A lot of people think libraries are boring places where nothing much happens. We do have times like that, but interesting things crop up, both good and bad.
We're having a heat wave in PA and a patron comes in the library wearing her bathing suit with a towel wrapped around herself. Really, people! Doesn't anyone have respect to dress properly to come in? :rolleyes: We are not the local pool! The next day another obese woman comes in wearing swim shorts and a bikini top. I spotted her in the children's section and by the time she came over to the adult computers she at least put a cover up on. We have patrons come in pajama pants and slippers, rollers in their hair, and one obese guy who sits at the computers and half his butt is sticking out. Yikes! Are we turning into a Wal-Mart? :big grin:
We can start a website called "peopleofthelibrary.com." ;D
Quote from: Locutus on July 09, 2016, 07:10:52 PM
We can start a website called "peopleofthelibrary.com." ;D
:)
Quote from: Locutus on July 09, 2016, 07:10:52 PM
We can start a website called "peopleofthelibrary.com." ;D
:big grin: I could get some good pictures for it.
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 10, 2016, 01:09:48 PM
:big grin: I could get some good pictures for it.
:clap: :clap: :clap:
Sometimes I really wonder if some people have any brain cells. The coin ops connected to the copier was being worked on. The tech had it opened up and his tools around him. There was also an out of order sign on it and one on the copier. I was talking to the tech guy when a patron came up to the copier, opened it up and put his paper inside. I said, "sir", and before I could say anything else he looks at me, looks at the tech guy and says, "I want to make a copy. Is there something wrong?" :spooked: I really wanted to respond, no, we always put out of order signs on things that work. But, knowing my boss wouldn't appreciate that, I told him the copier was down and he could use the other one. He asks, "You mean I can't use this one?" Really?! I'm glad the majority of our patrons aren't that stupid.
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 14, 2016, 10:13:04 PM
Sometimes I really wonder if some people have any brain cells. The coin ops connected to the copier was being worked on. The tech had it opened up and his tools around him. There was also an out of order sign on it and one on the copier. I was talking to the tech guy when a patron came up to the copier, opened it up and put his paper inside. I said, "sir", and before I could say anything else he looks at me, looks at the tech guy and says, "I want to make a copy. Is there something wrong?" :spooked: I really wanted to respond, no, we always put out of order signs on things that work. But, knowing my boss wouldn't appreciate that, I told him the copier was down and he could use the other one. He asks, "You mean I can't use this one?" Really?! I'm glad the majority of our patrons aren't that stupid.
A few fries short of a happy meal for sure.
I visited the library today. I had a technical support question. ;D
I haven't been to the library for about 5 yrs and learned last night they sell music videos and cd's at a fairly low cost on certain days of the week so gonna have to check that out.
Quote from: me on July 27, 2016, 12:44:06 AM
I haven't been to the library for about 5 yrs and learned last night they sell music videos and cd's at a fairly low cost on certain days of the week so gonna have to check that out.
Books, too. I have picked up some nice books there.
Some of them also rent DVDs of movies for relatively cheap as well. :yes:
Quote from: Locutus on July 27, 2016, 03:02:13 PM
Some of them also rent DVDs of movies for relatively cheap as well. :yes:
There's no cost here if you have a card. The lady in charge of ordering them is a musician and she orders some real good music videos and CD's.
Quote from: Locutus on July 27, 2016, 03:02:13 PM
Some of them also rent DVDs of movies for relatively cheap as well. :yes:
We're currently changing our policy and making our DVD's and video games rent free. We used to charge 50 cents a night. Now it will be one week rental with up to five renewals. Late charges will be 50 cents a night. Other libraries in our area rent free, but some don't have the latest titles like we do.
We also offer music streaming, ebooks, and audiobooks through Hoopla and Overdrive.
We sell DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and books, and twice a year our Friends group holds a massive book sale. Last spring they made over $10,000 which we use to buy much needed things for the library like book carts, chairs, book returns, and shelving units.
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 27, 2016, 08:10:32 PM
We're currently changing our policy and making our DVD's and video games rent free. We used to charge 50 cents a night. Now it will be one week rental with up to five renewals. Late charges will be 50 cents a night. Other libraries in our area rent free, but some don't have the latest titles like we do.
We also offer music streaming, ebooks, and audiobooks through Hoopla and Overdrive.
We sell DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and books, and twice a year our Friends group holds a massive book sale. Last spring they made over $10,000 which we use to buy much needed things for the library like book carts, chairs, book returns, and shelving units.
Our library offers the e-books, too. I have borrowed e-books a couple times. At one time you could borrow pictures, I don't know if that is still a available.
Quote from: Anne on July 28, 2016, 08:35:12 PM
Our library offers the e-books, too. I have borrowed e-books a couple times. At one time you could borrow pictures, I don't know if that is still a available.
Borrow pictures? I don't understand what you mean. Help me understand! ;D
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 28, 2016, 09:40:05 PM
Borrow pictures? I don't understand what you mean. Help me understand! ;D
Maybe movies or pictures of art, just guessing. Ours have eBooks, books on CD, movies, CD's and video games. It is just not books anymore as you probably are so aware, Abby!
I got some pubescent tales from the library. . . But I can't post them here. :icon_twisted:
:spooked:
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 28, 2016, 09:40:05 PM
Borrow pictures? I don't understand what you mean. Help me understand! ;D
Framed oil paintings, some originals and also copies of famous artists. Check them out just like a book. I think you could keep them for three months. It was a nice way to decorate and try new styles.
Quote from: Anne on July 29, 2016, 07:50:16 PM
Framed oil paintings, some originals and also copies of famous artists. Check them out just like a book. I think you could keep them for three months. It was a nice way to decorate and try new styles.
Wow, that is neat.
Quote from: Anne on July 29, 2016, 07:50:16 PM
It was a nice way to decorate and try new styles.
Was that the intent? I've never heard of a library providing items like that before. I would imagine that storage space required for items like that would require would preclude most libraries from those sorts of offerings.
Quote from: Anne on July 29, 2016, 07:50:16 PM
Framed oil paintings, some originals and also copies of famous artists. Check them out just like a book. I think you could keep them for three months. It was a nice way to decorate and try new styles.
I have never heard of that. I looked it up, and the Ann Arbor Library still does this. Wow!
Quote from: Anne on July 29, 2016, 07:50:16 PM
Framed oil paintings, some originals and also copies of famous artists. Check them out just like a book. I think you could keep them for three months. It was a nice way to decorate and try new styles.
Or impress friends if you're having a party.
Quote from: Anne on July 29, 2016, 07:50:16 PM
Framed oil paintings, some originals and also copies of famous artists. Check them out just like a book. I think you could keep them for three months. It was a nice way to decorate and try new styles.
I can only imagine the replacement cost if you lost or damaged the original or even then copies! :eek:
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 29, 2016, 11:37:08 PM
I can only imagine the replacement cost if you lost or damaged the original or even then copies! :eek:
I wonder if theft is a problem with those offerings.
Quote from: Locutus on July 29, 2016, 11:39:24 PM
I wonder if theft is a problem with those offerings.
Theft is a problem with anything at a library. Hell, we had a woman steal romance novels! :eek:
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 29, 2016, 11:40:43 PM
Theft is a problem with anything at a library. Hell, we had a woman steal romance novels! :eek:
If I was going to steal from a library, it wouldn't be a romance novel.
Quote from: Locutus on July 29, 2016, 11:39:24 PM
I wonder if theft is a problem with those offerings.
I would imagine they have people put down deposits on things like that.
Quote from: me on July 29, 2016, 11:44:17 PM
I would imagine they have people put down deposits on things like that.
Maybe, but I'm not so sure about that. Maybe Anne can tell us.
Quote from: Locutus on July 29, 2016, 11:44:11 PM
If I was going to steal from a library, it wouldn't be a romance novel.
Me either.
Quote from: me on July 29, 2016, 11:44:17 PM
I would imagine they have people put down deposits on things like that.
I looked at the Ann Arbor District Library website and I couldn't find anything that said you had to put a deposit down. You can check out three pieces for 8 weeks. Pretty cool.
