8.02.2002
R (On the phone) Oh you are welcome, it was my pleasure.
R Just one minute. (Mouthed to the lady who just set her library card and a little slip of paper on my desk)
R (On the phone) Alright bye-bye.
R So....(picking up little piece of paper) are we putting this title on hold?
Q (nods head up and down)
R (searches computer for title, clicks on title, places hold for patron)
Q No!
R (Eyebrows go up with a face that says ???)
Q No! Mary Higgins Clark.
R (nods head up and down) (screen finally pops up)
Q Yes.
R If you don't mind the large print there are far fewer holds than the...
Q No!
R Alrighty. You will be hold numer two hundred and three.
Q (she reaches for her library card that is in my hand)
R (holding tight) Let's make sure it comes up right.
R Here you go.
Q (takes her sweet time getting her sunglasses out of her purse that is sitting on my desk and puts them on)
Observation: B!tch could have said Thanks. I almost said your welcome. She said seven words to me and three of them were no. I am glad I don't live at here house, I'll bet it's damn chilly there.
8.01.2002
Intercom Reference. You have a call on line 1.
R This is Reference, can I help you?
Q I was wondering if you can tell me if you have the book Money and the Meaning of Life.
R Hang on and let me check. Do you know the author's last name?
Q No I do not.
R That title is not in our catalog. Are you sure that is the exact title?
Q Well.... no.
R If you have a minute I will look it up and see if that is the title.
Q Sure, that is fine.
R Yes, that is the title. The author's name is Jacob Needleman.
R We do not have that book but we do have another one by him. It is on a totally different subject.
Q What is his other book.
R The title is Philosophy.
Q Well, that just sounds... ... ...boring.
R (ha ha) Would you like to try to get his book via interlibrary loan? It may take a few weeks.
Q Sure let's do that.
R I will need you name, library card number and phone number.
Q Sure my name is Jane Doe, my library card number is 240........., and my phone is 218-...-....
Q What was that authors name again?
R Jacob Needleman.
Q That name sounds jewish. Do you think that is a jewish name?
R Well, I just don't know. I guess it could be.
R OK. You are all set. You will be notified when your book comes in.
Q Thanks. Bye.
Observation: Of course it is a jewish name! But I am not about to go down that road with this potentially anti-semitic woman with the heavy duty anglo last name. Oh sure it would have been fun to see what she had to say, but I cannot exploit these patrons just so my weblog is better. Can I?
7.31.2002
R Can I help you find anything?
Q No, that's OK.
R Well, you let me know if you need any help.
--------Two minutes pass.--------
Q Excuse me.
R Yes?
Q I am looking for this book that this kid at school has.
R Do you know the name of the book?
Q No. But it is all these stories about these teenagers who do murder.
R Are they true stories?
Q Yea they are true.
R OK, let's see what I can find....
R It does not look like we have any True Crime about teen killers in this library. Let me see if I can find the title....
R I think this sounds like what you are looking for: Killer Teens: From the Files of 'True Detective'. "A collection of horrifying accounts of teenage sociopaths and murderers includes the tale of the Iowa high school gang leader who crushed a stranger's skull for fifty cents and a pack of beer."
Q Yea. That could be it.
R Let me check to see if we have that title in the system...
R No none of our libraries have it. Would you like to try to get it through Inerlibrary Loan? It would take about a month?
Q No that's OK.
R Is there anything else I can help you find?
Q No thanks.
--------Ninety seconds pass.--------
Q Do you have any books on wrestling?
R WWF or the sport?
Q WWF.
R Sure let me check to see what is in....
R We should have some right over here.
Q My mom does not want us to watch WWF any more but my brother really wants to be a pro wrestler.
R Does he wrestle as a sport?
Q No but he can climb all the way up to the top of the bookcase and jump down to the floor.
Q All of our beds and couches are broken.
R I can see why she does not want you to watch wrestling any more.
R Here you go. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Q Nope, that's it.
Observation: You cannot imagine how relieved I was when this young man started talking about professional wrestling. For teen reading I will vote for the WWF over True Crime anyday.
Additional Observation: If I say the phrase "you let me know if you need any help" they always come back and ask.
Q No, that's OK.
R Well, you let me know if you need any help.
