Catching a thief

Friday afternoon as I returned from the staff area, the Teen Librarian approached me saying she thought the guy that I had been making leave the library everyday was in the DVD area (he gave up books and began stealing DVDs.) I smelled the guy before I reached him (he reeked of alcohol.) I got next to the guy and said, “I need you to sit over there. I had indicated the large round table in the adult area." It was open and could be seen from different angles in the library. The guy asked, "So you gon call the police on me?" I told him, "No, but I do need to speak to you." I asked him why he thought taking materials from our branch was a good idea. He told me that he gave away what he took. I then asked, “How do you give away library material?" He replied, “I take the barcode and the label off first. I DON'T SELL THE STUFF! He then asked me," Why are you worried about what I take? It belongs to the white man." I told him, "I manage this branch and you taking items from here makes the branch look bad." He said, "I can understand that." I then asked, “Do you even have a library card? (We didn't know his name and in order to process the paper work for suspension, I needed his name.) He said, “No, can I get one? I asked him if he would use the card if he had it, and he said yes. I then asked if he had valid picture identification. To my surprise, he got his wallet and showed me his identification. It actually looked brand new. The guy then told me that I was in his way because I kept standing there talking to him. He said, "You know I'm going get busy doing what I do when you leave?" I replied, "Yes, I do. That's why I'm not moving." I asked if he would fill out a library card application. He said that he would, if I helped him while he completed it. This is the point where the conversation turned. He said, "That's some nice polish you have on your toes." I thanked him and kept trying to get him to complete the application. He then asked, “Can I touch your toes?" I laughed, and said no. He asked, "Well, can I touch just one of them?" I laughed again and told him no, while moving out of his reach. Finally, he completed the application. I took him to the circulation counter so that his library card application could be processed. While they were processing his application, I went to get the suspension paperwork so that I could complete it. By this time, the Teen Librarian had called security and the police. Once the guy received his library card, he told me very loudly. I told him that he could check out 1 item and return it in 3 weeks. He asked, "Can I check you out and return you in 3 weeks?" I told him no, and that he could check out one of the library materials and return it in 3 weeks. He went in search of a DVD, came back to the desk and checked it out. He then came to tell me that he couldn't find any western movies. He reflected on it and then said, “I probably stole all of them." I said you probably didn’t, and handed him the suspension paperwork. He read it. He then and asked, "Did I do that much?” The suspension is for 90 days. By this time, library security has arrived and one of the beat cops. The cop said, "I'm just checking in, to see how it's going in here and here you are. Are you causing them trouble?" The library security officer and I both said, “It's taken care of now.”

Adults versus Pre-teens and Teenagers

The title of this post has been my ongoing problems for this month. A group of 10-20 pre-teens and teens have discovered my branch library. They are supposed to attend the local Y afterschool program, but according to them that Y is too ghetto. Instead, they prefer to yell, run, chase each other, and hit each other at the library. It can get so loud, it sounds as if you are outside. When they start misbehaving, one of us (the 3 librarians,) issues a warning. Of course they pay no attention to our warnings. Each evening almost always ends up with their group being asked to leave the library. The first time that I got fed up with them, I gave them the option of sitting at a table and reading a book, or they could leave the library. The whole group chose to leave the library. They returned immediately, and accused me of kicking them out. I repeated that they were given a choice and they chose to leave. They then wanted to argue with me. I kept repeating to them that arguing with me wasn't going to change the options that I had given them. This past Thursday, I kicked them out. They decided to block the foyer of the library. This action caused a disturbance with one of the crazy patrons. He chased them cursing. I had to reprimand him and then speak with the teens. I called the library security. The one officer that is assigned to the 27 branches was all the way on the other side of town. I also sent the local police station captain an email, requesting that the library be added to their beat. Next week, we will only have been open 3 months

It's the contractor's fault!

This past Monday, there was an email awaiting me at work. It was from one of the other librarians. I had advised here to contact the district manager in charge of the branch reconstruction regarding our sewage problems. So, it turns out the plumbing contractor did use a camera to find out the cause of the sewage back-ups. They found a rock inside the pipes. The rock was the cause of the back-ups. Did any of them email the branch staff to let us know? No, they didn't. Did anyone call us to let us know? Once again, no they didn't. They were so quick to accuse the branch staff for the sewage back-ups. It was crickets once the real culprit was discovered. As a matter of fact, they cancelled the meeting that they were supposed to have in the branch last week.

Hennesey, really? I mean really?

Wednesday evening six children and their mom came to visit the library. I had never seen this family. I kept hearing the Mom yell, "Hennesey." I finally looked in the children's area. A little girl who appeared to be about 3 years of age was the one answering to Hennessey. Why y'alll? No, they are not black. The only work of english spoken was Hennesey. I said to my staff, "Well at least we aren't the only ones who do that to our children."

New Construction doesn't always work out too good

After being open a little over 30 days, we have had sewage back-ups in all restrooms and the custodial closet on 4 different occasions in 3 weeks. Each time, the pipes have been snaked. Obviously this isn't solving the problem. Each and every sewage back-up has been blamed on the staff. They keep saying the back-up originated in the staff restroom. Funny, the staff restroom or any other restroom didn't back-up prior to the branch opening to the public. The staff worked in the branch and used all restrooms from 1 month prior to the branch opening. My claims of there being a bigger issue were not acknowledged until the fourth time there was a sewage back-up. We even had two in one week. They set up a date for the plumbing contractor to use a camera in the plumbing system and no one showed up. I think the plumbing contractor is trying to get out of his liability for the issues that keep occurring.

First Week in a Brand New Library

I noticed a regular patron at another branch sitting at one of our express terminals. It's a YT man, so I really wanted to know how and why he had come to the south eastern neck of the city. I called the branch that he normally frequents to tell them that he was at my branch. What do I discover? Homey had received a 7 day suspension from them the week before. The suspension was still in place. I approached the patron and asked his name to be sure I had the correct individual. He told me his name and I informed him that he was inviolation of his suspension. The man had the nerve to ask me how I knew what happened at the other branch. It had only been two weeks since I stopped working at that branch, so I'm still on their email distribution list. I received a copy of the incident report regarding the patron. I didn't think anything of it at the time, because the staff at that location constantly submits incident reports. In essence, I didn't read it at the time of receipt. I explain once again that he must exit the library because he is in violation of the suspension guidelines. He tells me that the suspension is just for that branch. I told him that a suspension is for all branches in our library system. The man called me the devil and told me that I needed to repent for my sins. I told him that he still had to leave the library. This back and forth went on for about 2-3 minutes. I finally walked away from the patron and he began packing up his belongings. He said something to a pair of teen girls who were staring at him and they told him that he's suspended, so he needs to leave them alone and leave the library. This is how the last day of my first week in our brand new library ended.

Just a few thing to say

The day is finally near, my branch library reopens this Saturday. I can't wait! I'm tired of the emails, meetings, shelf plans, tours. I have lived in this home for 10 years as of November 15, 2012. I never expected to be here this long. I thought that I would make the needed repairs and move on. The house had different plans. There was more wrong than indicated in the inspection. I knew there was dryrot, once one layer was revealed, even more was found. There was a leak that took a few thousand dollars and many visits by the plumber to uncover because that was in layers also. What seemed to be one leak was many leaks from different areas. Once a leak was stopped nothing, then two weeks later it would return. My stairs had holes, walls had holes, all in search of the hidden leak. The major leak turned out to come from the downstairs kitchen sink. I have the same microwave that I received as a house warming gift for my first apartment 23 years ago. My Mom is on her 3rd microwave in 10 years.

I have learned

The new folks that I manage have been babied by managers past. What I think they have learned from this week is that I'm not about that life. Thankfully, I will only be with them until they get a permanent manager,or my branch opens. My branch finally is scheduled to open at the end of February. I cannot wait. I am so tired of being shuffled around. I feel as if it needs to read next to my name in the staff directory, "Branch Manager, will travel to whatever location needs management."

My first week at a new temporary location

Once again, I have been given the assignment of being the interim manager at a unwanted branch. No one chose to reassign to that branch, so it must go to the list of eligibles. Most likely, someone from outside will interview for the job. Those who work in our library system are well aware of the patron problems at this branch. What I have learned this week is that there are staff issues also. On Wednesday, I informed a patron that his "cart of belongings" was too large to be inside the library. I gave him a copy of the library guidelines and highlighted the sentence that addressed this particular problem. The patron's response was that we never have a problem with the strollers. I told the patron that the strollers were used to transport humans and there is a difference. The patron had the nerve to tell me that his cart and a baby stroller were the same. The same patron was back on Thursday with his cart. I stopped and spoke with the patron. I asked him why he had brought the cart once again. I expained that he was still in violation of the library's guidelines for patron use. The guy had the nerve to ask me why I had a problem. He said that he comes to this branch all of the time and no one else had a problem with his cart. I walked away and went into my office. Not 10 minutes later, library security arrived. One of the officers came into my office. I asked him if they has spoken to the patron about his cart. The officer said they had. I then told the officer that I had spoken to the patron the day before. The officer said, " Oh you did? We'll take care of it!" The patron was escorted out of the library and he was suspended for 1 day, per library guidelines. That same day, I had an issue with one of the pages. When I returned from the staff room, he was in my office with the door closed(& locked) and on the computer. There were so many things wrong with that picture. I first stepped away, went to the restroom and returned. I told him,"First impressions last! I am going to the store and when I return, I expect you to be out of here." The fool had the nerve to yell at me. I closed the door in his face while he was talking and left the libary. He sent his district manager an email about the incident. He thought that he was tellling my boss on me. Two things. 1. She is not my boss. 2. He was oh so in the wrong. The district manager called me, asked for my version of the story. She was extremely surprised to learn that the employee in question was on the manager's computer with the door closed and locked.

