Yesterday, I did the Teen Librarian's job

She was working the Teen Reference desk. She was tidying up the paperback book racks. As I walked past the Teen Center, I noticed a couple on top of each other, and I let her know. She said, "OH NO, NOT AGAIN, THEY ARE AT IT EVERYDAY! I just said something to them yesterday, can you speak to them today?

I walked back over there and said, "IF YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO DO THAT AT HOME, THEN YOU CAN'T DO IT IN THE LIBRARY EITHER! You(the girl) need to get a chair and sit in it, by yourself." I turned to leave and noticed their friend laughing at them.

Teen Center news

There are signs on the tables and computer workstations in the Teen Center. The signs say that the area is designated for teens, adults are only allowed if they are accompanied by a teen. There have been many violations of this rule, so now the signs are in 3 languages.
One of my co-workers, is adamant about enforcing the rule. A few weeks ago, she approached World Traveler(she will sit and stare at the globe for hours.). When World Traveler saw her, she said, "I know the sign says that adults must be accompanied by a teen. I'm sitting here, hoping that one of my children will stop by."

When my co-worker told me what happened, I told her, "Well, there isn't anything you can say about that one.". World Traveler's response was classic, it was like she had her response memorized.

Even now, I think about what World Traveler said and laugh.

You can now use the library as a charging station

There are a few patrons that use the library to charge their wheelchairs. Cellular telephone charging has become the norm, but I still can't get used to seeing the random wheelchair.

Yesterday morning, I had gone to the first floor, to give security a identification card that had been left at the reference desk. As I exited the staff elevator, I saw a wheelchair against the wall, near the large print books. The wheelchair was plugged in. Sitting across from the chair, was it's owner, who had the nerve to give me the 'side-eye(yes, Jazzy, he did') Thrown to the side of the patron was a prosthetic leg.

Upon first glance, it seemed as if the leg didn't belong to the patron. After closer inspection, I saw that it did.

When I returned to my floor, I relayed this story to my co-worker. He said, "Was the leg being charged also?"

On to the good news

Thursday evening, just before I left work, as I was helping a patron, I noticed Radio Man blowing his nose ONTO THE CARPETED FLOOR. When he saw me, he popped up like nothing had happened.

Since it was time for me to leave for the day, my co-worker agreed to file the paperwork and deal with security.

Sunday, I found out that RADIO MAN IS BANNED FOR 90 DAYS!!!!!

Mine arrived this past Saturday

Since Friday is my scheduled day off, I received my pink slip along with Saturday's mail.

The effective date is May 8, 2010. Sunday, while at work, I learned that the union is working on a solution. Meetings were scheduled to explain what we are to do after receiving the pink slips. I didn't attend any, because they didn't fit my desk schedule. I thought that I'd wait until next week. It's a good thing also, because maybe we'll receive solid answers.

Pink Slips

That's been the topic around here since yesterday. It all started when the City Librarian forwarded a memo to the library staff that was written by the mayor.
Pink Slips will be issued to all city departments tomorrow. All classifications will be included in this mass layoff.
Supposedly, some of those laid off, will have the option of being re-hired part-time. The part-time hours aren't to exceed 37.5 hours.

Yesterday, the whinner came to my desk and asked me, "Are you worried?". I told her that there wasn't anything that I could do to prevent being laid-off, so I can't worry about that.
Later, one of the women who liked to call in sick on or after pay day, was in a tiff about the rankings list. I just let her talk. I chose not to explain that the rank is where you were on the eligibility list, when you were offered your current position.
Today, they've been standing around whining about the possible outcome tomorrow. I'm just tired of hearing them talk about the same stuff. It's 4pm and one of the main complainers just said,"Let me go get some work done."

I don't know if I've mentioned "Radio Man"

There's a man who likes to frequent the floor that I work on....Often I think, he likes to annoy the staff. I realize that's his way of gaining attention, being loud and abusive. Yesterday, I had to speak with him about his behavior, because he was disturbing the people around him. As I was walking away, he said something smart, I whipped my head around and gave him a look that said, "TRY ME!"

Today, he came strolling onto the floor around 2:30p.m. When I saw him, I told my co-worker that I really wasn't in the mood today. Radio Man decided that he would hang around the reference desk talking loudly. He was trying to work my nerves, because as he walked past the reference desk, he looked me dead in my face. I turned my head, and every time that I looked up, he was looking at me to see what my reaction was. I fixed him, because I told my co-worker, "I need to call security and tell them that they need to come and get their friend." He walked away from the reference desk when I said that.

His favorite ways to annoy us, are to play his DVDs loudly, listen to music on his radio(that he carries daily,) or play his bongos. His preference is to sit at a table where there are quite a few people on their laptops, or reading.

