My Days Working at the Library

[Samaliel]

Um... you mean shouldn't be needed.

No, I mean they are not needed. Just like there is no need for signs telling me not to maul stupid ass-tards with a shovel, even if I catch them red handed doing something illegal and I'd really love too.

Because if they were needed, that would mean it would be okay to watch child porn at any other place that do not have such signs. And I'm fairly sure many SC would think it implies that any other kind of porn would be okay too.

Putting up such signs is a surefire way to get more and more stupidity.

[depechemodefan]

We had this guy (around 2001, 2002, forget exactly when) who liked looking at a site called "child star" or "star child" or something like that. On this site he would spend a lot of time looking at pics of a really young shirtless Joey Lawrence. That was creepy.

[Gurndigarn]

I'm not a lawyer or anything, but isn't this illegal any and everywhere in the civilized world ? Seriously, these signs aren't needed.

Um... you mean shouldn't be needed.

[depechemodefan]

Today a guy comes up and insults (not to her face, to me) one of my co-workers for not finding a book by Barack Obama. Of course, the man spells the name "Abama". And thinks the title is Dreams for my father , not Dreams from my father : a story of race and inheritance. So no wonder she didn't find it.

At the time I was helping another guy, and the Obama guy wasn't rude at first, until I told him he can check the catalog why I was helping the present guy. sidenote, tellng people to check the catalog is a no-win situation. Most people want to check it but they ask "can you help me find this book" when they mean "I can look this up if you tell me where the catalog is." Yes, really. But sometimes when you mention there is a catalog, people get angry because you dont' want to help them

Anywho, he complains that "that Mexican girl" couldn't find the book (which we find latter is because the man didn't give the right information...also, just typing "Obama" is getting a lot of results. Maybe he dind't wait for her to look at each title). We go to the catalog and he spells the name Abama. Then another co-worker came up and told him the book is at such a call #. And that the name he (patron) gave for the book was suppose to be ...from... not ...for....

[Kalga]

But! But! The Customer is always right!




It seems that the people who say The Customer is always right, are never right.

[Samaliel]

"There's no sign telling me I can't maul you with a shovel because I think you're stupid. Are you sure you you want to stick to that argument ?"

[Kalga]

I'm not a lawyer or anything, but isn't this illegal any and everywhere in the civilized world ? Seriously, these signs aren't needed.

SC: But! But! But! There's no sign anywhere telling me it's not allowed! Therefore, I should be able to do it!

And now, I'm off to rob a bank. There are no signs telling me I can't do that there.

[KellyHabersham]

Interesting it is to hear that others have worked as a library page........I'd really love to quit doing that myself (getting bored with the job duties), but am stuck with it because of the money. On the good side though, my co-workers are cool and I don't have to deal with SC's.

[Samaliel]

Heh. My library has distinct signs saying "NO CHILD PORN". I really wish these were not needed...

I'm not a lawyer or anything, but isn't this illegal any and everywhere in the civilized world ? Seriously, these signs aren't needed.

[vloglady]

I'm a former page too, now a children's librarian for 26 years.

To the OP who wrote about the filthy, disgusting bathroom key they had to give "customers" (where I work, no patrons, just customers):

We kept our keys, on the mandatory large piece of wood, in a plastic basket, like you get at the dollar store. Just pick up the basket and aim it towards the customer. They pick it out and you put the basket down.

BTW, I'm reading this thread right now at work, at the Adult Reference Desk, working till 8pm.

[Kalga]

Ah. Lucky. I got stuck in the children's room. And I hate kids!

Although, the Play Boy thing is quite hilarious.

[PCGameGuy]

Former library pages unite!

That was probably my favorite summer job, got to work periodicals mostly, shelving putbacks, and chatting up the beautiful red-headed co-worker all summer. :sigh:

If she hadn't stolen my David Bowie tour shirt it woud have been the best summer ever.

We were lucky, we only had Playboy, and it usually was completely denuded by the first day after we got it, after which all I had to say was 'only articles left' and it never got checked out again.

[Kalga]

Heh. My library has distinct signs saying "NO CHILD PORN". I really wish these were not needed...

I actually just stopped working a similar job. Didn't need me over the summer. I've seen the book numbers you mentioned. Parenting section. Kids room. So...right over the fantasy, was something along the lines of "Breasts: A owners manual."

Now...needless to say, I gave it some weird looks. Then my crazy friend came round, picked it up, and walked around the library with it open to the middle...

As for the creepy guy story, I have a ton of those. People seem to think that Selving books = I want to talk to you.

[depechemodefan]

Libraries are full of pervs.

Yeah, noticed that on the first day of work. Everyday is perv day. God, before we had the policy of no porn, everyday was porn day.

I want my money back!

I could see he got angry when he got a notice and went to the shelf and found the book that had a claim on it. And he would still be a jerk for yelling. But you are giving him back his money! Ugh, he shouldn't have carried on like that. Be a jerk and say something, like "you took my money!" and that is all, but going on like that ? Ugh.

That happens a bit, Difdi. Sorry you went through it. It's good you went to look. What drives me insane is these people who make it a scam. There book is late, and they claim that they returned it, then they go to the shelf (and either put the book back for when the librarian goes looking for it will find it or just comes straight back from the shelf after taking the book out of his/her bag) and come back saying they found the book. This woman keeps on coming in, claiming we don't check her books in and we find the "overdue" books on the shelf. But this happens a lot. Like almost every time she comes in. Now, if this happened to me once, I make sure I get a receipt, even if I have to wait (to be honest, I checkout and checkin my books myself, since this happened to me once).

You know, when I think of glory holes (and really, who doesn't) and where to find them, the library is not the first place I think of.

A lot of guys hook up at the library. I forgot which book, but some author mentioned our library as a good place to pick up a guy (and go to the bathroom with him, here. Ew).

[RecoveringKinkoid]

You know, when I think of glory holes (and really, who doesn't) and where to find them, the library is not the first place I think of. Gay bars downtown? Sure. Certain mensrooms in the student center down at the University? Yep. But the public library?