Happy New Year

I will be spending my New Year's Eve serving food at a local homeless shelter. It's a part of my sorority's commitment to public servce. We provide and serve food to this particular shelter the 5th Monday. This month, it just so happens to fall on New Year's Eve. I hope everyone has a great time not matter how you choose to ring in the new year.

Seen & Heard While riding the bus

Yesterday evening when I boarded the bus, I went to the last row of seats because it was empty. I was then joined by a teen couple. When they sat down, the guy was rolling a blunt. Not 5 minutes into the bus ride, the guy yells while still rolling the blunt that someone has f'ed around and messed up his feung shui. ****Since when do thugs not only know what feung shui is, but pronounce and use it correctly in a sentence? At the next major bus stop, another teen boarded the bus and joined the couple sitting near me. The guy rolling the blunt continued to roll it, while he sold the other teen a very small portion of weed. The whole time I prayed, "Lord, please don't let them fire up while still on the bus sitting near me.

My temporary work location life is nearing the end

We finally have a date when the temporary library location will close. We will close in mid January and open in the new building in February. The waiting game begins. My department is waiting on a commited date from the Mayor for the ceremony. I have begun the opening day party planning with the team members from library management. I have done 3 walk throughs. The library is still far from being ready for opening. The crew has already broken some pieces of very expensive glass artwork. The glass has been reordered. That installation will take time, once the glass arrives. The public courtyard has the artwork and doors. The built-in benches are missing. The foliage is missing, and the trees are missing. The staff breakroom has cabinets that are partially installed. The lighting kinks haven't been worked out. There are still areas that lack proper lighting because the architect didn't foresee the possible blind spots. My staff is ready to leave. They are so excited. The district manager said we need to start weeding the collection as damaged books are returned. They began weeding the in-house collection that same day. I explained to them that we still have to have a collection of items for the public to checkout. But the countdown has begun.....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I am thankful for life, a job, and my Mom.

I'm also thankful that I don't have to cook a big spread. The bad part is I still want a Turkey Dinner with most of the fixings.

How did I get so lucky you ask? Each year, my Mom says that she doesn't want a Turkey Dinner, this year I decided to listen.




Then , the weirdo from across the street
gave her a Turkey. Yesterday, she complained because I didn't offer to cook
it.

I injured myself on October 4th

I've been typing, well doing everything with 1 1/2 hands. I bruised my thumb, the area between my index finger and thumb, in addition to my wrist. I have a splint that goes from my thumb to the middle of my right arm. It's a pain more than anything, it's a constant ache. It doesn't throb anymore, but I can send the pain there with one wrong move. It happened at work, so I saw a Workman's Comp doctor. I know must attend physical therapy. I don't really use my dishwasher much, but I've become comfortable with using it now. I'm thankful that I have one now.

Management,s downside

There is a YT man who visits the branch that I'm assigned to temporarily. He has decided to harass me. Saturday took the cake, he called me racist(which he seems to be,) and on his way down the stairs, he called me a Black Bitch and then a Racist Black Bitch. In his tirade, he said some key words that let me know he has been down this road before. His actions this past Saturday will grant him a 30 day suspension, once security is able to serve him the notice. I was unable to complete this incident report that will alert security and managaement of this individual before I left work on Saturday. I'm off for the next few days, so I will complete the incident report from home and submitt it. So far, that's two individuals that have decided to target me. How do I know this, each of them will case the reference desk before they settle in on me. If I am helping someone, they will wait until I'm free. Atfer the initial reference interview, the harassment begins. In each case, the individual did not become aware of my management status until they became angered by me refusal to forgo library policy to accommodate them. It goes a little something like this, " I want to speak with the person in charge." The YT man from Saturday, " I want to speak with the highest classification on duty." (he has been down this road before because that it library jargin) In each instance, they found out that it was me and said, " I will file a complaint against you." My response, "That is well within your rights."

I've been at my new temporary location a month now

What I like: There are plenty of food choices for lunch or dinner choices( I work until 9pm one night a week.) I found a juice bar last week, it's only 2 1/2/ blocks away. There are lots of $1 stores nearby. What I don't like: I work until 9pm one night and it's Tuesday at that, my first day of the week. I have to take more than 1 bus. I cannot drive or walk to work. The parking around this branch sucks! Once again, I don't have my own space: No desk, no drawer, nothing.

Yoga Pants & or sweat pants for librarians

There is a manager who has on black yoga pants EVERY time I see her. She usually pairs them with a sweater set. I'm so confused when I see her. Does she really think it's okay to make yoga pants part of your work attire?

There is a part-time Children's Librarian who wears thick cotton sweat pants with the elastic waistband. They are so tight (picture leggings.). I wonder how she is able to breathe.

Day 2 of my work week

I have to substitute at my own branch library today & tomorrow. The librarian who normally works today, has jury duty. The librarian who works on Thursdays was in a bicycle accident.

Things are forever changing with my schedule

Due to the librarian shortages in the library system in which I work, I did not train the new manager this past Saturday. Instead, I was sent to cover for a branch manager who stated on Friday, that she would be too sick to work on Saturday. There was a program and two scheduled community meetings at her branch that day. I was supposed to train the new manager again tomorrow, but that's a scheduled vacation day for me. What does this mean? I'm not scheduled to report to a location this Wednesday. I have to call my district manager tomorrow, to find out where they've decided to place me. Change is good, and promotions are better, but sometimes I think that I would have been better off in my old position. This constant schedule/location change is for the birds.

The Good News, The Bad News, and everything else

The Good News: THEY'VE FINALLY HIRED A NEW MANAGER FOR THE SECOND BRANCH THAT I'VE BEEN MANAGING FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS!! The Bad News: I HAVE TO TRAIN THIS NEW MANAGER :( Everything else: Last week, one of the employees that I manage told me that she likes how my hair looks when I wear it flat ironed. She added that it looks more professional that way. This week, I broke it down to her. I explained that what she said to me and the way in which she said it would have caused another person to curse her out. Because I knew that her statements came out of ignorance, I took the time to explain why what she said was offensive. Back story: My hair has been relaxer free for about 7 or 8 years. I wear it in it's natural state 98% of the time(Kinky/Curly.) The other 2% of the time, it is blow dryed and flat ironed because I have gone to the salon to have it colored and trimmed. The employee appologized and said that she didn't realize what she said was offensive. I told her that she now knows, so hopefully she won't make the same mistake again.

My quarterly Sunday

This past Sunday, I arrived to my assigned branch 10 minutes early. As the Acting HBIC, you have to send an email out to all of the branch libraries by 12noon. I didn't receive any problem call from the other branches. The problem was with the branch were I was assigned. I was the only one there. The only reason that I was able to send the email out in time, was because the custodian just happened to still be in the branch when I arrived. This is the same branch were the manager sent me an email 5 days before I was scheduled to be there, talking about don't be late(In January.) I haven't spoken to her since receiving that email. I could understand if she was my District Manager, but she's the same classification as me. She's a bit confussed because for a few months, they had her in the position of a temporary district manager. Even then, she wasn't my district manager. I didn't even work in the branches during her reign as District Manager. I worked with a different staff, the last time that I was there. I must remember not to chose this particular staff's rotation. Everyone was 10 or more minutes late to work. I got to work with the librarian who mistook me for someone beneath her the last time that I worked with her. I was at the desk when she arrived. She said, "Oh, AND YOU ARE?" I said, "Your acting chief of branches today." She tried to play it off, "And your name is?" I played along with her for a little while, and gave her my name, I even gave her a brief rundown of everywhere that I've worked in the system. I already don't like the manager at that branch, but that part-time entry level librarian is just too much.

Yesterday, I was a subsitute

Friday evening, 15 minutes before closing, I received a call from the assistant to the man in charge of the branches. She informed me that I was needed Saturday afternoon, at a branch that I'm not assigned to. Saturday afternoon, I had been in the other branch about 2 hours. A YT woman marches up to the other librarian and says, " I want that book, Think Like A Man by Tyler Perry." I said, "I think you mean Steve Harvey, and the title is Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man." The patron then said, " Oh, yeah, who did I say is the author?" I told her what she had said. The patron then says, "I just need to learn to say No. I just need to read that book." I said," Oh,ok." I turned back around to face the computer terminal. I couldn't even begin to touch that.

My 6 months probation has ended

I am so happy. I can finally take some much needed vacation days. Six months without a vacation day is a bit much. I was off two days last week(it ended 5/26/12,) and I'm off two days this week. Last week, I didn't mention my days off. I mentioned them this week and my Mom has already planned what she wants me to do.

My eReader Story

In December, my Mom received an eReader from a friend as a gift. It was the basic reader, my Mom decided that she didn't want that one. She wanted to return it and purchase one with all of the bells and whistles. There was one big problem. My Mom hates using the internet for any type of business transaction. Here's where I come in, I had to go online to obtain the online store's 1-800 number. She wanted to call them to handle this return. I thought that was the end of my part in this process. Nope, I was wrong. They emailed her the postage paid return label. Guess who, had to go online and print the label? Yep, that would be me. We're not done yet. The company received the returned eReader. They issued her an e-credit. Why did they do that? I arrived home one evening to find that I had to purchase the eReader with the bells and whistles for her with her e-credit and pay the rest with her card for her. I completed that and explained to her when to expect the new eReader. The new eReader arrived a week later. At the time, I asked, "Do you want me to show you how to use it, or load everything for you? She said that she wanted me to show her, so that she could learn how to use it. Weeks passed. I finally asked her about the new eReader. She said, "I don't like it!" I asked what she had done on the reader. Guess what, absolutely nothing. She didn't want to charge any books with her credit card, she didn't want to check out any books from our local online library, she didn't want to check out any books from open library. Why do you ask? She said that she didn't want any of the eBooks to disappear after 3 weeks. She only wanted to download free eBooks. When I showed her where the free eBooks were, she didn't like the selection. My solution, I told her that I was going to give her a giftcard for Mother's Day. I have been downloading books for her since then. Using the internet on her eReader has been another adventure with ups and downs(for me.)

