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.