I have personally had security escort him out of the building on numerous occasions. Other times, I have told him, "You have two choices, leave now on your own, or I'll call for you to have a security escort." I usually end up calling security because he will start saying some slick mess to me.

On the way to the bus stop this morning

I was minding my own business, walking while listening to my ipod. Out of the corner of my right eye, I see a police van stop. I thought nothing of it, because they often cruise the other end of my street. Then.......the driver's side window opens slowly. As I got closer to the van, I saw that it was my former co-worker.

Mr. Officer: " I couldn't just drive past and not stop."

Me: "Hi, how are you? Are you still at the high school?" (There's a high school near my home)

Mr. Officer: " Yes. Do you still bake?"

Me: "I haven't in a while, but yes, I still bake."

Mr. Officer: "Do you think you could bake me a cake or pie?"

Me: "You're not right because you would sit in front of the school and eat it in front of the kids!"

****Here it comes*********He asked, "So, you're not married yet?" I respond, "No, WHY, do you ask me that everytime that you see me?"

Mr. Officer: "I ask because you're a good girl and you deserve to be married."

Me: "You need to tell your friend that." (He is friends with my ex.)

NOW FOR THE CLENCHER, WHAT HE HAS BEEN DYING TO ASK, ALMOST AS LONG AS WE'VE KNOW EACH OTHER. HE HAS ASKED AROUND THIS QUESTION IN THE PAST************************

Mr. Officer: "Do you still talk to Re and La?" (women we used to work with)

Me: "Not Re, but I email La sometimes."

Mr. Officer: "You pretty much keep to yourself"

Me: "Pretty much."

Mr. Officer: "Oh, so you can keep a secret?"

Me: "Mr. Officer, I'm not trying to mess with a married man!"

Mr. Officer: "WHAT!!! Why would you come at me like that?"

Me: "Because you said, you can keep a secret."

Mr. Officer is married, his 2nd marriage at that. When we worked together, he was married to his 1st wife. He messed around with Re for a minute. He quite that job to become a police officer. He then began messing with a supervisor at our old job. He then divorced his 1st wife, to marry the supervisor.

My co-worker tells me that it's because "they" like me

There is an African American woman in her 50's that has chosen to bother me. My co-workers have named her Tangentia, because, well, I'm sure you can guess.

I have told her many times, about her bad habit of asking 5 questions, while you're still in the process of locating the answer to her first question.

Today, she hovered around the reference desk until I finished helping another patron. By the time I had become frustrated with her, it turned out that she really didn't want anything anyway. I've already told her about asking me questions that she could find the answers to, just by using the 15 minute express computers. She had the nerve to tell me, "Oh, I don't know how to use a computer." My response surprised her, I said, " I saw you using one, and you know how to search quite well."

After she finished bugging me today, she said as she walked away, "I hope I didn't waste 50 million of the city's dollars with that question.

Yesterday's Blast From my past

It was busy at the reference desk. Answer 1 patron's question, and before they could walk away, there's another patron. So, like a machine, I answered a patron's question while finishing up a telephone reference question. As I was preparing the books that the telephone patron wanted placed on hold, this patron backtracks and asks, "Does your name happen to be Nexgrl?" I answered, "Yeah(like annnnnd what do you want.)". The patron then said, "My name is Mark, and I went to All Hallows(my elementary school) with you.". I looked up, and I was shocked. I had seen the man 8yrs ago at my niece's 21st b-day. It was a BIG difference. All I could say was, "Oh, hi."

Another gross library sighting

Yesterday afternoon, there were some roach sightings in the reference area on my floor.

My guess is that they are coming from the patrons who sit/lay in that area with all of their belongings. There is a bank of windows along that wall and patrons move chairs from other areas and camp out. I have gone through and moved all of the chairs, but they reappear the next day.

Economy fallout

In November, the residents of the city received post cards, saying that the local community college wouldn't be sending class schedules via snail mail anymore. We were advised to search the colleges online class schedule. Unfortunately for us, the general public didn't think that post card applied to the library.

In the past, the library system has received vast quantities of schedules for universities and community colleges in the area.

This year, we were told that the schedules would be printed on a as needed basis, and very little would be distributed. I made a special request for 150, because I felt we've received far too many in the past. Of course, we ran out long before the Spring Semester start date(last week.) Patrons have been calling and hanging up in our faces, when told that we don't have any. The patron who walk in, have been yelling, and taking it out on us. They aren't even trying to hear that the same information can be found on the schools website.

***When the number of class schedules got low, I set aside two copies for the reference desk*****Patrons get an attitude and don't want to look at those copies either.