Public service is just WOW

My library system allows patrons to check out 50 items total at one time. EVERYTHING is checked out for 3 weeks. The late fee for DVDs is $1.00 per day. The late fee for everything else is $ .10 per day. If you haven't watched all of the movies that you checked out in 3 weeks, that's your problem. Last week, a man complained that his fines were $50. He had more than 9 late DVDs, that were more than 1 week late. This system is so generous, if you return the item, your late fee is knocked down to $5.00 per item. That's no matter how long the item has been checked out. He wanted me to forgive the WHOLE thing. I told him that I couldn't see doing that. I checked with my manager and because he said that he had been hospitilized, all was forgiven. Later I found out that he had done this last year. This week, a woman returned 5 DVDs that were months late. The library barcodes had been peeled off. She complained about the late fees and the $1 per label fee that she would be charged. I found out about the incident afterward. I wanted to know why she decided to bring the DVDs back. It looked as if they planned to keep them. We had a teen try to steal a Wrestling DVD last Friday. How did I know it was him. He was the only one of his group who checked out anything, and all he checked out were wrestling dvds. Today, the same teen came into the library eating suflower seeds. I informed him that he couldn't eat in the library. 20 minutes later, what do I see? THe had opened a (closed) window, raised the blinds and proceeded to spit the shells out the window. I kicked him out for the rest of today.

I volunteered to work today

Kinda sorta. We have to work 1 Sunday each quarter. I chose today because I knew a lot of people wouldn't want to work today. I had worked Easter Sunday 5 years in a row, in my previous position. This year was different. I was HNIC, or HBIC, however you want to describe it. Luck was on my side because nothing happened. The last Sunday the I was in charge(my first time,)3 branches had staff call-out sick. I had to juggle staff from 1 location to another. I was stressed from 12-1pm(the time in which the branches open on Sunday.) The only thing I had to deal with was the non-stop telephone calls asking if we were open today.

2 Days Notice.......Just Wow

Yesterday, the Library Technical Assistant at my branch informed me that the director of the Y(district vice president) where we are housed, informed her that they want the library to close for 1 week in April 2012. I don't normally work there on Wednesdays, but I stopped by to drop off receipt paper. When I received the news, I said, now she knows that she signed the contract for the library to rent this space with the dirstrict manager. Therefore all issues regarding things like this should be brought to her. Well, the district manager is on vacation until mid April. Why do they want us to close, you ask? Well, they plan to remove the ceiling tiles that just happen to contain asbestos. The director said, "Oh, you guys can remove some of the library collection downstairs, so that the library can open down there for a week. Please talk to the manager(me.) First of all a decision that big, isn't my call. I sent the Chief of Branches an email, because he wasn't in the office. He even said that he needed to address the problem with the library administration. I am so ready for the library to vacate that building.

What a library story

I'm sure that I wrote somewhere on here that the mini version of the library that I manage is inside the local YMCA. Well the YMCA is housed in my old elementary school building. This building was old when I went there. Management at the YMCA decided to begin necessary renovation and failed to notify the library system. I guess they thought it wasn't necessary. It was quite necessary because they had the old asbestos ceiling tiles removed. This construction work took place on the same floor as the library. Since I'm only at the library about 11 hours per week, the bulk of the tile removal took place while I was working at another location, or on my days off. Two weeks ago, I received a call at home from the Library Tech. She informed me that the fumes from the painting were so strong that they called upper management and the library was being shut down for the remainder of the day. That was a Monday. The following Tuesday when I arrived at work, I received a call from upper management asking me to go over to my branch. I was asked to determine if the fumes were too strong for the staff to be in the library. I was to do this everyday. The branch ended up being closed for the whole week. I explained to upper management what type of construction was being performed. They still wanted me to go to the branch everyday to determine the level of the fumes.

Tagged/Award Recipient.

Gorgeous Puddin is the cause of this post

Rules for Blog on Fire: Reveal 7 things about yourself. Pass the award onto 10 other deserving bloggers I will reveal the 7 things about myself, but I won't be passing the award on to others. I don't follow enough bloggers to do so. Here it goes: 1. Are you currently doing what you want to do in life? There are days when I wonder. I thought this was something that I would enjoy and sometimes I do. Having received my degree from a private university, it was rather expensive. I'll be in this profession a while, so far, I've been doing this for 12 years. 2. What is your absolute favorite way to have fun? Going out with friends and catching up on each others lives. 3. How many siblings do you have and what birth order are you? I have 2 siblings, brother and sister. I am the youngest. 4. What's your fantasy car. I have a few, but the Maybach is one that I don't seen in my near future. 5. Where is the last place you vacationed? Silverdale, Washington 6. Do you wear jewelry and do you prefer gold or silver! I do wear jewelry, usually yellow or white gold. 7. What's the best thing you've ever eaten? I don't think anything is the best, but what I go back for oftern is the Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice and Spicy Calamari Salad at Lalita Thai 8. What colors is your bathroom decorated with? Disclaimer-All of my bathrooms need to be remodeled. The original bathroom is yellow and baby blue ceramic tile, so there's a baby blue rug. The towel colors vary between light blue, dark blue, and grey. The master bathroom has beige ceramic tile surrounding the tub, everything else is white, stainless, or clear. The towels vary stripped, grey, and dark blue. 9. How often do you exercise? I walk everyday. I don't spend enough time walking. Some days 40 minutes, some days only 20. 10. Do you want children? If you have children do you want more? I don't have any children. I think my time for having them has expired. 11. What is your least favorite food? If you had to eat it for 1 month for a million dollars could you? Chitterlings are my least favorite. I don't think that I could eat them for 1 month. It's been so long since I've had pork, it makes me sick to my stomach now.

Two Month Anniversary

Tomorrow is my two month anniversary for my new position. I'm still waiting for them to hire a manager for the 2nd branch that I supervise. The only answer I've gotten so far regarding the hiring process is, "It takes time." Meanwhile, I'm in limbo. I'm the manager of the 2nd branch, but not really. Their District Manager works in the branch on Mondays. A patron put up a fuss last week because she had received a notice in the mail regarding overdue books. The patron claims that she and her son returned the books on January 3rd. That was one of the bussiest days for processing returned books. The technician who helped the woman cleared her library record of the charges, because the books were found on the shelves(by her, not us.) That wasn't enough, she insisted on speaking to the Branch Manager, not the woman's supervisor. When I walked out of the staff room and approached the woman, there was a brief momment where I saw shock in her eyes. She managed to snap back real quick. She gave her version of the events. I told her that if she was still unhappy with the service at our branch, she could submit a complaint form. That wasn't enough either, because she told me that she wanted someone to personally follow-up on her complaint. I then said that I would attach a letter to the complaint. The letter would be sent to the District Manager. While the woman completed the complaint form, I sat down to compose the letter. As I was typing, the woman said, "Oh, I don't mean to make such a fuss." I thought, yes you do. You just didn't realize that the Branch Manager is a black woman. This week, I've had my first two experiences with the patron who calls and ask you if a DVD is in your library. After you search for the DVD, she then says that she doesn't want to reserve it. She did that twice today. She did it yesterday, Saturday, and Friday. The staff informed me that this was the patron's pattern in the past. It got so bad that upper management spoke with the patron. She could only visit one branch as a result. I guess she feels that enough time has gone by, she can resume her previous behavior.

The Hood Satelite Branch Library

Yesterday one of the teen girls who attends the afterschool program inside of the Boys&Girls Club stole two teen magazines from their protective covers. Lucky for me and unlucky for her, I have a friend who works with the afterschool program. I told my friend to be on the lookout for two magazines(Word Up & Right On.) I received a text at 7:30 yesterday evening, the magazines had been recovered and the girl lied to the end. Today, 30 minutes after we opened, a woman came into the library with two toddlers and a 9 year old. She said that she was leaving them in the library while she went to Zumba. I explained to her that we aren't babysitters. She said that her 9yr old would be responsible for the two younger girls. The mother also told me that the Zumba instructor announced this morning that children were no longer allowed to "Family Zumba Class." No one thought to call the library, they just told the parents, "Drop your kids off at the library." I went down to the front desk and asked to speak to whoever was in charge. I gave him a copy of the Library Guidelines, and highlighted the sentence that says children under 8 years of age aren't allowed in the library without a parent or another responsible individual. We have 8 chairs for patrons, 2 30-minute computer stations, and two 15-minute computer stations. by 10:40 a.m., all seats were full and there were children standing around. Another parent entered the library with her son and tried to drop him off. I told her that the library was too crowded and there weren't any chairs available. She then asked, "So, you're telling me that we have to leave?" I asked, "Do you plan to stay with your child?" She said no, and I told her that they would have to leave. After she left with her child, another employee of the club approached me in the library. He asked me what could they do so that more children could fit into the library? Could they bring more chairs? I told him no, because more chairs would mean that people wouldn't be able to walk around and it was already crowded. 11:30a.m. rolled around and the parents began arriving to pick-up their children. Did they enter the library quietly and retrieve their children......That would be a definite NO! They were half-way to the entrance of the library and began yelling for their children. The Boys & Girls Club Staff tried to reassure that this was the first and only Satruday that this would happen. I am not convinced. The Zumba Class has been free so far, but they said that effective Januray 28th there will be a fee. They expect that the class participation will change drastically, once a fee is in place.

Lots of progress and then......