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 29, 2016, 11:54:13 PM
I looked at the Ann Arbor District Library website and I couldn't find anything that said you had to put a deposit down. You can check out three pieces for 8 weeks. Pretty cool.
Ya really. Could be they don't have that much wrapped up in them, just copies and cheap frames.
Quote from: me on July 29, 2016, 11:56:16 PM
Ya really. Could be they don't have that much wrapped up in them, just copies and cheap frames.
Their site says they have originals, too. The copies may not be framed; I don't know for sure.
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 29, 2016, 11:58:45 PM
Their site says they have originals, too. The copies may not be framed; I don't know for sure.
Surely they have some kind of safety in place with the originals. I think they do that here too but have never checked into it. I may do that sometime just out of curiosity.
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 29, 2016, 11:40:43 PM
Theft is a problem with anything at a library. Hell, we had a woman steal romance novels! :eek:
If I was going to steal from a library, it wouldn't be romance novels. Just saying.
Quote from: Locutus on July 29, 2016, 11:44:11 PM
If I was going to steal from a library, it wouldn't be a romance novel.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on July 30, 2016, 07:35:26 AM
If I was going to steal from a library, it wouldn't be romance novels. Just saying.
Is there an echo in this place? :biggrin:
Quote from: Palehorse on July 30, 2016, 09:56:42 AM
Is there an echo in this place? :biggrin:
Lol, I didn't even notice Locutus posted that. But you know great minds think alike. Ahahahahaha.
Quote from: Palehorse on July 30, 2016, 09:56:42 AM
Is there an echo in this place? :biggrin:
Sure seems that way. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Palehorse on July 30, 2016, 09:56:42 AM
Is there an echo in this place? :biggrin:
I thought PL might be Melania Trump in real life. :biggrin:
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 30, 2016, 11:49:09 AM
I thought PL might be Melania Trump in real life. :biggrin:
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 30, 2016, 11:49:09 AM
I thought PL might be Melania Trump in real life. :biggrin:
Hahahaha, not hardly!!!
Quote from: AbbyTC on July 30, 2016, 11:49:09 AM
I thought PL might be Melania Trump in real life. :biggrin:
:food24: :rotfl:
There hadn't been an accident in our parking lot in a while, so we were overdue for it. Then a guy slammed into the wooden railings on the berm in the parking lot. He said his foot slipped off of the brake and his ankle hit the gas. Fortunately, he hit the brakes just before his front tires went completely over the berm. Otherwise his car would have teetered back and forth on it. He lost his whole front bumper and he said his entire right side hurt and he was limping. The car was still drivable and he drove himself to an urgent care place.
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13737713_123405338100287_2926264063314892674_o.jpg)
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13731078_123401771433977_7086769544539748196_o.jpg)
Yikes! :spooked:
Hopefully he had good insurance. :yes:
Wow, never a dull moment, even at the library.
Quote from: Locutus on July 29, 2016, 10:09:08 PM
Was that the intent? I've never heard of a library providing items like that before. I would imagine that storage space required for items like that would require would preclude most libraries from those sorts of offerings.
I don't know when or why they started doing it. It was quite popular when I first knew about it. I remember they were displayed on a couple walls. I don't know if all of their I inventory was displayed at once or if they rotated it. We have a very nice and large library for a town this size.
Quote from: Locutus on July 29, 2016, 11:45:11 PM
Maybe, but I'm not so sure about that. Maybe Anne can tell us.
No, you didn't need a deposit, but there were late charges.
I picked up a new book today, despite died it was time for a serious book after all the summer books. It is The Quartet, Orchestrating the Second American Revolution 1788 -1789 by Joseph J. Ellis. Has anyone else read anything by this author? He is a new one for me.
Quote from: Anne on August 02, 2016, 03:56:43 PM
I picked up a new book today, despite died it was time for a serious book after all the summer books. It is The Quartet, Orchestrating the Second American Revolution 1788 -1789 by Joseph J. Ellis. Has anyone else read anything by this author? He is a new one for me.
Sorry, can't help you with that one. I"m not familiar with him, but I'm not big on reading about the American Revolution or that time period in general.
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 02, 2016, 09:37:28 PM
Sorry, can't help you with that one. I"m not familiar with him, but I'm not big on reading about the American Revolution or that time period in general.
I enjoy American history so that is why I picked it up. I just reread my post, don't know what the auto correct thought I was trying to say, but it was wrong!!!😁
Quote from: Anne on August 02, 2016, 11:34:22 PM
I just reread my post, don't know what the auto correct thought I was trying to say, but it was wrong!!!😁
;D
Quote from: Anne on August 02, 2016, 11:34:22 PM
I enjoy American history so that is why I picked it up. I just reread my post, don't know what the auto correct thought I was trying to say, but it was wrong!!!😁
It's been doing that a lot lately. ;D
I'm sure glad I don't have to fool with auto correct. Some of my friends send me some really weird messages.
Quote from: me on August 03, 2016, 12:03:08 AM
I'm sure glad I don't have to fool with auto correct. Some of my friends send me some really weird messages.
Microsux sux at it anyway.
Quote from: Palehorse on August 03, 2016, 07:48:55 PM
Microsux sux at it anyway.
Microsux sux at everything. :yes:
Quote from: Locutus on August 03, 2016, 08:12:36 PM
Microsux sux at everything. :yes:
:yes: :yes: :yes:
I have an android tablet and it's drivin' me nuts though. Of course I've never used anything but Microsux so that could be why. I did use a friends Apple years ago but not enough to really figure it out.
Once you go Mac, you never go back. :no:
Quote from: Locutus on August 03, 2016, 09:40:04 PM
Once you go Mac, you never go back. :no:
I keep hearing that.
Hey! This is Tales from the Library, not Mac and Microsoft Musings! :big grin:
BTW, it's true, once you go Mac, you never go back. Love my Apple laptop and iPhone!
So tell us some new tales from the library. :razz: ;D
Hahahaha! I was typing while you posted that!
We have quite a few people who come in to the library who are on medication for psychological reasons . We can always tell when they are off of it. At our downtown branch, the manager was opening the building and as the people came in, one woman came up to her and punched her in the face. No reason at all except she was angry about something. At our branch, we found one guy back in the corner where the defunct dumbwaiter is laughing loudly and talking to it. We also had a guy who became angry because he thought another patron was staring at him. He went over to the patron and started yelling at him to stop staring and mind his own business. Staff quickly diffused the situation and calmed the guy down, although he stood at the desk for about 10 minutes telling us that the other man should not be staring and blah, blah, blah. We've all become very good at looking interested and talking but continuing our work.
I sometimes wonder if one of them will come in with a knife or gun and come after us and/or other patrons. Just never know in this world.
This is a chair my co-worker brought over to me the other day. Oh, the joy of working with the public. :roll eyes: Donned some plastic gloves, grabbed the upholstery cleaner, and it's just like new.
(https://scontent.fphl2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13925799_140355459738608_2862643889716855043_o.jpg)
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 10, 2016, 10:45:37 PM
This is a chair my co-worker brought over to me the other day. Oh, the joy of working with the public. :roll eyes: Donned some plastic gloves, grabbed the upholstery cleaner, and it's just like new.
(https://scontent.fphl2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13925799_140355459738608_2862643889716855043_o.jpg)
You'd think she would have cleaned it before bringing it to you. It is a nice looking chair.
Quote from: me on August 10, 2016, 11:57:11 PM
You'd think she would have cleaned it before bringing it to you. It is a nice looking chair.
She's our reference librarian and was the only one working reference that morning. It was very busy and she had no time to deal with it.
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 11, 2016, 12:02:27 AM
She's our reference librarian and was the only one working reference that morning. It was very busy and she had no time to deal with it.
Ah, I understand that.
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 03, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
Hahahaha! I was typing while you posted that!
We have quite a few people who come in to the library who are on medication for psychological reasons . We can always tell when they are off of it. At our downtown branch, the manager was opening the building and as the people came in, one woman came up to her and punched her in the face. No reason at all except she was angry about something. At our branch, we found one guy back in the corner where the defunct dumbwaiter is laughing loudly and talking to it. We also had a guy who became angry because he thought another patron was staring at him. He went over to the patron and started yelling at him to stop staring and mind his own business. Staff quickly diffused the situation and calmed the guy down, although he stood at the desk for about 10 minutes telling us that the other man should not be staring and blah, blah, blah. We've all become very good at looking interested and talking but continuing our work.
