at the atlases and moved on.

Right after him, another patron approached me. This patron was actually waiting for the previous patron to finish his questioning. The second patron reaked of alcohol so bad, that if I lit a match we would all go up in flames. HIS REFERENCE QUESTION THREW ME FOR A HUGE LOOP!!!!

" I would like some books on alcholism. I would like to research alcoholism." It seemed to me that the patron had conducted all the research he needed first hand. I gave him three titles to search for.

He returned to the desk and told me that he wanted to check out the book he had in hand. I first, checked the status of the book to make sure that it wasn't a reference book. I then told the patron that he would have to check the book out downstairs. I had to repeat myself two times because he acted as if he didn't understand. THIS WAS MY PROBLEM WITH THAT REQUEST.
1. You can't check out books at this or any other reference desk in this building.
2. Once again, he bypassed my co-worker who is not doing ANYTHING AT ALL!

The first patron came back two more times, telling me about Yosemite and asking about some national monument in Wyoming. He had the Wyoming travel book in his hand, yet he continued to ask me about Devils Tower. All I wanted to say was, "DO I LOOK LIKE I WOULD TRAVEL TO WYOMING JUST FOR FUN?????"
It isn't even 11:00 a.m. and I am already fed up for the day. Hopefully, it will only get better.

That neon sign must have been real bright today!

I have a running joke with my friends, that I attract the worst. When in the club, you can usually spot me running away from the fugly drunks, those with gold teeth, process wearing, polyester leisure suit, or just got released from jail pen men.

Today was not any different. At work all of those and more always approach me with a reference question. As a children's librarian they came asking me to help them look for books that they new darn well were in the adult section. On to the story.......

I was helping an older homeless vanilla man search for books on Denmark. One was on the floor and the other was in the back. He was confussed because he had conducted the search himself, unsuccessfully. After giving him one of the books and sending him to the next location, he returned to the desk.

He made a point of explaining to me that he believes he is a direct desendent of Denmark royalty. He showed me two different pictures and asked me where he could make copies. I explained to him where the copy machines are located and sent him on his merry way. 5 minutes later, he returned to the desk whispering. He asked, "Is it okay if I give you a compliment?" I said sure, because I thought that he wanted to thank me for helping with his search. To my surprise, he whispered, "You are so pretty." I said thank you and he walked away.

My coleague, who is a Cocoa male, said "Why do you get the good ones?" He was teasing, but you know I didn't think it was funny. He also said he is so happy that I now work here. All of the "special" patrons flock to me and they no longer have to deal with them. Whomever is blessed to work the desk with me is in a position to watch the madness unfold. It is like a bee to honey. They wait in line to bother me. Some even come back later when they see that the desk is busy.

Now I want to vent about today.

The first hour that I was on the desk went well. The second hour that I was on the desk, I wasn't so lucky. After 15 minutes on the desk, the noise begins. It was a man, but he had acrylic nails(red,) bleached blond shoulder length hair, and he was yelling into his cellular telephone. You would think that his voice was soft from appearances, WRONG. He had this deep voice and he continued to yell. Some nice librarian created a slip of paper that explains where you can use a cellular telephone in the library. I handed that to him. He read it and kept yelling without missing a beat. When I looked at him like he had lost his mind, he covered his mouth with his hand. This didn't reduce the noise at all. I let him go on for 10 more minutes. I was giving him evil looks and he would lower his voice then raise it again. I finally got tired. I went over there and told him he had 2 choices. 1) Go to the designated area and talk, 2) Leave the library, or I would call security and have him escorted out of the building. He took his time, but he unplugged his charger and prepared to leave the building. He was still yelling into the telephone. I am sorry, I failed to mention that dude was charging his cellular telephone on the library's money and disobeying the rules.

Let's talk about people left in the 1980's

Why does it have to be. This post is a reflection of what happened Thursday morning June 8, 2006. I will say it again, why, oh why must we have those who remain in decades past? I was trying to help a brotha out with his attempt at internet access. Now you know he took it as me digging on him, NOT!!! After helping him for the second time, he asked me my name. I in turn, asked him why he needed to know it. He then asked if that was something we weren't allowed to do. To save his face and to reduce the amount of time I had to talk to him, I simply said yes. He went on to tell me that his name is "D." That was something he didn't need to share because he had a big fat gold "D" medallion hanging from a chain around his neck. Dude also had a salt 'n' pepper Jerri Curl afro.

Let's move on to TRASH in the library. When I left on Wednesday, I noticed a pile of trash on a table in the Teen Section. It was still there on Thursday when I passed it on my way to the reference desk. It was still there that afternoon. We have custodial staff all day long and even after hours. It wasn't that they had missed the floor, or even that section of the floor. They had cleaned around that area. One of my co-workers finally removed the remaining bag himself.