Right back where we started. I received the outline for my Performace Goals via email today. As I read them, I noticed that these are things that this woman didn't do when she was a branch manager. The open lines of communication with staff is a big one. The portion of my duties that really gets me wondering is the dual branch manager. I have worked in this library system for 10 years, 3 of them part-time. Not once has a new branch manager been assigned 2 branches. This is supposed to be temporary, but so far, they haven't found any takers. I have two district managers, two branch manager reports are due the 2nd week of the month. I don't even want to think about performance plans and evaluations, because I have double of every staff classification. This is my mini update for you. I have to take the time to give a little more about my first month in my new classification.

Last Friday

I arrived 10 minutes late to open the branch. The Library Tech was still out sick. I had been downtown in meetings at the main library. Who do you ask, would keep me in meetings, knowing that I had to arrive at my branch in time to park my car and open the library on time, GUESS?? I hope you got it right. It was my DISTRICT MANAGER. That's not the worst of it. The library page who was supposed to be there at 1pm, was no where to be found. She arrived after me. Instead of going upstairs to the library, she stopped in the lobby and called anther DISTRICT MANAGER to inform her that I was late. I had opened the libary and was on the telephone speaking with the Library Tech. She was giving me a report on her condition. I asked her where the page's contact information was, because she was late. I pulled her library record and called the number listed. The number was her cell. She said, "Oh you're already in the library?" The patrons who were in the lobby when I arrived, came upstairs with her. One of the patrons said, "Oh, I saw you when you arrived!" As he said that, I was on the telephone with the secretary at the district office. I informed her that I was in the library when the page called them, and it was open. An hour later, my District Manager called and said, "So, what time did you really arrive?" I told her that I arrive at 1:10pm, and the page arrived after me. Instead of coming upstairs, she decided to go by the word of the YMCA staff and call the district office. I now know that I must watch out for that page also, because why do you have the telephone number of a district manager who isn't your district manager, stored in your cell?

Too Good To Be True

My first week in my new position went well. The second week reminded me why I was hesitant to have the same person as my manager again. ****Key Point to this senario: The Library Tech is the backbone to any branch library or any library department*** My schedule has me working the first two days of my work week at another branch library. My first day of the week at my branch library is Thursday. On Thursdays, I work at my branch from 9am-12:30pm. I open the branch alone at 10am. The Library Tech arrives at 10:30am. This past Thursday, 10:30am came and went. Finally, at 11:30am, I called the Tech at home. She informed me that she had been home sick since Monday afternoon. She said that she left work Monday afternoon and went to the emergency room. She also tells me that the District Manager is supposed to cover for her. This means that the District Manager will be at the branch by 12:30pm, when I was scheduled to leave. After speaking with the Tech, I called the District Manager and left a message. By 12noon, I still hadn't heard from the District Manager, so I sent her an email, because she may not have been in the office. I called the other branch where I was scheduled to be at 2:00pm. I told them the situation, and they said not to worry, just get there whenever. I hadn't heard anything by 1pm, when the Page arrived. 2 minutes after 1, the District Manager calls, "Oh, I didnt go to work today, my daughter is sick. You should have called the office for coverage." The part-time adult librarian was scheduled to arrive at 2:30pm, so I told the the district manager that I would stay until she arrived. The other librarian arrived early, so I left. At 5:30pm, I received a call from the district office; the timecards were due. The Library Tech normally handles this, but she had been out sick all week. I asked if I could turn them in on Friday to Payroll, becuase that was the actual deadline. At 6pm(when my day is over,) I caught the bus back to my branch. When I arrived, the pt.Adult Librarian informed me that the district manager was down the hall at the Friends Of The Library meeting. She told them to tell me that she was available to help with the timesheets, if I needed it(she didn't do the timesheets when I worked with her, she didn't know how.) 30 minutes later, I finished the timesheets and went down the hall to meet the Friends Of The Library group. I wasn't able to print the timesheets. The District Manager told me not to worry about it, since I emailled them to her, she would print them out, sign them and turn them in to payroll. I had something for her though. I not only emailed them to her, I emailled them to all of the payroll clerks that need copies. I didn't want her to try and take credit for my overtime. I was able to print out a timesheet for the pages, but the program wasn't working for one person. I had to pencil in the correct information. The District Manager didn't turn in the timesheets on Friday morning. Friday afternoon, after our meeting, she asked me to make the same manual changes that I did the day before.

I forgot to add

I start the new gig on Saturday 11/26. Yep, right after Thanksgiving and the mandatory days off. Instead of Sunday-Thursday, I will now work Tuesday - Saturday. I told my hair dresser this past Friday and he said, "You can't go through the holidays with those roots!" He colored my hair and told me that I could send him the money.

It's Official

I signed the papers this past Tuesday, I was fingerprinted on Thursday. My first day at the old branch as the manager is this Saturday. 6 months probation, no vacation, or my probation period will be extended. I found out after all the paperwork was signed that I will only work at my branch part of the week. The other days of the week, I will float to wherever I'm needed(Oh JOY.) The Sunday staff gave me a going away party this afternoon. No food, just desserts. My co-worker(librarian) told them that I like chocolate, so there was a chocolate sheet cake, mini red velvet bundt cakes, candy, a mango cake, chocolate chip cookies. I had made them Cinnamon Rolls, not knowing that they would have all of that. I began clearing my desk. I've been at the same location for 5 years. I found stuff that I don't even remember bringing to work. I've only tackled three drawers, I have two more drawers, then the shelves. Each time I find another stack, I think to myself, "And they say my cubicle is bare, if they only knew."

I've been meaning to mention this for about 2 weeks now

One afternoon, a patron came to the reference desk and asked me where the scrap paper is. I proceeded to show him the 3x5 pieces and pointed to the bin where the 8x11 pieces are. Before I could state why I was pointing toward the other end of the desk, he began to yell. "I DON'T WANT SMALL PIECES OF PAPER. I NEED BIG PIECES OF PAPER." I explained to him that if he had let me finish explaining where the paper is located, he would have seen the larger pieces of paper. He went to get some paper, but he first had to choose each piece of paper based on the amount of print on the opposite side. As he was doing this, another patron squeesed pass him because he was blocking a walkway. This guy began yelling, " YOU TOUCHED ME, YOU WERE TOO CLOSE! YOOOOUUUU TOUCHED MEEEE, YOOOUUU TOUCHED MEEEE!" Yet another patron yells from one of the computers, "DUDE, YOU NEED TO CHILL AND TAKE A PILL WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!" The floor supervisor picked up the telephone to call security. The patron began walking toward me again and he said, "IT'S OKAY, I HAVE A PROBLEM!" I told him, "I know." She stayed on the telephone with security, so the guy started walking away from the reference desk. He turned to me yet again and said, " I HAVE A PROBLEM!" I told him, "THAT'S OBVIOUS!" As he walked away, he said, " THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY MEN AND I'M WRITING A SCREENPLAY ABOUT IT!"

Why did you even show up?

Sundays the library's hours are 12noon until 5pm. My co-worker arrived at noon and left at 2pm. She was complainig
About a sore throat. Now we all know that if it was sore at noon, it was sore when you woke up.


Today, yet another co-worker announces at 9:15am that she's leaving to go to the docter and will return by 1pm. We start work at 9am and the library opens at 10am on Momdays.

Both of these women left me wondering why they even bothered to come to work.

Yes, they both have a history of calling-in sick. I can't believe they think leaving early is much better than calling in sick. In both
instances, they are causing a shortage in reference desk coverage.

We found someone's stash

Wednesday, my co-worker went to service the self check-out station. It was a paper jam of some sort.

He unlocked the lid to the receipt paper and he found two morphine pills. I said whoever stashed them there wasn't thinking longterm. The lid has a lock on it and the opening is short and very narrow.


I interviewed for a promotional position last week. I had my second interview this week. I was told that I should have an answer next week. This particular promotion would mean me working in the hood (at the same branch as before)again.

It feels odd, but I look forward to the possiblity of walking to work again. I don't look forward to the creeps though.

New Copiers

We have new copy machines. These are special, you can print from the internet computers, you can scan, email, and fax documents, in addition to making black/white copies, or color copies.

Management said they're cheaper. They are also a headache for the staff and the patrons.

The machines don't take change. You can only use a copy card which can be purchase for $1. All day long:
But I only need 1 copy.

I don't have small bills.

Why do I need a copy card.

Why doesn't anyone know how to work these things.

Why can't we use the old printers (they are still on the floor, in the same spot.)

Blogger is not my friend tonight

I have retyped this post three times and lost it two times, the other time, I could make any corrections, so I deleted.

For the past month or so, there were protests across the street from my job. These protests occurred on Mondays only. The first Monday, I waited 45 minutes for a outbound bus. The protest are against BART, but after an hour, they were taking there movement to Market Street. This meant that they were blocking traffic. There wasn't anything going outbound.

Two weeks ago, I saw three nude men standing in front of the Orpheum Theater. I turned to check and see if the foot patrol had passed and in their place were the nude men.

Unfortunately for the men, there were four teenage girls. The girls proceeded to clown the men. According to the girls, the private parts on display were extremely small. I heard loud laughter and then....."

I've been holding out!

I've had this since Thursday evening. My co-worker walking into the library behind this individual this past Wednesday morning around 11:15am. My co-worker said the guy was just walking around on the first floor.

I never saw him on the 3rd floor, so I don't know how long he stayed in the building.

I'm glad that it wasn't me!

Yesterday morning, the teen librarian was checking the teen center, to make sure everything was okay. You know, no perverts hanging out, no criminal behavior, things of that nature.

What you ask did she stumble upon for me to entitle this post "I'm glad it wasn't me?"

As she cleared the stacks, she saw two teens, a male and a female. The male was sitting on the desk facing the female. The female was sitting in a chair facing the male. Her head was in his lap.............FACE DOWN.........Yes, you read that correctly.