I sometimes wonder if one of them will come in with a knife or gun and come after us and/or other patrons. Just never know in this world.
It is extremely scary these days. We only have one library and they have signs up that if you are registered sex offender that you aren't allowed on the second floor where the children's section is. I often wonder how they monitor it and if they even get a list of names of those who are sex offenders.
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 10, 2016, 10:45:37 PM
This is a chair my co-worker brought over to me the other day. Oh, the joy of working with the public. :roll eyes: Donned some plastic gloves, grabbed the upholstery cleaner, and it's just like new.
(https://scontent.fphl2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13925799_140355459738608_2862643889716855043_o.jpg)
Ass juice; the scourge is real people!
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on August 11, 2016, 06:43:24 AM
It is extremely scary these days. We only have one library and they have signs up that if you are registered sex offender that you aren't allowed on the second floor where the children's section is. I often wonder how they monitor it and if they even get a list of names of those who are sex offenders.
That wouldn't be easy to monitor and unless they know what they look like, it wouldn't be easy to tell who to kick out. We actually had a guy sit at a table across from a father and daughter who was about 12 or 13. The father looked over at the guy and noticed he had his hand down his pants masturbating while staring at his daughter. Unfortunately, he left by the time the father told us what was going on. But we did get a good description of him and we waited for him to return so we could call the police. He's never been back since; guess it was too close for him being caught. People have an erroneous idea that the library is a safe place for their kids. If they only knew the types of creeps that come in. :-[
Quote from: Palehorse on August 11, 2016, 08:06:09 PM
Ass juice; the scourge is real people!
Always look before you sit! :yes:
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 11, 2016, 08:13:45 PM
Always look before you sit! :yes:
No lie.
At a former employer my staff had office chairs at their work benches in order to perform electrical assembly tasks. We had one contingency worker that a number of his peers complained about constantly. Body odor, etc. Eventually he left the company and shortly thereafter I went into their area to talk totem about something. I pulled out a chair at a vacant workstation and thankfully I looked before I sat.
What the hell is all this white crusty stain on this chair from. i asked?
Him, was the reply.
I forgot what I had come in there to talk to them about, and silently rolled the chair all the way out to the dumpster and deposited it forthwith.
I have never failed to look before I sit since. . . :spooked:
:spooked:
Quote from: Palehorse on August 11, 2016, 08:33:09 PM
No lie.
At a former employer my staff had office chairs at their work benches in order to perform electrical assembly tasks. We had one contingency worker that a number of his peers complained about constantly. Body odor, etc. Eventually he left the company and shortly thereafter I went into their area to talk totem about something. I pulled out a chair at a vacant workstation and thankfully I looked before I sat.
What the hell is all this white crusty stain on this chair from. i asked?
Him, was the reply.
I forgot what I had come in there to talk to them about, and silently rolled the chair all the way out to the dumpster and deposited it forthwith.
I have never failed to look before I sit since. . . :spooked:
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 11, 2016, 08:12:55 PM
That wouldn't be easy to monitor and unless they know what they look like, it wouldn't be easy to tell who to kick out. We actually had a guy sit at a table across from a father and daughter who was about 12 or 13. The father looked over at the guy and noticed he had his hand down his pants masturbating while staring at his daughter. Unfortunately, he left by the time the father told us what was going on. But we did get a good description of him and we waited for him to return so we could call the police. He's never been back since; guess it was too close for him being caught. People have an erroneous idea that the library is a safe place for their kids. If they only knew the types of creeps that come in. :-[
Exactly and I don't let our daughter go up there u supervised. I don even let our son and he is 14. Just too many weirdos put there.
My manager, who runs the library (she's the library administrator), told me about the cleaning crews we had before our current one. The one crew was a husband and wife team. After noticing things not getting cleaned, she checked the camera footage out. Turns out they were coming in, opening all the doors, waited for everyone to leave, and then walked out and came back in two hours or so. They would clean a few days of the week, but the majority of the days they skipped out. Another guy was part of a cleaning crew. My manager was staying late getting work done and as she was walking out, noticed a light on in our slop room. She went in and found a guy sitting there listening to his music. He claimed he was on break. She thought it was a little odd as his shift recently started. She decided to check the cameras, and would you believe it, he went there every night and sat for one to two hours listening to music! :guitarist:
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 15, 2016, 06:38:48 PM
My manager, who runs the library (she's the library administrator), told me about the cleaning crews we had before our current one. The one crew was a husband and wife team. After noticing things not getting cleaned, she checked the camera footage out. Turns out they were coming in, opening all the doors, waited for everyone to leave, and then walked out and came back in two hours or so. They would clean a few days of the week, but the majority of the days they skipped out. Another guy was part of a cleaning crew. My manager was staying late getting work done and as she was walking out, noticed a light on in our slop room. She went in and found a guy sitting there listening to his music. He claimed he was on break. She thought it was a little odd as his shift recently started. She decided to check the cameras, and would you believe it, he went there every night and sat for one to two hours listening to music! :guitarist:
:spooked:
That takes employer theft to a whole new level.
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 15, 2016, 06:38:48 PM
My manager, who runs the library (she's the library administrator), told me about the cleaning crews we had before our current one. The one crew was a husband and wife team. After noticing things not getting cleaned, she checked the camera footage out. Turns out they were coming in, opening all the doors, waited for everyone to leave, and then walked out and came back in two hours or so. They would clean a few days of the week, but the majority of the days they skipped out. Another guy was part of a cleaning crew. My manager was staying late getting work done and as she was walking out, noticed a light on in our slop room. She went in and found a guy sitting there listening to his music. He claimed he was on break. She thought it was a little odd as his shift recently started. She decided to check the cameras, and would you believe it, he went there every night and sat for one to two hours listening to music! :guitarist:
I guess I would never think of doing something like that if I was cleaning up an area.
Like Locutus posted,theft in a brand new way.
About two weeks ago I posted a picture of a chair with a urine stain on it. Today the reference librarian brought over a chair to me. We thought it was the same thing as last time although the patron we thought had did it wasn't in the library. I started cleaning the seat when I noticed the white cloth I was using started to turn red. Holy shit! It wasn't urine but blood! :spooked: I cannot believe how disgusting people can be. :mad: Can't wait to talk to my manager tomorrow about this.
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 29, 2016, 10:02:16 PM
About two weeks ago I posted a picture of a chair with a urine stain on it. Today the reference librarian brought over a chair to me. We thought it was the same thing as last time although the patron we thought had did it wasn't in the library. I started cleaning the seat when I noticed the white cloth I was using started to turn red. Holy shit! It wasn't urine but blood! :spooked: I cannot believe how disgusting people can be. :mad: Can't wait to talk to my manager tomorrow about this.
That is disgusting
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 29, 2016, 10:02:16 PM
About two weeks ago I posted a picture of a chair with a urine stain on it. Today the reference librarian brought over a chair to me. We thought it was the same thing as last time although the patron we thought had did it wasn't in the library. I started cleaning the seat when I noticed the white cloth I was using started to turn red. Holy shit! It wasn't urine but blood! :spooked: I cannot believe how disgusting people can be. :mad: Can't wait to talk to my manager tomorrow about this.
:puke: :puke:
I have to ask, where is the custodial staff in all this? That should be their job and not the library staff's job. When I work as a custodian at Anderson's public library, all cleaning jobs were our duty - as were all maintenance jobs.
Quote from: Y on August 31, 2016, 12:51:05 PM
I have to ask, where is the custodial staff in all this? That should be their job and not the library staff's job. When I work as a custodian at Anderson's public library, all cleaning jobs were our duty - as were all maintenance jobs.
We have a custodial crew that comes in after we close, but all they do is vacuum, clean bathrooms, dust and take out trash. Because of cuts to library funding many years ago, and because those funds have never been brought back to their previous level, the custodians that worked at the library during opening hours were let go. We have only two people who do maintenance on 8 libraries; 5 down county and 3 up county (which is over the mountain and out in the boondocks, almost an hour's drive from my branch). So staff is responsible for any issues that arise during opening hours. If a toilet runs over, whoever gets notified of it or sees it gets to clean it up. Unfortunately, in my position as an administrative assistant, a lot of this falls on me as the reference staff and PSAs get extremely busy helping out patrons. The good thing, though, is my manager and my former manager will help me out with anything and get down in the trenches with me to clean things up.