--------Two minutes pass.--------
Q Excuse me.
R Yes?
Q I am looking for this book that this kid at school has.
R Do you know the name of the book?
Q No. But it is all these stories about these teenagers who do murder.
R Are they true stories?
Q Yea they are true.
R OK, let's see what I can find....
R It does not look like we have any True Crime about teen killers in this library. Let me see if I can find the title....
R I think this sounds like what you are looking for: Killer Teens: From the Files of 'True Detective'. "A collection of horrifying accounts of teenage sociopaths and murderers includes the tale of the Iowa high school gang leader who crushed a stranger's skull for fifty cents and a pack of beer."
Q Yea. That could be it.
R Let me check to see if we have that title in the system...
R No none of our libraries have it. Would you like to try to get it through Inerlibrary Loan? It would take about a month?
Q No that's OK.
R Is there anything else I can help you find?
Q No thanks.
--------Ninety seconds pass.--------
Q Do you have any books on wrestling?
R WWF or the sport?
Q WWF.
R Sure let me check to see what is in....
R We should have some right over here.
Q My mom does not want us to watch WWF any more but my brother really wants to be a pro wrestler.
R Does he wrestle as a sport?
Q No but he can climb all the way up to the top of the bookcase and jump down to the floor.
Q All of our beds and couches are broken.
R I can see why she does not want you to watch wrestling any more.
R Here you go. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Q Nope, that's it.
Observation: You cannot imagine how relieved I was when this young man started talking about professional wrestling. For teen reading I will vote for the WWF over True Crime anyday.
Additional Observation: If I say the phrase "you let me know if you need any help" they always come back and ask.
7.29.2002
Q I need to print and the screen says click here to print can you help me.
R Sure, I will be right there.
Q See, what it says right there?
R Yes did you click there?
Q No.
R Well just click right there.
Q OK.
R Now just wait until the dialog box comes up and it will tell you how many pages it is and how much it will cost.
Q Now what?
R See, it is $1.60. Just click right here where it says click here to print.
Q Right here?
R Now you need to go over to the print station and print out your document.
Q Where will my print come out?
R Right over here. You need to put in your debit card and select your print job.
Q Debit card?
R Yes. You need a debit card to use the printer. It costs .50 to buy a card and your print job is $1.60 so you will have to put $2.00 on your card in order to print this out.
Q But I only have $1.90.
R Well you will need $2.50 in order to get a card that has enought money on it to print this out.
Q Can't I just pay cash? I only have $1.90.
R No, I am sorry. You need a debit card to print. You can buy one right downstairs.
Q But I only have $1.90.
R Your print job will stay on the server for two hours. You can print it as long as you print it within the next two hours.
Observation: I walked away and went back to my desk. My tone got a little edgy but for the most part I held it together. What I really wanted to say was "Take that $1.90 and shove up your a$$." He was back up here prining out within the next five minutes. I'll bet he had that extra .60 in his car but just did not want to go down and get it.
R Sure, I will be right there.
Q See, what it says right there?
R Yes did you click there?
Q No.
R Well just click right there.
Q OK.
R Now just wait until the dialog box comes up and it will tell you how many pages it is and how much it will cost.
Q Now what?
R See, it is $1.60. Just click right here where it says click here to print.
Q Right here?
R Now you need to go over to the print station and print out your document.
Q Where will my print come out?
R Right over here. You need to put in your debit card and select your print job.
Q Debit card?
R Yes. You need a debit card to use the printer. It costs .50 to buy a card and your print job is $1.60 so you will have to put $2.00 on your card in order to print this out.
Q But I only have $1.90.
R Well you will need $2.50 in order to get a card that has enought money on it to print this out.
Q Can't I just pay cash? I only have $1.90.
R No, I am sorry. You need a debit card to print. You can buy one right downstairs.
Q But I only have $1.90.
R Your print job will stay on the server for two hours. You can print it as long as you print it within the next two hours.
Observation: I walked away and went back to my desk. My tone got a little edgy but for the most part I held it together. What I really wanted to say was "Take that $1.90 and shove up your a$$." He was back up here prining out within the next five minutes. I'll bet he had that extra .60 in his car but just did not want to go down and get it.