Sitting near them were some develop mentally disabled adults and their monitor.

What did the librarian do, you're wondering? She screamed, "WHAT THE HELL DO ARE YOU DOING!!!" She starttled the teens, knocked the monitor out of her daze, and caused the security officer to run over to the area.

The security officer took over the situation from there.........The teens claimed that the female was simply "resting her head."

The teen librarian felt guilty the rest of yesterday and most of today. She said it was because of the way in which she reacted. I told her that I thought it was the way in which I think a lot of librarian's would react. Today, I told her that I don't curse, but I'm pretty sure that I would have yelled.

Today, the teens returned. When the same librarian approached them because they were yelling, the male told her that she should appologize for her language yesterday. She did appologize to the teens, and they in turn appologized to her. They're sticking to their story that all the female was doing, was resting her head in the male's lap, face down.

Change is around the corner

My supervisor is retiring in two weeks. This means that our floor will then be short two supervisors. It also means that his work schedule is up for grabs. I found out today that the most unreliable supervisor will take over his schedule.

This is the same woman who scheduled herself to work one Sunday and didn't show up (She didn't call either.) The following Tuesday, she arrived to work and said, "OH, I forgot." Really, and you're a part of the management team? She was the acting Chief of the Library that day. This not only put a strain on our floor, but the whole library. A manager from a different floor had to step in and be the acting Chief. It left my floor short staffed. We had to scramble and put together a new desk schedule, in addition to closing one of the reference desk. It is my opinion that this woman shouldn't be allowed to work a Sunday shift EVER!

When my co-worker told me that the lady decided that she wanted to be the Sunday Floor Manager, I said, "Well that's not going to do us any good. We will be all alone again."

It was already bad, but ........

I had just finished telling my co-worker that I wasn't feeling well. Dealing with messy patrons was not something I felt like dealing with.

One of the pages came over to tell me that he had awakened a patron who then began cursing at him.

I walked with the page back toward where the patron was sitting. As I approached the patron, he began yelling at the page that he didn't have to go and tell on him.

I explained to the patron that the page was only doing what I or any other staff member would have done when he woke him up. The patron was yelling, "YALL AIN'T BOTHERING NONE OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE! WHY DID HE HAVE TO POINT ME OUT?"

I said, "You were sleeping and it's against the library rules and regulations to sleep inside of the library." I repeated this at least 3 times, because the patron kept asking why he had to be awakened.

He then said, "I just got off work, and I was trying to get some sleep before I got on BART." For the 4th/5th time, I said, "Sleeping isn't allowed inside of the library!"

The whole time that I was talking to the patron, he kept cursing at the page. I finally walked back toward the reference desk, so that I could call security. The patron apologized to me as I was walking away. He said that he wasn't cursing at me, he was taling to him(the page.)

Well........I never made that call to security........because when I got about 5 aisles away........ I heard, "Step up then!!" Who said that you ask?.......... The page said that. I turned around and rushed back toward the patron because I knew those where fighting words.

What do I see? The patron was in the page's face yelling for him to do something. I jumped in between them. Facing the patron, I said, "You will not be DOING anything in here. You have two choices, 1. Sit back down, or 2. Leave. I don't care which one you choose, but you won't be doing anything else."

He yells at me, "Why are you talking to me, you need to be talking to him(the page.)"

I told him that I would speak to the page, but I first had to take care of him. The patron was still lunging toward the page. Then all of a sudden, he turned, got his stuff and said he was leaving.

I got right in front of him, walking backwards, to make sure he didn't sneak in a punch to the page. As we passed the page, he lunged toward him (with me right with him, blocking the page,) and said, "Fu*k yo job and see me outside. I bet I whoop yo a*s."

I once again, began guiding the patron toward the elevators. He was cursing the page the whole time, but I stayed on him, nudging him forward. When we got about halfway, my co-worker approached us and said, "I think it's best that you just leave. The elevators are that way."

The patron replied, "Fu*k you,BITCH!" My co-worker said, "I'm calling security on you!" The patron told him, "CALL THEM FAG*OT!"

An elderly African American woman was standing at the reference desk and she said, "You need to just go ahead and leave." The patron told her, "You a B*tch too, because you taking the fag*ot's side." We had finally made it to the elevators, when my supervisor arrived.

The patron asked him if he was a manager. My supervisor said that he is(he's the acting floor manager because our mgr is on vacation.) The patron told him that he wanted to complain about the page because he threatened him.

Thankfully, security stepped off the elevator at that time and took over. The patron went into the security office to file a complaint against the page. I had to file a incident report. My co-workers kept asking me all day, "Were you scarred? Are you okay?" I kept telling them that I was fine because the patron wasn't directing anything at me. I was only involved because it's our job to protect the page staff.

I knew the page didn't know what he was doing/saying, when he told the patron to step up. It turns out, the page was trying to tell the patron to step up and be a man. As I completed the incident report, my supervisor explained to the page what step up means to certain individuals.

The page kept apologizing to all of the librarians involved in the incident and especially me.

Ummmm......And That Makes You Special .....Really

I took 3 days off, so I've been gone from this place for 5 days. My first day back, my first hour at the reference desk had just ended. My co-worker who had come to relieve me, went to wake up a patron.

The interaction was taking a little longer than usual. It turns out the 20-something didn't think the library's rules applied to him, because according to him, he's not homeless. SAY WHAT NOW???

As she awakened the patron from his sleep, she informed him that patrons aren't allowed to sleep in the library. His response, "Oh, but I'm not homeless!"

With a straight face, she informed him once again, that sleeping isn't allowed in the library.

Aggressive Panhandler

Yesterday, the floor manager asked when he came to the reference desk to relieve me, if security had been inside the Education Center. I told him that I had seen the security guard, but I didn't see him go toward the Education Center.

He told me that there was a man in there eating and he had called for a security guard to speak with him.

I'm in charge of the Education Center, so I went to see if the guy was still in there. I had sent a woman in there to look at some college handbooks and I wanted to make sure he wasn't bothering her.

We have a two-sided sign on the table in the Education Center that says you can only be in the room if you are using the education reference materials.

The woman wasn't in there. I see the guy and he's slouched and eating. He has broken chips and crumbs all down the front of his jacket. I asked him if he was using the materials in the room. He shows me a magazine that was from another floor. I told him that he could only be in there if he was using the materials in that room, while showing him the sign. As he was speaking, I noticed food in his mouth. I told him that eating wasn't allowed inside the library. He told me don't insult him and myself. He also stated that a security officer had already been in there to speak with him, so he didn't understand why I was bothering him.

This man stands across the street from the library almost everyday. He isn't there payday(the 1st of the month,) and about 2-3 days afterward. Every time he sees me, he asks me for money. I give him none. He then says that I know I can give him some money. I usually look at him like he's crazy. He will then tell me that I don't need to look at him like that.

When he comes into the library, he is always breaking the rules. When I catch him and tell him that what he's doing isn't allowed, he always talks loud and tries to go off. I will call security and he usually leaves before they get there. He will not say anything to me outside after he's had outburst in the library.

I told my co-worker that he's going to catch me on the wrong day and I'm going off on him. He only talks smack to the black folks when they don't give him any money or pay any attention to him.

What did you say?

This white woman walked up to me at the refence desk and said, "I'm not a RACIST, YOU ARE! Can you tell
me where I can find the St*r W*rs graphic novels?"

I steeped back and gave her a side-eye(the Assistant Chief of the library and my Floor Manager were standing near me.)

I walked toward the books and the woman was still standing at the reference desk. I told her
that she needed to follow me. I walked over to the teen graphic novel shelves and pointe out the St*r W*rs gn's.

What I learned while trying to grill this evening

I went to a BBQ two Sundays ago, and I went to another one this past Saturday. Those two events inspired me to BBQ today. This isn't something I do often, because I hate the way the smell gets in your clothes and your hair. I just end up feeling grimy.

On to what I learned. I lit the charcoal bricks and the flames grew fast. I threw the cover on the grill and the flames died just as fast. I mean very few bricks glowing. Those that were glowing, were barely hanging on. These were the pre-treated bricks. You are supposed to be able to light them and not worry about your fire.

The fire kept going in and out. I tried lighting paper and tossing it in with the charcoal, nothing happened.

Finally, I asked my Mom what did they do before lighter fluid. She told me that her grandmother threw bacon grease on charcoal before lighting it. We didn't have any bacon grease. Low and behold, vegetable oil works just as good. That fire was burning in no time flat. The smell isn't as gross as that of lighter fluid.

Why would you get THAT drunk?

A patron approached my co-worker at the reference desk. He wanted to use one on the internet computers. The man was beet red in the face.

When the man walked away, I said, "He was really drunk." My co-worker asked, "Oh, can you smell it over there?" I said, "No, he's just so red."

The patron logged onto a computer and five minutes later, he was gone. My co-worker had walked the floor and when he finished, he asked me who was on computer #314. I told him that it was the drunk guy. I wondered aloud, "Where could he have gone?" My co-worker said, "Well, he left a bag in the seat and he's still logged onto the internet."

I said, "Watch, he's going to return and not remember what computer terminal he was at."

The patron returned to the floor after another 10 minutes. He went to the online catalog and stood there.

I asked my co-worker, "What is he doing?"

My co-worker said, "He did like you said, he can't remember where he was."

The man stood there for about three minutes. He then approached me at the reference desk. He tried to straighter himself up and look sober. He said, "Um, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but I don't remember what computer I was on."

I told him #314. He said, "OH, you remember me?" I just said told him yes. When he walked away, I said, "How could I forget?" I asked my co-worker, "Why would you get that drunk?"

He wasn't one of our regulars. He had on a blazer, dress shirt and slacks. It was in between 1-2pm.