You should get hazard pay for that kind of shit. :yes:
Quote from: Locutus on August 31, 2016, 06:28:57 PM
You should get hazard pay for that kind of shit. :yes:
I wish. :-\
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 31, 2016, 06:27:03 PM
We have a custodial crew that comes in after we close, but all they do is vacuum, clean bathrooms, dust and take out trash. Because of cuts to library funding many years ago, and because those funds have never been brought back to their previous level, the custodians that worked at the library during opening hours were let go. We have only two people who do maintenance on 8 libraries; 5 down county and 3 up county (which is over the mountain and out in the boondocks, almost an hour's drive from my branch). So staff is responsible for any issues that arise during opening hours. If a toilet runs over, whoever gets notified of it or sees it gets to clean it up. Unfortunately, in my position as an administrative assistant, a lot of this falls on me as the reference staff and PSAs get extremely busy helping out patrons. The good thing, though, is my manager and my former manager will help me out with anything and get down in the trenches with me to clean things up.
We had three properties to maintain, but only two were in use. We had only one main library and only two of us for everything - maintenance, custodial, repair, landscape etc. No other library personnel were ever asked to do anything within those realms.
Our library also used wooden chairs for everything - it was an original Carnegie library - and I worked there long before the computer era so those sort of desk chairs didn't exist there.
It's a shame the powers that be aren't making certain you have a proper custodial/maintenance staff.
Quote from: Locutus on August 31, 2016, 06:28:57 PM
You should get hazard pay for that kind of shit. :yes:
I agree.
Quote from: Y on August 31, 2016, 07:08:31 PM
We had three properties to maintain, but only two were in use. We had only one main library and only two of us for everything - maintenance, custodial, repair, landscape etc. No other library personnel were ever asked to do anything within those realms.
Our library also used wooden chairs for everything - it was an original Carnegie library - and I worked there long before the computer era so those sort of desk chairs didn't exist there.
It's a shame the powers that be aren't making certain you have a proper custodial/maintenance staff.
I need to ask a couple of teachers who work at our library, I guess on a volunteer basis, if there is a custodial crew to take care of things. I wonder if there are cuts in a lot of libraries or if it depends on the town.
I'd just about lay money it's across the board with the repercussions of the economic crunch still being felt and all the business/corporate tax abatements being handed out hand over fist in the name of 'jobs' that don't seem to appear, or for which the taxpayers would have received a far better deal if the money had gone straight to paying for more public employees.
Passing out those abatements willy nilly only places that extra tax burden on the current tax base - you, the taxpayer.
Quote from: Y on August 31, 2016, 07:34:19 PM
I'd just about lay money it's across the board with the repercussions of the economic crunch still being felt and all the business/corporate tax abatements being handed out hand over fist in the name of 'jobs' that don't seem to appear, or for which the taxpayers would have received a far better deal if the money had gone straight to paying for more public employees.
Passing out those abatements willy nilly only places that extra tax burden on the current tax base - you, the taxpayer.
I believe and will have to find out when they merged our library into a city-county one, it raised our taxes in both city and county. I know the library has book sales to offset the cost but I am sure that doesn't really help and like you stated, it is all economic crunches
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on September 01, 2016, 07:09:08 AM
I believe and will have to find out when they merged our library into a city-county one, it raised our taxes in both city and county. I know the library has book sales to offset the cost but I am sure that doesn't really help and like you stated, it is all economic crunches
Book sales might not offset the cost, but our Friends group's book sales help us out a lot. The last book sale made over $10,000, and the one before that was over $12,000. Might not sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it allowed us to buy badly needed book carts, octagonal display units, office chairs (one for me!) and a host of display units. On the Friends' anniversary last year, they tied balloons to all the items that had been purchased with the book sale money through the years. I never realized how much they had contributed. Shelving units, all the chairs at our circulation and reference desks, book carts, slat walls, and the list goes on.
Support your library! :biggrin:
Quote from: AbbyTC on September 01, 2016, 09:08:01 PM
Book sales might not offset the cost, but our Friends group's book sales help us out a lot. The last book sale made over $10,000, and the one before that was over $12,000. Might not sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it allowed us to buy badly needed book carts, octagonal display units, office chairs (one for me!) and a host of display units. On the Friends' anniversary last year, they tied balloons to all the items that had been purchased with the book sale money through the years. I never realized how much they had contributed. Shelving units, all the chairs at our circulation and reference desks, book carts, slat walls, and the list goes on.
Support your library! :biggrin:
Oh I agree, it may not sound like a lot but it has bought a new Children's section in our library and a new media area. I love going to the book sales and support it and buying books and even movies and CD's.
Last week we moved our adult collection around. The fiction is now where the non-fiction was and vice versa. The mystery, sci-fi, bios, audio books and oversized books moved, too. Although we had signs up stating the move, and put up signs where the collections now reside, patrons still come in with a look of confusion on their faces. Sometimes it is a bit amusing watching them walk into a section where they think the book they want is and then coming out of the stacks and look around with an almost panicked look upon their faces. :laugh: We keep a watch out for them and quickly point them in the right direction.
In case any of you wonder what a reference librarian truly does, this is from an article my co-worker wrote. She's the reference librarian and here are two of her stories:
"Asuzu grew up in war torn Biafra. She married, had eight children and put herself through medical school. After serving as a missionary doctor in Africa, she and her family moved to Harrisburg.
She decided to earn a law degree to "make the world a better place by changing legislation/statutory laws, and serving as an advocate for the less privileged."
She used library resources to apply to law schools and seek financial aid. Because of a lingering language barrier, she relied on staff to correct her grammar and punctuation.
Her husband so disapproved of her studies, he took her car keys so she couldn't drive to the library. So Julie walked. It took her three hours. She was accepted by ten law schools. She'll graduate in 2017."
and this:
"Or how about the guy who approached the Desk asking for books on the stomach. He hadn't eaten in three days; couldn't keep anything down. He had a job but no insurance, so he couldn't, or wouldn't go to the doctor. While he tried to focus on some books, I researched the Mercy Van, a mobile unit staffed with medical volunteers who assess and treat walk-in patients for free. I gave the information to the man and asked that he promise to go. He managed a smile. "Thank you," he said. "I didn't know where else to turn." "
She has told me many more stories of how she and her fellow reference librarians have helped people along. It's pretty cool knowing that a library is so much more than just books. We have computers for public use, give free classes in Microsoft Word and Excel, free GED classes, free movies (movie night at two of our branches), programs for adults, kids, and teens and almost all of it is free. If you haven't visited yours in a while, I strongly encourage you to do so and see all the wonderful things it does! :smile:
Quote from: AbbyTC on September 21, 2016, 06:39:52 PM
In case any of you wonder what a reference librarian truly does, this is from an article my co-worker wrote. She's the reference librarian and here are two of her stories:
"Asuzu grew up in war torn Biafra. She married, had eight children and put herself through medical school. After serving as a missionary doctor in Africa, she and her family moved to Harrisburg.
She decided to earn a law degree to "make the world a better place by changing legislation/statutory laws, and serving as an advocate for the less privileged."
She used library resources to apply to law schools and seek financial aid. Because of a lingering language barrier, she relied on staff to correct her grammar and punctuation.
Her husband so disapproved of her studies, he took her car keys so she couldn't drive to the library. So Julie walked. It took her three hours. She was accepted by ten law schools. She'll graduate in 2017."
and this:
"Or how about the guy who approached the Desk asking for books on the stomach. He hadn't eaten in three days; couldn't keep anything down. He had a job but no insurance, so he couldn't, or wouldn't go to the doctor. While he tried to focus on some books, I researched the Mercy Van, a mobile unit staffed with medical volunteers who assess and treat walk-in patients for free. I gave the information to the man and asked that he promise to go. He managed a smile. "Thank you," he said. "I didn't know where else to turn." "
She has told me many more stories of how she and her fellow reference librarians have helped people along. It's pretty cool knowing that a library is so much more than just books. We have computers for public use, give free classes in Microsoft Word and Excel, free GED classes, free movies (movie night at two of our branches), programs for adults, kids, and teens and almost all of it is free. If you haven't visited yours in a while, I strongly encourage you to do so and see all the wonderful things it does! :smile:
Thanks for those stories. It is amazing how some people persevere despite having a roadblock set up on them so to speak. I am glad the person who was sick got help.