I would have posted this on Thursday, but blogger wasn't allowing me access.

I had been doing so well this week

AND THEN.......Patron: I um....need a book about people who take pictures. Me: You would like a book about photographers. Patron: NO!!!! People who take pictures and sell them, you know theeir name is printed somewhere on the photo. Me: Yes, you would like a book about photographers. Would you like a biography.

Patron: No, I don't want a biography. I want something that is annotated. Me: Okay, but photographers sell their photographs. Is there a particular book that you are looking for.

Patron: Yes, but it has to be about photographers. I conduct a search and print out the titles of two books. Patron I have already seen those books. Me: I asked you if there was a specific book that you were looking for. By now, my boss has gotten tired of the exchange and tells the patron to go upstairs where the books about photographers and photography are located.

The patron walks away and we are all now confussed.

When you can no longer relate, you need to quit!!!

This morning was a madhouse. We had our monthly visit from a group of teen rehab chicks. They were actually just being teens, acting up in the library. Eating, drinking, and talking waaay toooo loud!! There were three adults acompanying them. You know the adults acted as if they could see no evil, hear no evil. They had a scheduled visit with the teen librarian. That was okay, but they were all over the place.

There were two who felt they were too good to conduct an online catalog search themselves. They first approached the other librarian on duty. He took time with them and showed them how to search the online catalog, while actually doing the search for them. Well, after 10 minutes and numerous searches, he told them that they would have to do the searches on their own. They proceeded to walk the floor and act like they were searching for a book.

What they were actually doing was waiting for him to leave the desk so that they could approach me. They had grand plans for me to search the catalog for all of the other books they were looking for. I had news for them. After searching one library record to see if the books placed on hold had arrived, I took them to the online catalog. I began to explain to them how to conduct a search. The little he**as had the nerve to tell me, " Oh, we already know how to search the catalog. He just showed us." I told them that they needed to search the catalog.

I then had to continue telling groups that were sitting near each other that eating and drinking were not allowed in the library. One group was sitting behind me. I told them that if I heard them eating again, I would make them sit at a table in front of the reference desk. Not two minutes later, I had to tell another group. After that, they had the nerve to say loudly "Why does everyone have attitudes today?"

The third adult accompanying the teens approaches the area drinking a hot beverage. My time at the desk was almost up and I chose not to say anything.

After I left the reference desk, all he** broke loose amongst the librarians. It was mostly the supervisors. They had a problem with the teens being allowed to run wild in the library. See that is the problem with some of us. They think because the teens are in a program, they should get special treatment. They are in that program because they are bad. Just like the adults who sell, and use drugs who are given the choice of time or a rehab. program, the teens chose rehab. Not all of the girls were bad. Out of 15 girls, 5 were really causing problems. The problem is, the girls would rotate, but it was always 5 at one time acting up.

The supervisors had a meeting with the manager, and they all spoke with the teen librarian. The teen librarian then asked me if she could speak with me regarding the matter. Supposedly, someone called me the "B" word but I didn't hear it. They were all in an uproar. I just told her that she should insist that they feed the girls before they enter the library. That will eliminate the food problem. I also told her that I wasn't sure if I should approach her or the adults with the teens in regard to their behavior.

The teens thought I was mean, but little do they know, I was nice.

Is it the WATER?????

So far today, I was only at the reference desk during the second hour of operation. We have been blessed with the patrons who talk to someone only they can see. I know that this is a serious mental problem, my paternal grandmother suffered from it.

What makes today odd, is that there is more than one person who suffers from this particular illness sitting on either side of the reference desk. On first glance, the assumption is that the person is on the telephone. The second glance causes you to examine the situation a little better, then you realize there is more than one person talking and they are not talking to each other. Sitting at the reference desk makes you feel as if you are in a wind tunnel and all of the noises are passing by you.

Add to this the odd reference questions of which you can't get a clear picture of what the patron is looking for. It takes a couple of seconds and then you realize that the patron doesn't have a clear picture of what they are looking for either. You then need to mix in the true reference questions.

I still have two more scheduled hours at the reference desk, later this afternoon. I am hoping that the climate has changed. I have a feeling that it will just be new faces, but the same type of patrons.

Only Black Folks..........

This woman came to the reference desk yesterday, to ask about using microsoft word on the internet computers. After I explained to her how she would access the program, she asked me if my hair was real. I told her that it is. She then asked, "Well, do you have tracks mixed in?" I told her no, and explained that sections are short because it has fallen out in some places. She went on to ask me if I had ever used Motions Permanent Hair Relaxer. I told her that I had, but I haven't put any type of relaxer in my hair for 9 months. I told her that I use a ceramic flat iron now. She said, "Oh, and that is enough for your hair; it leaves it looking like that." I told her that it did.