I get a 3 day weekend

I know it doesn't mean anything to most people, but I'm so HAPPY!!!

My work schedule is Sunday through Thursday, so when everyone else has a 3 day weekend, mine is broken. We're almost always open on Sunday. The one exception is G*y Pr*de Weekend. From experience, management has learned that parade Sunday is too much for the library.

For the past 4 years, I have looked forward to the last Sunday in June.

The bus driver redeemed herself

This morning when I turned the corner she was just pulling off. When she got closer to where I was, she opnened the door for me.

Really? It's one of those days

I woke up this morning and thought it was my off day(tomorrow.)

I missed the bus I normally catch. The driver turned the corner, honked the horn and waved at me.

I sit down at my desk, search my purse and realize that I left the key to my desk at home.

I know that it's been a while

But, guess what? I hate logging onto the computer once I get home. I hate typing post on my blackberry while at work.

I sit in front of a pc while at my desk in the staff area. When at the reference desk, I'm either sitting or standing in front of a pc. By the time I get home, I don't want to go in the 2nd bedroom and sit in front of yet another pc.

It's not that there hasn't been a lot to share.

There's the incident where a patron's dogged jumped up and took another patron's identification out of my hand. I was trying to wake up the owner of the dog, because he needed to gain better control of the dog. The dog was laying in the middle of an aisle. The leash was attached to the dog. The owner had his foot on the leash, but it didn't prevent the dog from walking into the aisle and blocking it. Someone trying to walk past, would have to either step on the leash, or step over the dog.

The newest supervisor on our floor(1 year,) has abandoned us for the 4th floor. She thinks the grass is greener. Her last day on our floor was this past Friday. Yesterday, she was back on our floor at 9:15am(we open/start at 9:00am.) 95% of our floor was through with her anyway. When she was at the reference desk, she didn't want to be bothered. She was always late when relieving another librarian from the reference desk. We try to arrive 5 minutes before our shift begins. She was always 3-5 minutes late. No, she wasn't going from one reference desk to another, she would just be at her desk doing whatever. And the complaining, it was nonstop. The bad part, she complained about her assigned duties.

So you think it's my fault

Yesterday, a couple was sitting at one of the internet computers near the reference desk.

The guy approached the desk and said, " My girl needs your help. She can't log on to the computer."

As I walked over to her, he said, "We are scheduled to attend the basic internet instruction class tomorrow and I told her that she should just wait until tomorrow."

I explained to the woman how to log onto the computer. I then asked her what website she wanted. She said fb. I logged her onto fb, thinking she had an account. NOT. I told her that she would have to set up an account before she could enter the site.

WELLLLLL, it turned out that she didn't have an email account. She wanted to make up a fictitious account. I told her that she should just set up an email account and then set up her fb account.*****Meanwhile, ol boy is mumbling behind me that she needs to just wait until they attend the internet class.

She said that she wanted her email account to be with y*hoo. I showed her where she needed to be and told her to follow the set-up instructions. I believe the main problem was comprehension. The guy came back over again and said that she was having problems and I needed to help her one more time. I told him that she would probably need more help, but it's okay.

As I explained to her why her password wasn't acceptable and why they asked for a second email address, ol boy was behind me snickering once again. He was saying she needed to wait. I turned around and told him that he needed to STOP SNICKERING, BECAUSE HE WOULD BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING IN THE BASIC INTERNET CLASS.

I went to help someone else. As I was returning to the reference desk, ol boy stopped me and said, "She thinks that you said I was laughing at her." I told him, "No, that's not what I said you were doing. You were continuously mumbling that she should wait until the class and I told you to stop."

He then said, "Well, now she's mad because she thinks I was making fun of her." She had stormed off and was yelling at him at the elevator. All I heard was, "OH I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING."

She just wanted a little knowledge before attending the class. I understood that, but obviously he didn't.

They did it again

This was on my desk when I arrived to work this past Sunday. Some thoughtful patron left the book jacket along with the call number and the barcode. This does make it easier to locate which book is missing. I marked the book missing and ordered a replacement copy.

This time, the book will probably be shelved in the staff area. Main floor shelving is no longer an option.

Warm weather doesn't encourage people to go outside

Last Monday, three men were in the library together. I found out after the fact that they were together.

I watched a man doze off and on for a half hour. Finally, he began to snore. I walked over to him and said, "My only problem with your behavior, is that now you've begun to snore." As I was doing this, one of his friends yells from one of the Internet computers, "You're sitting in the front, you have to watch what you do!"

I returned to the reference desk. The sleeper then goes to use the computer that his friend was using. The friend then joins the third guy with them at the table facing the reference desk. They turned their chairs so that they were facing me and began talking loudly.

Guy1: I like white girls, you know Latin, Asian. I don't like black girls at all.

Guy2: Yeah, I like Asian and Latin girls. I don't like black girls either.

They kept going back and forth about the problem with black women.
When my co-worked returned to the reference desk, I told him what the men were doing and how annoying it was. I knew that they were doing it just to work my nerves. My co-worker walked over and had words with them. I didn't ask what was said, but they stopped talking.

Sunday was a nice day. Relatively hot(for this city,) and the library was crowded all day.

A patron called and began to argue with me about the way in which a book was classified. She had given me the wrong title. When I finally found what she was talking about, she told me I was wrong. After searching the shelves for another title, she then told me that she didn't want to place a hold on the book.

Yesterday, I had to speak to a man watching p*orn. The public monitors are 17" Flat screens that are raised. Each time that I turned to my right, I saw a woman's legs spread with a man's head in between. I walked over to the man and said, " I believe in free speech and that everyone is entitled to look at whatever they want on the Internet, but I'm don't want to see that." This fool said, "It just popped on the screen." That man had been selecting different windows for at least 20 minutes.

After his hour was up, he came to the reference desk and starred at me, looking me up and down. I finally said, "Do you have a reference question?" He then said, "I'm sorry." I said, "Yeah, okay."

Mr M Cool(In his mind)

I'm telling you in advance that this is about the custodian assigned to our floor.

I saw the custodian outside this morning when I arrived. Supplies in hand and he was walking away from the
Building. This man has a mean pimp walk and it looks like his feet hurt in sneakers.

The day shift starts at 6am, so a break at 9am is expected.

When I arrive to my desk, my recycle bin had the same debris from last night.( they took away our trash cans.)

I went to the restroom and it was the same as last night.

I went to the reference dest at 10am, neither the trash nor recycle cans had been emptied from yesterday.

I spoke to my co-worer at 12:30@m regarding the lack of service from our custodian.

My co-worker said, "He's in the supply closet sleep, if you're looking for him."

Finally, at 1:00pm, he began emptying our recycle cans. He leaves at 2pm.

I know it's mean, but I don't care!

The public school system is on Spring Break. It started on 3/18. I want it to be over, effective YESTERDAY!

I thougt it was next week(the reason I'll be on vacation.)

I saw a teen in thigh hi boots today(they were flats.). Who buys thigh boots for their teenage daughter??

The nerve of her

Yesterday, one of the major vacation hogs approached me. She wanted to know if I was willing to give up my vacation day(this Sunday.)

I told her no and kept it moving. When I mentioned the conversation to my co-worker(who sit next to me,) she said that she
had been approached also.

The woman who approached us is ALWAYS on vacation. She takes the time from Thanksgiving until New Year's every year. If she changes her mind about vacation, she will cancel at the last minute.

My Monday view

For 1 full hour while at the reference desk, I had to look at a Swatika tattoo. The owner of the tattoo chose to use one of the
Internt computers that faces the reference desk. The tat is on his hand. Every movement, I saw the tat out of the corner of my eve.
It's one of those black/grey sloppy jobs.

Homey kept dozing, off and on. It just so happened that a security officer was passing by anf tapped the guy. Tattoo Man then told his girl(I'll let that one go,) that we called security on him.

REALY! That's your complaint

This afternoon, a woman walked up to the desk to complain about a man who walks around the floor in circles all day long.
Sometimes, he changes his routine and circles the outside of the building a few times before returning to our floor. There are days when he even sits down for
A while. It's obvious that he's a special needs adult.

Back to the complaint. She wanted us to stop the man from walking in circles, because
it was getting on her nerves.

My co-worker explained that there's no library policy that prevents anyone from
Walking the floor all day long.

I forgot to mention that this woman parks herself at the encyclopedia tables for about 5hrs everyday. She argues with other patron if they are sitting
Where she usually sits.

As she walked away, I told my co-worker, "We don't complain about her sitting on this floor all day."

Staffing Shortages

So, another department is suffering from lack of man power. This time around, my department was TOLD by management that every librarian would be
required to spend 1hr per week at the Information Services Desk until further notice. I told the librarian who does the desk schedules to make sure that I'm
the last one on the list. Well, because of my work schedule I'm the next to last.

I made this request because no one shared the duty with me of 4hrs per week in the Government Information Department.

This afternoon was my first stint at the Information Services Desk.

Why did the patron(black man) walk up to me and say, "Oh, you normally work on the other side of the room(borrower services desk!)"

I told him that I didn't work on that floor at all.

He then said, "Yes you do, you're the woman that no one goes to for help!"

Once again, I told him that I didn't work on that floor.

He said, "OH WELL, I GUESS YOU HAVE A TWIN THAT WORKS OVER THERE!"

I told him, "I DON'T HAVE A TWIN AND I DON'T WORK ON THIS FLOOR!"

I missed 1 day

Last Monday, I stayed home sick. On Tuesday, I was informed that a woman stapped a man in the face
With his umbrella.

The librarian's on my floor reported seeing roaches crawling out of one of the Atlas' and at a public
computer. I told them that they are most likely coming from the patrons. No one has reported seeing them in the 4 1/2 years that I've been there.

