Monday Morning

In case any one wonders what we do when we are not dealing with crazy patrons...haha we empty the book drop. On Monday mornings it looks like this....here's my half of the pile. Susan actually filled up one cart before I got there...to get a head start. We had almost everything checked in by opening time...but more kept coming.... *Once we pick up the pile as shown...we roll the cart back into the space...We only move it out on weekends or holidays...because the regular book holder would fill up.

Where do they come from....?????????

Okay...so I checked the current moon and it's definitely NOT full... it's a waning crescent...in case you're interested so that's not it...but the crazy people were definitely coming out of the wood work today!
I arrived at work just as the library was opening...so it's walk in, put your stuff down and jump right in! First customer was regular patron...who likes to read and is...shall we say...a little demanding. I realized one of our volunteers was helping at the desk and she's never encountered said patron before and was looking a little nervous...so I jumped in to rescue her from KG, This lady puts many books on reserve and that's good for our business....but she just has a way of making you feel like you should be doing more...FOR HER! She's always in a hurry.....today...because the dog was in the car...but while the volunteer was doing her best to look up her card number because even though she's in the library at least 3-4 times a week...she isn't willing to spend $1.00 (!) for a replacement card she was busy rattling off numbers...only causing the voluterr to get more confused....oh well enough about her!
Next I had a nice couple new to the area...no problem...got them cards..sent them on their way...things were looking up...but then.....
next woman comes up to the desk and tells me she needs to renew her book. I told her I'd be happy to do that as long as no one else was waiting for it....here's how the conversation went.....
ME-As long as no one's waiting for it we can renew it for a week.
HER-Well they can't have it...I'm not done with it.
Me- (smiling) Well I need to check....
HER- Oh trust me...no one wants it.
**I suggested that sometimes we check to see if there are any holds...if there are the patron can just keep it and pay the overdue fees...oh no no no....that wasn't going to happen.
Luckily no one else was waiting...we got it renewed...then
HER- Oh I just remembered I got a call yesterday that I had a book in that I requested...I can't remember what the hell I wanted"
ME- Oh no problem....I'll look it up. (I looked....nothing on reserve...which means it probably was sent back.)
Me- Let me check paperwork down at reference in case we sent it back...(found the paper...called her on the 6th...sent it back on the 10th.)
Me- I'm sorry ma'am but it looks like we called you on the 6th
Her-No I got the call yesterday
Me- Well there's a note here on the paperwork....(for this very reason.)..I didn't say that!
Her-interrupting me..."I don't care what that says...I got the call yesterday"
I offered to reserve it again...she declined the offer and thankfully...went on her way.

NEXT..........I notice Irma down in Reference talking to a man...shaking her head...next thing we know he's walking into the staff area talking to our volunteer Jack...who had JUST walked in. as Jack put it...I saw this guy motioning to me and sort of waving...I thought he knew me from somewhere.
Iram was behind him...told him he could not go back there...he was okay with that...then
HIM- Listen...I just need to get an email address from someone...I have the solution to the problem in the Gulf of Mexico...and I have it typed up ready to send to the White House...but I need a return address.
ME-"Well you can't have anything sent to the Library...it's against the policy.
HIM- Oh I know...I could use your email address....
***I have never laid eyes on this guy before this...I don't think so!
Me- Sorry I don't have one you can use
Him- without batting an eye..."Well, Let me ask her" and he moved on to Heather.
ME- Can't you open an account online?
Irma- Sir...you really can't go around asking everyone in the library..
He did leave...and got back on the computer...don't know if he sent the email...But if you hear about a new miracle solution...it could be from our friend in Melbourne Beach!
The day did get better from then on...TG! I was starting to get nervous...this was all in the first 20 minutes!
We did have the usual questions....... I'm looking for a book...it's red.....I moving...I need to cancel my card and get all the info out of your computer system....OK that's a new one...except then she didn't have her card number? Hard to cancel it if we don't know who you are! Nancy suggested that she come in with an ID.
A book returned with a little blob of sunscreen and a pile of sand in it....first I thought it was frosting and ants,,,,hahaha. Ahh...I love my job!

Late night musings

I should really be going to bed....but then again...I don't have to get up early tomorrow...I'm off. Actually...since we started the new schedule at the Library in October...I kind of like the way the schedule usually works out. I don't have to be to work until 9:00 most days...and that just seems to work well with my nocturnal nature. :) I have a hard time getting myself to go to bed sometimes...so getting up a little later...is helpful. What I DISLIKE about the schedule is that it changes day to day...week to week...so I have to make sure I am paying attention to the schedule...so I know when and where I am supposed to be. It's not a major problem.. I realize people do it all the time....but it's different after working pretty much the exact same schedule for 4 years. And...there's the fact that I am at the front desk 15 hrs a week....I'd much rather be doing Children's...but that's the way it goes. I miss my Outreach programs...and they miss me...at least that's what they tell me. And the Front desk is demanding.....I can handle that...most of the time...it's the trying to do several things at once that I am NOT good at. Answering the phone, while checking people out or filling in applications for cards...while people try to chat with me...is a challenge for me. I am not a good multi tasker...I like to start one thing and finish it...I just work better that way...otherwise I get going in too many directions and not much gets done. When a crowd comes in the doors right when we first open, and we are still trying to check in everything from the book drop..it gets hectic. Last Tuesday, after the Holiday weekend...we had a crazy crazy morning...everyone was trying to help at the desk...one guy when he got to the counter laughed and said "Okay...I'll have a slice of the pizza or whatever it is you guys are giving away today!" Just books!and Movies!, etc
Sometimes there are just too many piles of things (books from book drop, books for courier, books to put on cart to shelve...well you get the picture)that my poor brain starts getting a little cluttered! Then there's all the part-time residents who are back in town and needing their cards updated...causing the line to back up Soooooooooooo I am doing my best...trying not to screw things up too much...so far I'm doing okay...I guess they can deal with me.
I do like chatting with the patrons about what they are reading....getting ideas of what I'd like to read... or not. I do tend to watch the clock a little more than I used to.....that makes me sad. I like to enjoy my work! At least the patrons and my co-workers seem to like ME...and I HAVE a job....and...who knows...maybe some day I will get it all together! haha In the meantime I am plugging along.