Today was Star Wars Reading day. Our children's director had story time and invited the local Stormtroopers group to come in. Unfortunately, I wasn't there, but my daughter (who works there as a page) was. She didn't know the Stormtroopers were coming in, and was startled when two showed up where she was shelving. Another page saw her expression and said, "I wish I had my camera to capture that face!" ;D
I can imagine since they would be dressed in what would appear to be riot gear.....
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 09, 2016, 12:10:21 AM
Today was Star Wars Reading day. Our children's director had story time and invited the local Stormtroopers group to come in. Unfortunately, I wasn't there, but my daughter (who works there as a page) was. She didn't know the Stormtroopers were coming in, and was startled when two showed up where she was shelving. Another page saw her expression and said, "I wish I had my camera to capture that face!" ;D
I bet that was cool and lots of fun for the kids. I think our library does something like that. I know they have a group show up that brings exotic animals for the kids to see. I took our kids one time and it was informative.
Quote from: me on October 09, 2016, 01:02:10 AM
I can imagine since they would be dressed in what would appear to be riot gear.....
I'm not trying to be smart, but you do realize Stormtroopers dress in all white unlike riot gear that is all black? The outfit wasn't which caught her off guard, but because they showed up in the stacks where she was and she didn't know they were in the library. It's not everyday you have Stormtroopers coming in and checking out books! :laugh:
I think if someone in riot gear came in, she would have been scared.
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 09, 2016, 12:47:19 PM
I'm not trying to be smart, but you do realize Stormtroopers dress in all white unlike riot gear that is all black? The outfit wasn't which caught her off guard, but because they showed up in the stacks where she was and she didn't know they were in the library. It's not everyday you have Stormtroopers coming in and checking out books! :laugh:
I think if someone in riot gear came in, she would have been scared.
:yes:
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on October 09, 2016, 05:52:15 AM
I bet that was cool and lots of fun for the kids. I think our library does something like that. I know they have a group show up that brings exotic animals for the kids to see. I took our kids one time and it was informative.
Last year for the party at the end of the summer reading program, they had the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers come to the event. Darth Vader even showed up. Here's a link of them if you are interested. http://501stgarrisoncarida.org
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 09, 2016, 12:53:22 PM
Last year for the party at the end of the summer reading program, they had the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers come to the event. Darth Vader even showed up. Here's a link of them if you are interested. http://501stgarrisoncarida.org
Thank you! That was very interesting. Do you know if they go to events all over the U.S.?
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on October 09, 2016, 12:57:55 PM
Thank you! That was very interesting. Do you know if they go to events all over the U.S.?
I'm not sure. That group serves PA and Delaware. I'm sure there are other groups around.
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 09, 2016, 02:32:00 PM
I'm not sure. That group serves PA and Delaware. I'm sure there are other groups around.
Went into librarian mode and found this: http://www.501st.com If you scroll down a little, on the right side is a search to find a group near you.
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 09, 2016, 02:38:35 PM
Went into librarian mode and found this: http://www.501st.com If you scroll down a little, on the right side is a search to find a group near you.
Thank you so much. I am going to pass this on to our youth service librarian here.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on October 09, 2016, 02:45:04 PM
Thank you so much. I am going to pass this on to our youth service librarian here.
Cool!
A patron called into our reference desk and asked them where our forklift class was. He told her what street he thought it was on and that it was at one of our branches. The class started at 9 and it was 10:30 when he called. Here's the dialogue:
"Sir, we're not offering that class."
"No, you are. It's at one of your libraries."
"I'm sorry, but we're not offering a forklift class."
"Well, do you know who is?"
Fortunately, she remembered when he told her what street he thought it was on, and it rang a bell in her head of an adult learning center there. A quick look at the web and she found out the center was offering forklift classes. Here's the best part of the conversation: "So...can you call them and tell them what happened, I mean why I'm late? They'll believe you. You're the library." :laugh:
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 13, 2016, 09:40:43 PM
A patron called into our reference desk and asked them where our forklift class was. He told her what street he thought it was on and that it was at one of our branches. The class started at 9 and it was 10:30 when he called. Here's the dialogue:
"Sir, we're not offering that class."
"No, you are. It's at one of your libraries."
"I'm sorry, but we're not offering a forklift class."
"Well, do you know who is?"
Fortunately, she remembered when he told her what street he thought it was on, and it rang a bell in her head of an adult learning center there. A quick look at the web and she found out the center was offering forklift classes. Here's the best part of the conversation: "So...can you call them and tell them what happened, I mean why I'm late? They'll believe you. You're the library." :laugh:
:laugh:
A co-worker and I were cleaning out the staff kitchen and found this:
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14711156_193747621066058_9037405026645758480_o.jpg)
Almost looks like someone was living at the library. Not sure if you can tell, but there was a curling iron, hairbrush, deodorant, Listerine mouth wash, toothpaste and toothbrush, maxi pads and tampons, and a lint brush. The expiration date was around 2010 on the stuff. Shows how often the kitchen was cleaned out!
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 22, 2016, 07:44:56 PM
A co-worker and I were cleaning out the staff kitchen and found this:
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14711156_193747621066058_9037405026645758480_o.jpg)
Almost looks like someone was living at the library. Not sure if you can tell, but there was a curling iron, hairbrush, deodorant, Listerine mouth wash, toothpaste and toothbrush, maxi pads and tampons, and a lint brush. The expiration date was around 2010 on the stuff. Shows how often the kitchen was cleaned out!
Wow
As Administrative Assistant, I wear many hats at the library, especially since we don't have a custodian that works solely at our branch. So today I fixed a typewriter. Yep, we still have a typewriter for our patrons to use. It gets used about 3-4 times a week. It took me a moment when I sat down to fix it to remember how it worked. I haven't used one of those in loooooonnnngg time!
I also unclogged the kitchen sink. I was applauded by my two co-workers who were in the lunchroom at the time and told I was "awesome". LOL. ;D
I can't believe so many people still find the need for a typewriter.
Pop quiz!
What's an English word, containing at least 5 letters, that can be spelled using only the top row of letters of a typewriter?
Quote from: Locutus on November 07, 2016, 05:43:22 PM
I can't believe so many people still find the need for a typewriter.
Pop quiz!
What's an English word, containing at least 5 letters, that can be spelled using only the top row of letters of a typewriter?
Hint: The answer is within the question! :icon_twisted:
Quote from: Palehorse on November 07, 2016, 05:51:59 PM
Hint: The answer is within the question! :icon_twisted:
DAMN YOU!!! :razz: ;D
Quote from: AbbyTC on November 03, 2016, 09:52:15 PM
As Administrative Assistant, I wear many hats at the library, especially since we don't have a custodian that works solely at our branch. So today I fixed a typewriter. Yep, we still have a typewriter for our patrons to use. It gets used about 3-4 times a week. It took me a moment when I sat down to fix it to remember how it worked. I haven't used one of those in loooooonnnngg time!
I also unclogged the kitchen sink. I was applauded by my two co-workers who were in the lunchroom at the time and told I was "awesome". LOL. ;D
I bet so on the awesome part.
Quote from: AbbyTC on November 03, 2016, 09:52:15 PM
As Administrative Assistant, I wear many hats at the library, especially since we don't have a custodian that works solely at our branch. So today I fixed a typewriter. Yep, we still have a typewriter for our patrons to use. It gets used about 3-4 times a week. It took me a moment when I sat down to fix it to remember how it worked. I haven't used one of those in loooooonnnngg time!
I also unclogged the kitchen sink. I was applauded by my two co-workers who were in the lunchroom at the time and told I was "awesome". LOL. ;D
In a FAIR market value, AbbyTC, you'd be making about $45 per hour.....