Predictable

I work until 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday, because Sunday is a short day. I need to make up 2hours each week and the extra hour for two days is what I chose.

Most evenings, the only Librarians left in our department are those who are working the late shift that evening.

Wednesday evening, "Mouth-All-Mighty" was at her desk after 6pm. I thought, she must be staying late because she won't be in tomorrow. Like clockwork, when I arrived on Thursday morning, she had called in sick.

Something's going on today.

When I arrived this morning, the desk schedule was being revised. It took 30 minutes, but we were finally informed that today's staff meeting is cancelled. The Floor Manager isn't in the office today. We were told the meeting will be rescheduled. I'm hoping they finally decide the monthly meetings are a waste of time and money.

A waste of time and money

Yesterday, my co-worker arrived to work and said, I don't feel well. I'm going to go home."

This is a woman who has an hour or more commute on Sundays. I asked my supervisor, "Why didn't she just call? Did she really think it was better to come in and leave?"

So, instead of yet another sick call-in, you'd rather turn around and go home. Not work an hour or two and leave, but leave after 5 minutes.

HOW RUDE!

My last hour at the Reference Desk today: The ditzy supervisor was assigned to work with me. The supervisor that she was supposed to relieve ended up calling her. Why, you ask, well she was still at her desk because she didn't realize that she was supposed to be at the reference desk. Yes, that's exactly what she said.

8 minutes before our hour at the desk was up, she said, "I'M LEAVING THE DESK BECAUSE I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM AND I DON'T WANT TO BE LATE FOR MY MEETING!"

I just looked at her like YEAH whatEVER!!!! She then said, "THAT is, if you don't mind."

I didn't give her an answer.

So the problems with her mess:

A copy of the daily reference desk schedules are across from her cubicle.

The Floor Manager meets with the floor supervisors every week at the SAME TIME.

The Floor Manager also has a copy of the desk schedules.

Staff Meetings

I detest them. All I ask is that they be forever cancelled. Librarians, in my experience can drag a topic out. Why should it take over 20 minutes to discuss the first item on the agenda. The meeting was only an hour and there were 6 items on the agenda.

That's just and example from today.

I must admit that I'm the reason for the first item on the agenda. Last month, I answered a patron's email question. He wanted to know why the books that he was interested in, were library use only. Well, he happened to want to check out HIGH THEFT ITEMS. This is the reason they've become library use only and are shelved in the staff area. What subject could these books possible fall under you ask? Why they are extraterrestial, occult, things of that nature.

What did the patron do? I answered the question using my work email account. The patron contacted me this month with a borrower services problem. In bold type the email said, since I gave such a quick and thorough response previously, he just knew that I would do so again.

What's happening at the library so far

Thursday December 30,2010: A woman hid on my floor and entered the staff area after closing. She tried to steal a co-workers hard drive. She was
Not successful. She then stole a hard drive from the International Center Reference Desk. She was seen on the security video exiting the building with a large black trash bag.

I guess our floor is being punished. Management still hasn't approved the request for a replacement hard drive. *****I had to change this because it wasn't replaced.***

I took an exam last week. It was so that I can once again be placed on the promotional list. They renew the list every three years. A co-worker was at the exam who I later found out had been AWOL. He was at work today, like business as usual.

No Parking Baby

Yesterday afternoon, I just happened to glance at the laptop table. On the floor, leaning against the Self-Checkout Machine, was a No Parking Sign.

Yes indeed, one of our loyal patrons stole a No Parking Sign(probably from in front of the building) and left it for our custodial staff to dispose of.

When I mentioned the sign to one of my co-workers, he picked it up and placed it behind the reference desk.

This afternoon, when I arrived at the reference desk another one of my co-workers had it under her arm as she left the desk. I asked her if that was her way of letting us know that she didn't want anyone visiting her desk area too long. She replied, "Yes, especially between the hours of 12 midnight and 6:00a.m.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before

The woman who calls the reference desk regarding us(the librarians) correcting her spelling/gramatical errors has been fired.
I know this because two weeks aga she called and asked me to help her with an email. She wanted to know where they wanted her to leave the laptop and her security badge on 12/31.

She forgot a few things when she revealed this to me. I had asked her a few years ago, why she didn't use the spell/grammar check in word. She told me she didn't have a computer.


Well, yesterday she was sending an email. She was trying to ask when her exit interview was being conducted. She kept saying it was an exit and I kept asking her if it was an exit interview that she was referring to. After trying to explain what I was saying a few times, I finally asked her if her office conducted exit interviews. She told me that they did and asked me how to spell it. I thought she meant interview. Ater taking the time to spell the word slowly, she said, "No, not that. How do you spell exit?". My co-worker said that I should 've given her the incorrect spelling. He said, "They are firing her anyway. They know that she can't spell!"

Pet Rooster

No, the title isn't a mistake. While walking to the library this morning, I saw a rooster strutting along the edge of the grass. As I got closer, I realized that there was a homemade leash attached to the rooster.
When I entered the library, I asked one of the security officers if the man with the pet rooster is a regular. I found out that he is a regular patron and the rooster's name is Champ.

It began this past Monday morning

We open at 10am on Mondays. I was at the reference desk with my supervisor. I answered the telephone, the patron stated that she couldn't hear me and asked that I speak louder.

I said, "GENERAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT, MAY I HELP YOU?"The patron said, "NO YOU MAY NOT, F*CK YOU!" Then she hung up.

My supervisor asked, "Did they have a question?" I told him what happened and he replied, "Well, I guess that's how our week will go."

Tuesday afternoon, this man walked pass the reference desk cursing like, well, you know. He then returned to the desk and asked me what happened to the truck with books that were in the biography section on Monday. I told him that the books had probably been shelved.

He told me that I was wrong, because it was too many books. He then said, "The were about celebrities." I told him that he was on the wrong floor, because celebrity biographies are in the Art & Music Department. He had the nerve to tell me that I was wrong. I said once again, slowly, "You want the Art&Music Department on the 4th floor, you are on the 3rd floor." He replied, "YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, I'M ON THE WRONG FLOOR!"Wednesday, a patron decided that he wanted to argue with me about one of the library rules.

He asked me,(while standing two rows away) what the minimum number you could have for your library card pin. I told him one. He told me, "NO, YOU'RE WRONG, IT'S MORE THAN THAT!" I repeated myself. He then put up his hand as if dismissing me.

Holiday/Winter and the library

We usually start to notice a change just before Thanksgiving, or the weekend after. The regulars start to fade away. There are fewer patrons in the evening. This year has been a little different.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, it was CROWDED. It seemed as if no one wanted to leave. There were quite a few new faces who have now become regulars.

As I'm typing this, I realize that it may have a lot to do with that new Sit/Lie Law that passed.

I've seen some mentally ill, that I haven't seen in months.

Why did my day have to end like that

Mr. TIGER BAL.M himself chose to approach me at the reference desk. He mumbles and I couldn't understand half of what he was asking. I told him to write down whatever it was that he was looking for. He admitted that he should have asked for it downstairs, because it's probably fiction.

I finally found the book that he was looking, translated into English and it is fiction. Fiction is on the first floor, where he came from. I told him this and he argued with me about why there was probably a copy on the 3rd Floor. I finally stopped him in the middle of his rant and said, "I can't understand half of what you are saying, so quit talking to me and go look for your book!"

He then asked me what the largest country is in Africa, I told him I didn't know. He then said, "Why not, haven't you been there?" I told him no. He then asked me, "Why not?" I said, "Why haven't you been there, you're the one with all of the questions?" He then said, "Oh, you haven't been there because of money. I haven't been anywhere."

He then starts with me about the dictionaries. He asked me where the dictionaries are. I began telling him where they were and he yelled, "OH YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW!" I said, "If you know everything, why are you asking me?" Once again, he started up, talking about the size of dictionary he wanted. I told him that he better leave me alone, because I was done talking to him because he wasn't speaking clearly anyway.

When he finally left, my co-worker said, "He always has to be correct, even if he's wrong and you show him the answer written in black and white. Then he has to have the last word."

Not one of those days, one of those weeks

There's a woman who visits our floor occasionally. If anyone corrects her or asks her to move, she's writing a complaint form about their behavior. I've been the victim of her rant before. She fills the complaint form from top to bottom, on both sides. There is so much writing that you'll give yourself a headache trying to read it.

Sunday, another regular came to the reference desk and complained that he had booked a computer and she was sitting at it. Since this has happened numerous times with this woman, I asked her if she had booked that computer in advance. She said yes, so I told her that I would check the other patron's library card. I checked his library card and he had written down the wrong information. His computer for that time slot was on another floor.

I went on to help someone else. While on my way back to the reference desk, I noticed the woman sitting at the laptop table. She rolled her eyes at me(which is normal behavior if she is complaining about you,) as I walked past her.

Yesterday, I noticed her complaint form about me at the reference desk. It hadn't been turned in yet, so I don't know if management has stopped submitting her complaints.

Monday

I had to have security escort a drunk man out of the library.

As he walked toward the computers, I noticed that he was swaying. When he decided on a computer; as he made an attempt to sit in the chair, he fell. He stayed on the floor for a minute and another patron helped him into the chair(I was calling security to escort him out.)

When security arrived, they smelled his water bottle. They then asked him if he had been drinking. He said, wait for it..............."YEP, ALL DAY, EXCEPT WHILE IN THE LIBRARY!"

Today

One of my co-workers who is on a scheduled vacation, called in sick. One of the floor supervisors who is also on a scheduled vacation was today's Reference Desk rotation.

And the beat goes..............

This afternoon, I was informed that the man from the Monday October 25, 2010 story was suspended from the library for three days yesterday.