Weirdo alert

I went to the reference desk Wednesday afternoon to relieve a co-worker. I was told that another Librarian who had already been relieved was waiting on security. For what you ask........

A female page had been trying to shelve books in the education section and she reported a male patron sitting in a cubicle near the windows. He had his hand down his pants while he watched her shelve. She felt uncomfortable and reported the incident.

The security supervisor finally arrived(a woman) and escorted the patron downstairs. We don't know what happened after that, because rarely do we get follow-up information.

Storm filled Sunday

Spent walking around and waking up people. They were sleeping in aisles, along the walls under the windows, and at tables, out in the open. What's funny is everyone always tries to play it off like they weren't sleeping.

One man was sleeping so hard, that my knocking on the table didn't even stir him. My supervisor then walked over with a large reference book and threw it down on the table twice.

The smells of the library on a rainy day aren't nice at all. Everything seems to be magnified when it's damp, or soaked.

This situation had me confussed for a while

For about a year, a flaming gentleman would always say "HEY BABY," whenever he saw me. I in turn, would always look at him as if he had lost his marbles. This man is rail thin and dyes his hair "Bozo The Clown" red.

The first time he said, "HEY BABY, HOW'RE YOU DOING TODAY?" to me I was at the reference desk with my supervisor. My supervisor turned to me and said, "Is there something that I've been missing here?"

Finally, two weeks ago, the guy approached me while I was helping a patron at the reference desk. He interrupted the conversation without excusing himself and said, "I NEED SOME HELP AT THE COMPUTER."

I said, "You will have to wait because I'm helping another patron right now."

He said, " Awww Aida, you gon do me like that after everything we've been through."

I said, "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?"

He said, "Aida(whispering)"

I said, "THAT IS NOT MY NAME!" That's the African American Librarian who works on
on the 4th floor. She is at least 10-15 years older than me.

He walked to the other side of the reference desk and asked the other librarian for help(he wasn't busy anyway.)

A regular asked...........

Does the library have books on personality disorders?

I said, I'm sure they do, would you like one?

Patron, "No, you just deal with so many people on a daily basis that have mental
problems. Do they offer classes for the staff, teaching you techniques,
that enable you to deal with the issues?"

Me, "No, not really, and I haven't taken what they do offer."

Patron, " Have you read any of the books?"

Me, "No."

Patron, "Well, you must have a strong faith or something, to help you deal with all
that happens here on a daily basis."

Me, "Yeah, you have to have something."

As of this week, the restrooms are closed

The Chief of the Library and the City Librarian made the decision to close the public bathrooms on the 3rd floor indefinitely. The last straw occurred 1 1/2 weeks ago. A patron was caught cooking heroin in the stall in the men's restroom.

I have worked on this floor for 3 years, and they chose that incident as the reason.
The paramedics had to be called because a patron overdosed in the men's
restroom.

A fight broke out between a group of men's in the restroom.

A father and son were robbed and the boy was punched in the face
in the men's restroom.

The toilet and or, one of the urinals are intentionally clogged at least
once a week.
You get the idea, a lot of bad things have happened in that restroom before, and they thought nothing of it.

This is my greatest fear while at work

http://www.khou.com/home/Houston-librarian-beaten-after-asking-patron-to-quiet-down-79675377.html

How are you feeling today

That was the question that a patron asked me Tuesday.

Me: "It doesn't matter, Do you have a question?"

Patron: "It does matter, how are you feeling today?"

Me: "Like I said, it doesn't matter. What is your question?"

We went back and fourth a few more times, until he finally realized that I wasn't going to answer his question.

He wanted a book, but he didn't know who the author is, and he didn't know the title either. All he could tell me was that it was about wealthly African Americans in California.

The back story to this individual and myself is that I had him removed from the branch where I used to work. I was the only librarian on duty one Saturday, and he entered the library cursing and talking about white people, christians, and saying how he was going to destroy things. I called the police and had him removed. Before he would leave, he insisted that he needed to check out a book.

About two weeks after that, he returned to the branch and told he that I had gotten the wrong impression of him. I told him that it didn't matter what I thought of him.

The buzz this week

For the past few months, there have been stabbings on our local transit system. The same individual has been identified each time. A first, there was only a police sketch. Last Friday, the mug shot of the suspect was released. This is where the buzz at work occurs. When I saw the picture flash across the screen, I immediately recognized the individual. He was a regular at the library and was always on the floor that I work on. He would insist on being helped by the male African American librarian. If he wasn't available, and I was on the desk, he would insist that I help him. If we were both on the reference desk together, he would wait for him to help him. The patron stunk so bad, I didn't mind that he refused my help.


http://www.ktvu.com/news/21925268/detail.html?taf=fran