I was being real nice!!!! She stayed at the desk for 10 minutes asking me about my hair. If I had a weave, it would be much thicker than my hair. I would also have this gray covered up. I have had a track one time in my life and the glue drove me crazy. I wanted to add color to my hair without chemicals. That colored track only lasted one week in my hair.

All I could think about for the rest of the day is the nerve of black folks. I have had men pull my hair really hard when walking past me in a club. I realize that they wanted to know if it was real.

What the.......?

A patron walks up to the desk and reports that someone is smoking crack in the men's restroom. IT'S 11:00 a.m.!!! I called our onsite security to report the incident. A vanilla man had the nerve to be arguing while a security officer was escorting him out of the building. WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY BE PROTESTING!!!! HE WAS CAUGHT, END OF STORY!!!!

I have a radar this week.......

For the mentally unstable that is. Today, a man who has approached me every morning this week made a bee line for me at the desk. He has these long obscure search request. He will get angry when everything he is looking for is on a different floor. Lucky for me, he went to a different floor first. They in turn, sent him to my floor. His quest today was for books with God-like planets as the subject. First he wanted non-fiction, then he wanted science fiction.

He returned to the desk after browsing the science fiction isles. He decided that he wanted non-fiction books once again. I got tired of him real quick. I set him up at the online catalog and proceeded to show him how to do the search himself. He tried that line, " I don't know how to do this." I wasn't buying it today. I told him, "That is why I am showing you. You can sit here and play with your search terms for as long as you'd like." Once he settled on the call number section that he wanted, my shift was up. My boss was relieving me and agreed to take over where I had left off.

The other patron who decided that I was her friend for the day, marched up to the reference desk as soon as I sat down. Now we all know that there are "golf" pencils and note paper at the reference desk. That wasn't good enough for her. She told me that she wanted a pen. I shocked her because there weren't any pens at the desk. I told her that she would have to make do with a pencil. She told me that she was going to draw.

30 minutes later, she returned to the desk. She was polite this time. "Excuse me, can I have a rubber band please. I want to put my hair in a ponytail." Once I began looking for a rubber band, she decided that she needed four. When I pulled out a hand full, she exclaimed, "That will do." I subtracted four from what I had and gave them to her. I was her new friend then. She skipped away while telling me to, "Have a nice day."

I am hoping that the special people will be gone when I return to the desk later this afternoon. Something tells me that it will just be a new batch ready for the night shift.

The nerve of some people

1 1/2 weeks ago my former boss calls me. She said that I had scheduled preschool videos for that day but the videos hadn't arrived. In the same breath, she also told me that the delivery for that day hadn't arrived yet. She then said, "I guess that I can pick out a video just in case the ones that you selected are not in the delivery."

IF SHE ANSWERED HER OWN QUESTION, WHY DID SHE CALL ME!!!!!!

My former boss calls me again today. " I am looking through the binder and I don't see a copy of your selection form for preschool videos for this coming Monday. I do see the fax cover sheet for the April and May preschool video selections. I haven't found a copy of the selection sheets. Should I call the AV Dept. and ask if they received your request? Who shoud I call?" I tell her that I don't remember the guy's name, but I wrote it down somewhere in the binder. As a matter of fact, his name is on the fax cover sheet. She ends the conversation by saying that she will definitely call AV. I tell her that she should call the department because I do remember submitting the preschool video request from April-October. Wait, "Why am I telling her anything?" This is a branch manager who has been without a children's librarian before. Surely, she doesn't expect me to complete the request from my current post.

While I am at it, why does she always begin these conversations by asking me if I like my current position and if I am happy. I am 95% better mentally. Physically, I am having some problems. I would never tell her that though. Is she asking this because she thinks that I will return to the branch? I hope that isn't the case. I truly want to give this gig a chance. I definitely don't want to go backwards.

Phony people get on my LAST NERVE!!

Thursday May 4th. When I arrived to work, I chose to charge my cell phone because it showed two bars. I hid the phone and charger, then went upstairs to drop something off. I wasn't gone 10 minutes. After having returned to my desk, I realized that the woman sitting in the cubicle adjacent mine was talking about me to another Librarian. Neither of them are black. They were discusing me charging me cell phone and the fact that they were not even aware that there is an electrical outlet in my cubicle. NOW in order for the charger and cellular telephone to be seen, someone would have to have been inside my cubicle or leaning into it from my neighbors. Either way, they were all up in my space. They went on to discuss what I have done on the floor when dealing with patrons. They ended their conversation by saying that maybe my actions should be a topic for the staff meeting on May 9th.