Quote from: parkerdivine on November 07, 2016, 08:21:25 PM
In a FAIR market value, AbbyTC, you'd be making about $45 per hour.....
I think $45 an hour is way too much for my position. That being said, my job doesn't even pay me a living wage. Thankfully I am getting spousal support so I don't need to work a second job. Many of my single co-workers work a second job to make ends meet.
Quote from: Locutus on November 07, 2016, 05:43:22 PM
I can't believe so many people still find the need for a typewriter.
Pop quiz!
What's an English word, containing at least 5 letters, that can be spelled using only the top row of letters of a typewriter?
power
That works too, but I was looking for the word 'typewriter' itself. ;D
Quote from: AbbyTC on November 07, 2016, 10:05:19 PM
I think $45 an hour is way too much for my position. That being said, my job doesn't even pay me a living wage. Thankfully I am getting spousal support so I don't need to work a second job. Many of my single co-workers work a second job to make ends meet.
I don't know...you're a lot more than just a librarian.
Quote from: Locutus on November 07, 2016, 10:48:31 PM
That works too, but I was looking for the word 'typewriter' itself. ;D
Quite a few words on the top row only. But I never realized typewriter was on that row. That is pretty cool.
Quote from: AbbyTC on November 07, 2016, 10:05:19 PM
I think $45 an hour is way too much for my position. That being said, my job doesn't even pay me a living wage. Thankfully I am getting spousal support so I don't need to work a second job. Many of my single co-workers work a second job to make ends meet.
Unfortunately, the masses of taxpayers don't want to pay for services that benefit society at large but they may not use.
It's that taint in American blood that prevents us from working as a true society instead of masses of individuals out for themselves.
That's why we've embraced unencumbered capitalism which is the anathema of a true society. As I've long said, Caveat Emptor is a hell of a way to run a country/society.
In mid-October our Friends group held their bi-annual book sale. They made just under $10,000, and added to the spring book sale, they made a total around $23,000. Now we're going into the Annual Fund Drive. I never realized how much money we brought in from it until an email from the woman in charge gave us some facts. Turns out we make between $70,000-80,000. This campaign runs for two months.
Libraries do so much for the community, but are generally underfunded. Support your library! :yes:
I was walking to the workroom and overheard a guy say this to his friend: "Literally, I'm dead right now." :spooked: Either he doesn't know the meaning of the word literal, or he was the best looking zombie I ever saw! ;D
Quote from: AbbyTC on November 22, 2016, 07:26:56 PM
I was walking to the workroom and overheard a guy say this to his friend: "Literally, I'm dead right now." :spooked: Either he doesn't know the meaning of the word literal, or he was the best looking zombie I ever saw! ;D
Or maybe he was having a premonition. :spooked: ;D
We participated in "Giving Tuesday", setting up a table near the circulation desk to get people to donate. We had lanyards and lip balm to give to anyone who donated money of any amount. I was counting the money and came up with a total of $84.05. Five cents? I thought a child may have donated the lone nickel. I asked my co-workers about and was told a lady passed by the table and saw the lip balms. She asked for one and was told she needed to donate money to get it. So she ran out to her car and came back with a nickel! Gee, thanks for the huge donation, lady. We really appreciate it. :rolleyes:
People are such cheap assholes! Happy fucking Holidays and Ho Ho Hell. :grinch:
Wow, what a cheap ass bitch she was.
Today and yesterday I had to leave work within two hours of starting because of the carpet cleaning completed over the weekend. Yesterday they closed our branch at three after numerous complaints from patrons and almost all staff complaining of headaches, nausea, burning throats... I have asthma and right after I walked in yesterday my throat started to burn and my lungs felt constricted. We have no idea what they did on the carpets, but we think they didn't dilute the solution correctly. There was one area that was still wet! :mad: Yesterday they left open the automatic doors and brought fans in to move the air. Today they opened the doors again. I sure hope it helps, I'd like to stay more than two hours tomorrow and get some work done!
Quote from: AbbyTC on December 06, 2016, 02:44:12 PM
Today and yesterday I had to leave work within two hours of starting because of the carpet cleaning completed over the weekend. Yesterday they closed our branch at three after numerous complaints from patrons and almost all staff complaining of headaches, nausea, burning throats... I have asthma and right after I walked in yesterday my throat started to burn and my lungs felt constricted. We have no idea what they did on the carpets, but we think they didn't dilute the solution correctly. There was one area that was still wet! :mad: Yesterday they left open the automatic doors and brought fans in to move the air. Today they opened the doors again. I sure hope it helps, I'd like to stay more than two hours tomorrow and get some work done!
Wow, hope you get to feeling better and can get back to work.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on December 06, 2016, 03:19:57 PM
Wow, hope you get to feeling better and can get back to work.
One week later and I can STILL smell the cleaning solution! :rant: The cleaning people still claim they mixed the solution right. Highly doubtful with the way we all reacted to it. The only good thing is our carpets look really good and they got out some pretty bad spots! :biggrin:
Quote from: AbbyTC on December 03, 2016, 03:22:45 PM
We participated in "Giving Tuesday", setting up a table near the circulation desk to get people to donate. We had lanyards and lip balm to give to anyone who donated money of any amount. I was counting the money and came up with a total of $84.05. Five cents? I thought a child may have donated the lone nickel. I asked my co-workers about and was told a lady passed by the table and saw the lip balms. She asked for one and was told she needed to donate money to get it. So she ran out to her car and came back with a nickel! Gee, thanks for the huge donation, lady. We really appreciate it. :rolleyes:
Don't feel bad, but one Sunday the wife and I went into Steak and Shake to get something to eat. About the time when church let out. In came four old ladies all dressed up with big hats and a gallon of perfume on each one of them. Each one got a good sized meal with several refills on their drinks. When they left I looked over at the table and there was no tips but this card. I went over to look at it and it was a prayer card :pray: I came back to the table and said to my wife that that bunch of old tight wad left a prayer card. My wife said, that's a shame, the waitress can't eat paper.
I told this story here on the Zone and caught all kinds of hell for having the nerve to see what someone give as a tip. Pariann was the worse. How god damn cheap is a person to give a worker paper for a tip. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :rant: That's worse than giving a nickle. :haha:
And it happened again. :mad: Another patron peed on one of our new chairs. He was working along side of our reference librarian and after he left she noticed it. He was an old man and never said anything to her that it happened. I'm about ready to put pee pads on all our computer chairs. :icon_evil:
Quote from: AbbyTC on December 14, 2016, 10:17:31 PM
And it happened again. :mad: Another patron peed on one of our new chairs. He was working along side of our reference librarian and after he left she noticed it. He was an old man and never said anything to her that it happened. I'm about ready to put pee pads on all our computer chairs. :icon_evil:
That is just gross that patrons do it but I wonder if the old man even knew he did it. My 87 year old father wears adult diapers because he has problems and he can't tell you that he has peed on himself because he claims he doesn't know it unless it runs down his leg and then he is embarrassed about it. I would buy the pee pads!
Quote from: The Troll on December 12, 2016, 07:33:23 PM
Don't feel bad, but one Sunday the wife and I went into Steak and Shake to get something to eat. About the time when church let out. In came four old ladies all dressed up with big hats and a gallon of perfume on each one of them. Each one got a good sized meal with several refills on their drinks. When they left I looked over at the table and there was no tips but this card. I went over to look at it and it was a prayer card :pray: I came back to the table and said to my wife that that bunch of old tight wad left a prayer card. My wife said, that's a shame, the waitress can't eat paper.
I told this story here on the Zone and caught all kinds of hell for having the nerve to see what someone give as a tip. Pariann was the worse. How god damn cheap is a person to give a worker paper for a tip. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :rant: That's worse than giving a nickle. :haha:
That is just a cheap ass who would leave a prayer card. We always leave a tip and most often it depends on the service but even then we will still leave a tip.
I guess the patron was bored.
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/15578128_227710211003132_8646323005855246756_o.jpg?oh=b0ca39e79dbaa3822b5318f00251d3c5&oe=58EABB8A)
In case you can't tell, those are the outlet covers in the wall!
Quote from: AbbyTC on December 17, 2016, 08:29:05 PM
I guess the patron was bored.