Get this, he was so wasted that he forgot and the floor manager saw him wandering the floor with his eyes closed today. His suspension was extended today, he is now banned for 7 days.

I told the floor manager that he probably won't remember today, and will return to the library tomorrow.

What is it about Mondays?

I wasn't at work last Monday, but they had another unresponsive drunk. They said he was breathing, they just weren't able to wake him from his vodk.a induced slumber.

Today, a page alerted the librarians to two men who were seen chugging a bottle. When I arrived at the reference desk, I didn't catch them. I just kept giving them the evil eyes. After 15 minutes of this, they made their way to the elevators. There was a black plastic bag in the hand of one of them(the type given at the liquor store.)

I've been watching you all day and..........

You haven't done any work all day.

That's what a patron said to me after she dropped a stack of books and her library card in front of me at the reference desk. I told her that if she wanted to checkout her books, she would have to do so at the self checkout or with a clerk on the 1st floor. That's when she told me that whole mess about watching me. If she really had been watching me, she would have seen that I had just returned to the reference desk. I had just shown a patron how to use the self checkout machine.

I was so tired of kooky people yesterday, I didn't even argue. I said, "I'm sorry that's not something that is done at the reference desk.

This has been my luck for the past few days

Saturday

I was locked out of my car with my purse and cell phone inside, while the car was on. I had gotten out to make sure that I was not blocking the cross walk and close enough to the curve(I had parked downhill.) A breeze and the door closed. I then heard a click click, which meant the car was being locked(there's a electrical problem going on.)

Sunday

After work, I went to visit my Mom. I arrived home and realized that my door/gate keys were inside, where I had left them the night before. I called my Mom, to see if she had her keys to the gate with her and went back to the hospital to get them.

Tuesday

While on my way home to drop my car off, I was rear ended. The guy who hit me kept apologizing, and saying that he didn't see the cars stopped. We were on a street that has parking lot traffic 24/7. He then gave me bogus car insurance information. Luckily, I had taken a picture of his license plate.

Odd things from the library

There is an old man who comes to my floor everyday, sits down, takes off his shoes and proceeds to rub tige.r bal.m on his feet and legs. He had the nerve to get offended when he was informed that he must keep his shoes on, when in the library. The security guard even said, "Or you can just do that in the bathroom, but not out in the open area."

The telephone number in the government information department has been changed. Instead of obtaining the new number, our operators simply transfer the calls to the general collections department(my department.) Yesterday, I finally took it upon myself to call another department on the same floor and ask them to find out what the new extension is. When I answered the telephone yesterday, the patron said, "I asked to be transferred to government information, YOU AREN'T THAT DEPARTMENT!"

Almost a week later

The San Francisco Gia.nts Celebration was a nightmare. The end of the parade route was across the street from my building. When I got to work, there was no in and out of the building. You were taking your chances, if you did. There are three public entrance/exits, and one staff entrance/exit. Two of the public entrance/exits were closed because of the crowd.

When the crowd discovered that our building was open, some of them had the bright idea to look out of the windows on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors. I went to the 5th floor for my normal Wednesday 1-3pm shift, and one whole side of the floor was standing room only. People were listening to the speeched on their radios. The only instruction from management, was to monitor the crowds.

When I left work at 7:00 p.m., there were still people lingering. Police cruisers were driving up and down the streets four deep.

If I didn't have to work that day, I wouldn't have been anywhere near that place.

What a Monday

The end of my second hour at the reference was ending soon, when I noticed a man sleeping at the Encyclopedia Table.
I went over to attempt to awaken the patron. My raps on the table went unnoticed. The patron was slowly learning closer to the floor. There was a stream of snot hanging from one nostril, and he was lightly snoring.

Unable to wake the patron, I returned to the reference desk. As I began a call to security, the patron fell on the floor. My co-worker went over and said that I should call 911 because the patron wasn't waking up.

Security officers arrived, turned the patron on his side, and still didn't get a response from the patron.

The paramedics arrived quickly. They were unable to get a response from the patron. He was taken to the hospital.

FOUND among the patrons possessions, an EMPTY PINT OF VODKA, and a pack of PILLS.


That's how my Monday is going thus far how about yours?

21 years ago today

There was a earthquake in San Francisco. Normally, this day has come and gone before I realize it.

Today, the similarities and differences struck me. October 17. 1989 was a hot day(SF standards,) it was muggy, and there was a slight smog in the air.
I was a full-time student during the day and worked a night shift from 3pm-12 midnight. The night-shift looked forward to 5:00pm, because the day shift departed and the building got quiet.

Well, this day, at 5:00pm the building began to shake. I duked under one of the old wooden desk. I didn't get up until the building stopped moving.
We went outside to the parking lot across the street. There was a head count to make sure the night shift was accounted for.

We discovered that a brick wall on the 6th street of the building had collapsed. A lot of our cars had been damaged. Some were crushed and resembled metal suitcases. One woman from the day-shift lost her life when the wall collapsed.

***SIDE NOTE***My car was famous! My godmother called the next day and told us to turn on the To.day Sh.ow. There was my car. It has risen in the air and landed on a pile of bricks from wall that collapsed.


Fast forward 2010******

It began raining this morning as I prepared for work. I look forward to 5:00pm today, because the library closes and I get to leave for the day.

Some things can't be explained!

Yesterday, in passing, my co-worker informed me that security had found two 19yr old men/boys having sex in the 1st floor men's restroom.....My mouth hung open....THE DESIRE WAS THAT URGENT???

Has anyone ever gotten mad at you because they were wrong, and you had the unlucky pleasure of informing them??? Yea, well it happens to me everyday, but not before the person has a chance to argue their position.

Why did I get an email assignment yesterday(Tuesday) and the deadline is this Friday. I don't work on Fridays, so my deadline is Thursday. I sent the woman questions today and got no answers. The previous deadline was September 30th. She ended the email by stating that the deadline was so quick because SHE was going on vacation.

I see strange people

This is a given when at work, but it happens on the bus, while walking downtown, or while on my way to the p*st o*ffice. Last Thursday, while walking to the post office, I saw this lady. I wasn't able to get a good picture. I think my shock had a lot to do with it. She looked like the living version of L*ttle B*Peep.

She had pigtails, tied with little black bows. There were black sheep on her skirt, which had a crinoline, with patent leather mary janes. I snapped the picture while I was crossing the street.

if I've said this before, please forgive me in advance

I HATE WHINERS!! I especially HATE GROWN AZZ PEOPLE who WHINE!

What brought on this confession, you ask?

A librarian called in sick today. We are short staffed on Mondays, because some of the librarians don't work. They have a Tuesday - Saturday schedule.

So the old grumpy part-time complained because she was scheduled to work 4 desk hours and everyone else got 3.5

She whined until my supervisor volunteered to work the extra hour.

I'm usually the one who receives the short end of the scheduling stick. I, on the other hand don't complain. I know Mondays are tight and it's hard to make sure everyone is treated fairly.

This past Sunday

There was a man walking around with a stack of blank payroll checks.

He said they wouldn't cash his personal check at the check cashing place. They told him that the only accept payroll checks. He said that he wanted to type his own payroll checks. He then began talking about having just completed shooting a film. I told him that he couldn't use his personal paper in the library printers.

About 5 minutes later, he came back talking about having $400 in the bank that he couldn't access until Monday.

I told him to try kin*os.

What a day

An old woman stopped at the reference desk and stared. I asked her if she needed help.

She said, "I guess they're changing things around here!"

I said, "In reference to what?"

She then said, "Like you! You haven't worked here long, because I've never seen you!"

I said, "Yes, I've been here for a while."

She told me, "WELL, I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE; SO YOU'RE NEW!!". She continued to mumble this over and over, as she walked, while pushing a walker.

A man who is a regular approached me a the reference shortly after the incident above.

He said, "You must be new, because I've never seen you before."

I said, "I've been here for a while."

17 minutes before closing, a young goy approached me at the reference desk and saidn "I want a book that tells me where all of the ports in the U.S. are."

He told me that it's very important to know where all of the ports are. He went on to tell me how he didn't trust new information and he only wanted old books.

Just when I think I have them figured out

The crazies that is. I've got the 3rd floor regulars locked in my memory. I now have to recognize and remember the 5th floor regulars.

This afternoon, after spending 20 minutes search for information on a topic that a patron gave me, the other librarian at the desk informed me that she is one of the disturbed regulars. He said, " Oh, she always gives you these crazy subjects that don't match anything and wants you to find articles."

I was able to find something, but it didn't match everything that she had written. It was a blog post, but the author had cited his sources. It was 15 pages long and I wasn't printed all of it. I printed 5 pages of the post, and 2 pages of the citations.

The other librarians seemed to be surprised that her jumbled subjects were actually part of a story.

She is finally leaving

They are saying that she's retiring, but how can you retire from a job where you've only been employed for three years?

They gave her a "Retirement Party" yesterday and I chose not to attend. My co-worker said I was being mean. Why should I attend a party in honor of someone who annoys me? I'm also glad that she's leaving.

Her voice sound like finger nails scraping a chalkboard. I hate being anywhere nearby whenever she is speaking. I wouldn't be able to hide my facial expressions in a room full of people.


I found out this past Tuesday that the lady is 72. Now I understand why she found every excuse available to explain why she couldn't finish shelving books.

It has happened again

Let me start by saying that I was not at the reference desk when this occured(thankfully.)

The one who's always calling in sick was. She told me what happened later in the day.

A patron approached her at the reference desk. He told that it was the second time that this has happened to him at the same computer terminal. He gave her a bed bug. He then said that he would check his home, to make sure that it's not HIS problem.

My response: It might just be his problem because a lot of people use that computer EVERYDAY
and he's the only one reporting a bed bug siting.

After a few hours and many telephone calls, someone from custodial sterilized the area.