As they were talking about me, I began e-mailing a co-worker who sits two aisles over and the friend who works upstairs. I explained how two librarians were talking about me while I was sitting at my desk. I guess they didn't realize that I had returned to my desk. The friend who works upstairs sits next to a friend of the main woman talking about me. My friend called and suggested that we take a break outside the building and discuss the incident. My ex called on my cell phone in the middle of all this and wanted to know what was going on. I told him that I couldn't discuss it on the phone, but I would send him an e-mail. During the break, my friend told me to ignore the mess. I checked my e-mail when I returned and my ex wrote, "You already know what I have to say, F*CK THEM H**S!"

I had reference desk duty about 1/2 hour after the incident described above. I had no idea who my common cubicle wall co-worker was speaking to. The librarian scheduled to work the desk with me, immediately goes into this long speech. In her speech, she tells me that I should feel free to ask her any and everything about the material. She tells me that even if she is helping a patron, I should interrupt her and ask away. She says that she knows that the layout of the floor and the materials can sometimes be confusing. This is the most this woman has ever said to me. It also let me know who the other person was talking about me. I thought she may have been feeling a bit of guilt. I was looking at her like she was CRAZY the whole time she was talking.

30 minutes go by without me talking to this woman. She then announces, " I said all of that earlier because you might be able to answer some of my questions and help me out." I didn't even comment, I just looked at her once again like she had lost her mind. Thursdays are my Fridays, so I couldn't wait until the end of the day. Two days away from these petty women.

Sunday morning I arrive at work before the petty women. After sitting at my desk for 30 minutes; common cubicle wall woman pops over to my area, "GOOD MORNING." This is the first day of my third week, this woman has never spoken to me. I said hi, and turned my head. I couldn't get on the computer because for some reason I was unable to logon. I.T. said that my computer wasn't registered with the domain. After waiting for 45 minutes, I was able to log onto the computer and feel like maybe the day wouldn't be so bad. I tried my best to speak to the petty women as little as possible.

A brotha on the come up

Minding my own business at the ref. desk this morning. A homeless man walks up to the desk and ask me if we have any books on viagara. I, like a fool, start searching the catalog. This was all a part of his " pick-up line." He goes on to say that his girl is trying to leave him because he can't get it right. He then asks me if I would leave him if he couldn't get if right. I don't even answer the question.

Once he realized that I was not going to answer the question, he goes in for the kill. He tells me that he doesn't have a problem, but he is trying to get my number. I still don't answer, but I show him that there are some books on viagra in the catalog. I tell him it's no joke, we do have some literature.

He's sticking to his line. He asks me if I am married, I don't answer. He tells me that he doesn't see a ring, and asks me if I have one. I tell him that I do have a ring. He asks why I don't have it on, I tell him that it is at my desk. He asks how long I have been married and I tell him almost three years. He then asks me if I would leave my husband for him. I don't even answer, I just look at him like n**a please!!! He stinks and has on dirty clothes. He sees the way in which I am looking at him. He proclaims that he is not homeless, his coat is dirty, but he is in school (Big Rig Driving.)

He tells me that he will be clocking 10k a month once he finishes school, 8k after taxes. He asks if my man is bringing it in like that , I tell him no. He asks me again if I would leave my man for him because he will be able to pay my rent. I told him that as long as he is paying his rent, that is the only thing he should be worried about.

He has green eyes and I guess he was fantasizing about back in the day when he was able to pull any chick he desired. I am not the one. I am not trying to help anyone else get back where they feel they should be.

You can never truly leave the children

The library opened at 9:00 a.m. today. I wasn't scheduled to work the reference desk until 10:00 a.m. When I arrived at the desk, I discovered that there were two high school classes visiting our floor today. Luckily for me, we are scheduled to work the reference desk in one hour increments.
When helping someone in a group; once you have helped one person locate what they are looking for, the news spreads like wildfire. I helped one young woman almost as soon as I arrived at the reference desk. For the duration of the hour, I was helping others in her group. She was looking for a biography of Martin Luther King Jr. Another student wanted the Autobiography of Malcolm X. One young man wanted art books, which aren't on our floor and I had a hard time convincing him of this. It didn't matter that he had been walking the floor for 15 minutes before he finally asked where he could find the book he was looking for. The next to the last search question was the kicker for me.

The young woman said that she was embarrassed to ask for my help. She said that she had been looking for the book and wasn't having any luck in locating it. She gave me a sheet of paper with just the call number. I checked the online catalog, to make sure the book was actually on the shelf. The title surprised me, "Lesbian sex scandals." I think that she was more embarrassed by the title than by not being able to find the book. She went on to tell me that she would hit herself if I found the book. I found the book and told her that I was waiting for her to hit herself. She did hit herself. She was accompanied by her girlfriend the whole time. After retrieving the book, they sat down to read it.

The students were supposed to find a book for their research paper during their visit. I learned from other students that they were given a list of choices for their topics. I am sure that lesbian sex was not on the list.

They were running, laughing, talking loudly, yelling, and eating. They were also more concerned with their access to the internet, than they were with finding a book.