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/15578128_227710211003132_8646323005855246756_o.jpg?oh=b0ca39e79dbaa3822b5318f00251d3c5&oe=58EABB8A)
In case you can't tell, those are the outlet covers in the wall!
I wasn't sure what you were showing until you told. Lol.
Quote from: AbbyTC on December 17, 2016, 08:29:05 PM
I guess the patron was bored.
In case you can't tell, those are the outlet covers in the wall!
How in the hell did he/she get those things to stick into the wall like that? I can't imagine that they weren't damaged and had to be replaced.
Quote from: Locutus on December 18, 2016, 06:52:18 PM
How in the hell did he/she get those things to stick into the wall like that? I can't imagine that they weren't damaged and had to be replaced.
The patron found holes in the mortar and pushed them in. They weren't damaged at all and I popped them back into the outlets. I'd rather deal with that than peed on chairs! :biggrin:
No doubt! Peed on chairs ----> :puke:
Our branch has been on the quiet side lately, which is good, but another branch had to call the police today. A patron accused another patron of stealing his cell phone and insisted our staff call the police. They did, and after the police arrived and questioned the one making the accusation, he said he may have left it at his home. At least there wasn't a fist fight about it, which usually those types of things end up being.
Some time ago at our branch a man and woman were using the copier when the man forgot a paper and went back to the table to grab it. An impatient man was behind them and told the girl to get out of the way. She said a polite no explaining her boyfriend was going to be right back, which he was pretty quick about it. Before he did come back, the man started to curse the woman out, calling her a bitch and hogging the copier. When the boyfriend came back, she told him what he said and the boyfriend confronted the man. The boyfriend then proceeded to punch him. The man punched back and they ended up on the floor rolling around and punching each other. The cursing man had a bloody nose and the boyfriend's shirt was torn. We called the police and let them handle it. As soon as they saw the police, they separated quickly on their own, but they were still handcuffed and taken away. I have no idea what happened to them, but I haven't seen either of them around.
Who knew the library could become a boxing ring? :spooked: :biggrin:
Quote from: AbbyTC on January 17, 2017, 06:30:52 PM
Our branch has been on the quiet side lately, which is good, but another branch had to call the police today. A patron accused another patron of stealing his cell phone and insisted our staff call the police. They did, and after the police arrived and questioned the one making the accusation, he said he may have left it at his home. At least there wasn't a fist fight about it, which usually those types of things end up being.
Some time ago at our branch a man and woman were using the copier when the man forgot a paper and went back to the table to grab it. An impatient man was behind them and told the girl to get out of the way. She said a polite no explaining her boyfriend was going to be right back, which he was pretty quick about it. Before he did come back, the man started to curse the woman out, calling her a bitch and hogging the copier. When the boyfriend came back, she told him what he said and the boyfriend confronted the man. The boyfriend then proceeded to punch him. The man punched back and they ended up on the floor rolling around and punching each other. The cursing man had a bloody nose and the boyfriend's shirt was torn. We called the police and let them handle it. As soon as they saw the police, they separated quickly on their own, but they were still handcuffed and taken away. I have no idea what happened to them, but I haven't seen either of them around.
Who knew the library could become a boxing ring? :spooked: :biggrin:
Wow!
I do have a question and I may have asked this before. Our library here, the upstairs is predominantly for kids and teens with some gaming computers for them to play. They have a sign that registered sexual offenders are prohibited from being up there. How would they be able to keep up with who is on a list? Do you think they get a list with the offenders pictures on it because I don't see how they would know. Of course, I would never let our kids go upstairs without my husband or I being with them as I have found some really strange people up there.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on January 17, 2017, 06:50:13 PM
Wow!
I do have a question and I may have asked this before. Our library here, the upstairs is predominantly for kids and teens with some gaming computers for them to play. They have a sign that registered sexual offenders are prohibited from being up there. How would they be able to keep up with who is on a list? Do you think they get a list with the offenders pictures on it because I don't see how they would know. Of course, I would never let our kids go upstairs without my husband or I being with them as I have found some really strange people up there.
None of our libraries have a sign like that, and neither do any of the other libraries I have visited. I have no idea how they would keep up with that, or how they inform staff who is on that list short of sending out an email with the list or hanging it in a workroom. I think a sign like that gives parents a false impression of safety. What they need to be concerned about are the people that HAVEN'T made the list yet. I had a child abuse background check before I started working. That's good, but it doesn't catch the ones who haven't been caught yet. (Does that make sense?) We have a separate teen and children's area, but we had a creep that would sit at a table in the adult section and would stare at women, particularly tweens or teens that were there doing research in the adult non-fiction area. One tween was with her father and the creep was a table over. The father kept seeing him staring at his daughter and then noticed the rhythmic motion of his arm. Although we had no proof as he was sitting at an angle that the camera couldn't see his arm, it seemed quite evident he was masturbating. We saw him before at the library, and after being confronted about staring at the girl, he never came back. We were all watching out for him as we wanted to catch him and get him banned.
Quote from: AbbyTC on January 17, 2017, 07:18:58 PM
None of our libraries have a sign like that, and neither do any of the other libraries I have visited. I have no idea how they would keep up with that, or how they inform staff who is on that list short of sending out an email with the list or hanging it in a workroom. I think a sign like that gives parents a false impression of safety. What they need to be concerned about are the people that HAVEN'T made the list yet. I had a child abuse background check before I started working. That's good, but it doesn't catch the ones who haven't been caught yet. (Does that make sense?) We have a separate teen and children's area, but we had a creep that would sit at a table in the adult section and would stare at women, particularly tweens or teens that were there doing research in the adult non-fiction area. One tween was with her father and the creep was a table over. The father kept seeing him staring at his daughter and then noticed the rhythmic motion of his arm. Although we had no proof as he was sitting at an angle that the camera couldn't see his arm, it seemed quite evident he was masturbating. We saw him before at the library, and after being confronted about staring at the girl, he never came back. We were all watching out for him as we wanted to catch him and get him banned.
Yes it makes sense. I know that Kentucky Revised Statutes or KRS as we all know it around here I guess makes them post it. But I completely understand about the background check. Our library also has a sign that minors under 12 cannot be upstairs by themselves without a guardian or parent but I won't let our 15 year old even be up there alone. Call it paranoia or overprotective parent but I prefer to be cautious.
Quote from: AbbyTC on January 17, 2017, 06:30:52 PM
Our branch has been on the quiet side lately, which is good, but another branch had to call the police today. A patron accused another patron of stealing his cell phone and insisted our staff call the police. They did, and after the police arrived and questioned the one making the accusation, he said he may have left it at his home. At least there wasn't a fist fight about it, which usually those types of things end up being.
Some time ago at our branch a man and woman were using the copier when the man forgot a paper and went back to the table to grab it. An impatient man was behind them and told the girl to get out of the way. She said a polite no explaining her boyfriend was going to be right back, which he was pretty quick about it. Before he did come back, the man started to curse the woman out, calling her a bitch and hogging the copier. When the boyfriend came back, she told him what he said and the boyfriend confronted the man. The boyfriend then proceeded to punch him. The man punched back and they ended up on the floor rolling around and punching each other. The cursing man had a bloody nose and the boyfriend's shirt was torn. We called the police and let them handle it. As soon as they saw the police, they separated quickly on their own, but they were still handcuffed and taken away. I have no idea what happened to them, but I haven't seen either of them around.
Who knew the library could become a boxing ring? :spooked: :biggrin:
:lol: That story and some of the others you've told made me realize the county library close to my home is quite dull by comparison; it's all one floor open to the public. Of course I don't work there so may be missing some action during my brief visits.
My wife worked at the library for several years. One night she was working the night shift by herself and about closing time and after all of the people had left. Out of one of the empty and dark rooms, this strange looking man came walking out of the room. She picked up the telephone and called 911 and she said to the guy, I just call the police and they are on their way. The man hurried out the back door. How about that one for you to think about Abby. :think: :gha:
Quote from: The Troll on January 25, 2017, 01:58:16 PM
My wife worked at the library for several years. One night she was working the night shift by herself and about closing time and after all of the people had left. Out of one of the empty and dark rooms, this strange looking man came walking out of the room. She picked up the telephone and called 911 and she said to the guy, I just call the police and they are on their way. The man hurried out the back door. How about that one for you to think about Abby. :think: :gha:
Glad she was okay!
