Don't play this game with me, lady

[MrsEclipse]

I was working the circulation desk at the library. One of the other libraries in our district was closed for construction (it just opened again this weekend after months) and we have been so busy that the parking lot has literally filled to capacity and we had signs in the parking lot, the lobby, and by the stairs directing people to the next closest library, two miles away.

We always give an announcement before closing- first a half-hour, then a fifteen-minute, and then a five-minute, when the computers are shutting down. We're usually busy around the five-minute one when the patrons stop dragging their heels, and with the extra crowd we're especially busy.

This nice lady comes up just a few minutes before closing, wanting to debate her fines. Her reasoning:

"I know you send out e-mails a few days before something is overdue, but then you don't send another one out until the day after it's due, so it's already too late. I have a lot of kids and things get pretty crazy. Can you send me an e-mail the day before?"

"I'm sorry, the system isn't set up to do that."

"It's just so hard, you know, with the kids and all their books."

"I can imagine. Why don't you get a big wall calender and put stickers on the days that books and assignments are due? Then the whole family can help to remember together."

"It would really help if you sent me an e-mail the day before they're due... I really don't think I should have to pay these fines because you didn't tell me the day before."

"We gave you a receipt. You can renew online anytime, and we sent the e-mail a few days."

"But that was before..."

At this point it's clear to everyone that she's trying to use this busy time, combined with the busy-mother act, to get me to just waive the fines to get rid of her.

I should also say that my position is the second-lowest in library hierarchy, but I am allowed to waive fines. Don't need a supervisor, don't need a code. Just a good reason. Sometimes I waive fines because someone didn't understand our DVD system, or they have a good reason, or at least a good story.

But I'm not going to waive fines for someone who just admitted I should waive them because she's an idiot, even if she doesn't realize that's what she said.

So I make it clear that I am not waiving these fines because I feel sorry for her, nor am I waiving them to get rid of her. I am not waiving them at all.

I was saved by the manager coming out with the money bag.

"Looks like we're shutting down the register," I say, "so you can't pay them tonight. You can take care of it next time. See you then!" And I take the next person as she leaves.

She was polite about it, but she was a persistent idiot.

[thehuckster]

She must make credit card companies, her landlord, and the electric company insane. I always get my bills a few weeks before they are due. They're never nice enough to remind me to actually pay them the day before they're due.

[rose_metal_nz]

What a nutter glad you didn't play along with her!

[MoonCat]

That's how our library works, too. Never occurred to me to bitch about getting the email the day before the stuff is due. I've got a receipt with the due date on it, and I get an email a few days ahead.

What do you want to bet that if you did it her way, somebody else would gripe that you didn't give them enough time, and you should send the notice out at least a week ahead? Can't win.

[mikoyan29]

However did I manage to avoid library fines in the days before e-mail? Noone ever reminded me when books were due and somehow I figured out how to get them there in time. Oh yeah, there's that little card in the back that says when its due.

[earl colby pottinger]

PS.

What did she do before e-mail billing?

[emax4]

Next time, when you or an associate see her approach the desk around quitting time; cut her off right away by being the first one to speak in saying, "oh ok, you're here and ready to pay off that late fee.." Use the pitch to make it sound like a statement rather than a question so it's "you're HERE and ready to PAY OFF that LATE fee.."

[Taz]

However did I manage to avoid library fines in the days before e-mail? Noone ever reminded me when books were due and somehow I figured out how to get them there in time. Oh yeah, there's that little card in the back that says when its due.

My library still doesn't send reminder emails. They expect us to remember when things are due on our own - oh the horror! The only reminder they send is when items are 2 weeks past due. And when I see one in the mail, my typical response is "Oh da**, not again"

[BeenThereDoneThat]

It really chaps my arse when people complain about how they can't remember anything or keep dates and times straight, but refuse to use a calendar or any kind of reminder system. Hell, if they set it up THEIR way, it would work for them...nobody's telling them how to do it, just that they NEED to do it. Some people I deeply care about are guilty of this...they'll say "remind me to do X on Y" like I don't have enough stuff of my own to remember. Grrr.

[MetalSeagull]

I remember when your only notice was the Due Date stamped in the back of the book. Take some friggin responsibility.

[vikingchyk]

I was working the circulation desk at the library. One of the other libraries in our district was closed for construction (it just opened again this weekend after months) and we have been so busy that the parking lot has literally filled to capacity and we had signs in the parking lot, the lobby, and by the stairs directing people to the next closest library, two miles away.

HoCo?

{whaddaya mean my post needs at least 10 characters?? :P

[thansal]

Wait, libraries send out EMAIL reminders now?

Well damn, Growing up I never had those, and you know what, not a late fine on my card. Ever.

Le Sigh.

[reimero]

Email reminders ("courtesy notices" in the parlance of the ILS vendor I work with) are actually a fairly recent development, as I recall. But they are a nice little touch.

[Sparky]

You know, when I get email reminders of things, my email program allows me to set a reminder for whenever I want. Like, say, if I got an email that my library books were due next Wednesday, I could set myself a reminder for Tuesday.....

I'm just sayin'.

[Sapphire Silk]

Hey, boss, you know it's really not helpful that you post the schedule a whole month in advance. I really need a reminder the day before I'm supposed to come in and work. So if I don't show up, it's really not my fault, because you didn't remind me.