Quote from: The Troll on January 25, 2017, 01:58:16 PM
My wife worked at the library for several years. One night she was working the night shift by herself and about closing time and after all of the people had left. Out of one of the empty and dark rooms, this strange looking man came walking out of the room. She picked up the telephone and called 911 and she said to the guy, I just call the police and they are on their way. The man hurried out the back door. How about that one for you to think about Abby. :think: :gha:
That's why we have a rule of two people always closing. We also do a sweep of the library 15 minutes before closing and then when we close. Also, when we leave the building at closing, we are to walk out with a friend and make sure each other gets to our cars safely. Even though the library is in a pretty safe area, we are still vigilant when we close and leave.
Quote from: AbbyTC on January 25, 2017, 08:12:05 PM
That's why we have a rule of two people always closing. We also do a sweep of the library 15 minutes before closing and then when we close. Also, when we leave the building at closing, we are to walk out with a friend and make sure each other gets to our cars safely. Even though the library is in a pretty safe area, we are still vigilant when we close and leave.
It is the only way to be nowadays.
So today a woman was sleeping in a chair outside of my office. She had her leg pulled up under her and her head on her fist and she was curled up. We never know if someone is sleeping or having a medical emergency (drugs, diabetic shock, both of which have happened). I went over to her and asked if she was ok. She gave a groggy yes and I told her of our policy of not sleeping in the library. She got a little irritated and told me she wasn't sleeping. I went back to my office and watched her. She didn't move. After about 10-15 minutes, I went to the workroom to get a paper. I stopped at the reference desk and told a co-worker to keep an eye on her. While we were watching, her thumb moved across her phone, but her eyes never opened. That movement stopped and I returned to my office. I kept an eye on her, looking for any sign of movement. I needed to go to the workroom again, so on my way I checked on her and politely asked her to wake up. Again she told me she wasn't sleeping. I got to the reference desk, unknown to me that she was following. She asked me where a policy statement was and I gave one with the sleeping highlighted. She told me she wasn't sleeping and she had a migraine and had to close her eyes because of the lights. I told her she should've told me that to begin with. She countered with she only wanted to close her eyes. At this point she had raised her voice and was becoming abusive. The reference manager stepped in and told her we had a policy of not sleeping. The patron told her she shouldn't interrupt, the conversation was between me and her. The manager stated who she was but that didn't appease her at all. She told the manager I was harassing her and she wasn't sleeping. The manager tried to explain that we check on people we think are sleeping in case there is a medical emergency. The patron agreed I did that, but then I turned to harassing her since I asked her a second time to wake up. By this time she was quite loud. Our library manager came up for another reason and ended up being dragged into it. The patron asked for all of our names and that of our executive director and his phone number. She was planning on calling him and telling him how I was harassing her and it was only because of her race. :spooked: She claimed she saw other people sleeping and I walked right by them. The only area I walk close to is the computer area and we never have people sleeping there! The library manager talked with me (she's also my boss) and told me not to worry about anything. I now have joined the "patron has complained about you to the higher ups" club. :yes:
Wow, some people just are plain rude.
The reference librarian was telling to me in depth reference questions were up 55% over last year. She said the majority of the questions were biblical/religious, info on consumer products, and history.
Libraries are important, especially the reference section! :yes:
Support your library!
I wonder what kind of biblical/religious questions they received.
Quote from: Locutus on February 08, 2017, 05:52:05 PM
I wonder what kind of biblical/religious questions they received.
Probably asking who is Jesus?
:biggrin:
Quote from: Locutus on February 08, 2017, 05:52:05 PM
I wonder what kind of biblical/religious questions they received.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on February 08, 2017, 08:00:29 PM
Probably asking who is Jesus?
:biggrin:
Since you're curious, I'll ask her tomorrow and see if she remembers.
Today our downtown branch had to call an ambulance for a patron this morning. He was visibly drunk and said his feet felt like they were burning and asked them to call an ambulance for him. When the supervisor went over to him, he asked the patron if he had been drinking and he vehemently denied it. The patron then knocked over his bag and three empty beer cans came rolling out followed by one unopened can. The supervisor asked him again if he had been drinking and he still denied it :rolleyes: The patron then asked if he was in the hospital. Seeing the paramedics made him really think he was in the hospital and he kept asking them if that was where he was at. The downtown branch thinks it is a quiet week when they don't have to call for an ambulance. ;D One patron who was a diabetic would come in and end up in a diabetic shock because he wouldn't take his medicine. They have also called because of patrons having heroin overdoses. Patrons would go into the bathroom and shoot up and then go use the computers. We have had one heroin overdose so far at our branch. The only other times an ambulance has been summoned is when my co-worker passed out and when I had a severe asthma attack. Staff - 2, patrons - 1. ;)
I guess maybe some people think of a library as a kind of sanctuary?
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/14500570_10154662624204797_2116038303586851888_o.jpg?oh=23c64e4b999fa4ae17ac10c23a81778e&oe=59471BEA)
Thought I'd post some old pics of the library. (Thanks for the idea, Palehorse. :biggrin:)
(https://scontent.fphl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/14311392_10154616876974797_1680897810999592169_o.jpg?oh=e4dd1eddda03bf14fc3b49f0f9f9170d&oe=58FFB3C3)
Possibly the only time the kids had a library book.
...and the first time they saw a very early version of a bookmobile.
:smitten: these pics!
I miss the bookmobile, back in the 70's it came to our neighborhood once or twice a month. My kids loved it.
My friend who works at our downtown branch answered the phone and the guy started giving her an order for McDonalds. She told him he called the wrong number as this was the library. He again proceeded to give her his order so she hung up on him. I told her she should have took his order and then told him it would be delivered in 20 minutes. :icon_twisted: So was the guy drunk, high, or both? Never heard of a McDonalds that delivered!
Quote from: AbbyTC on March 03, 2017, 07:20:09 PM
Never heard of a McDonalds that delivered!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/mcdonalds-delivery_n_7213274.html
:wink:
Quote from: Locutus on March 03, 2017, 07:21:57 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/mcdonalds-delivery_n_7213274.html
:wink:
Holy shit! :eek: They do deliver. They are also delivering in Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-launches-delivery-test-2016-12
Delivered right to the library. :biggrin:
(https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/gettyimages-121802310.jpg?quality=85)
Quote from: Locutus on March 03, 2017, 07:50:26 PM
Delivered right to the library. :biggrin:
:biggrin:
As long as our patrons don't do that! The amount of people that come in to the library with their lunches (or dinners) is unreal. The library is NOT a cafeteria! One woman had a bag of cheeto's opened up next to the computer she was using. When I told her eating wasn't allowed, she scowled at me and said she was snacking so it was ok! :mad: No, no it's not. I politely told her to stop and she closed up the bag after giving me another dirty look. I reiterate: the library is not a cafeteria!
Next time I'm at the library, I'm gonna' order Dominos! ;D
Quote from: Locutus on March 03, 2017, 08:58:44 PM
Next time I'm at the library, I'm gonna' order Dominos! ;D
>:( :razz:
Quote from: Locutus on March 03, 2017, 08:58:44 PM
Next time I'm at the library, I'm gonna' order Dominos! ;D
How about Toco Bell, I can't eat one of those without getting it all over the car. :haha:
Quote from: AbbyTC on March 03, 2017, 08:55:21 PM
The amount of people that come in to the library with their lunches (or dinners) is unreal. The library is NOT a cafeteria! One woman had a bag of cheeto's opened up next to the computer she was using. When I told her eating wasn't allowed, she scowled at me and said she was snacking so it was ok! :mad: No, no it's not. I politely told her to stop and she closed up the bag after giving me another dirty look. I reiterate: the library is not a cafeteria!
Abby, I enjoy your "Tales" and sympathize with you. I don't like the idea of food in the library, period, , but it could be worse.
Read the following, about the Martin Luther King Library in Washington, D.C. I've never been there, so it was a surprise to me.
"The Washington Post
'Where will they go?' MLK Library, a refuge for the city's homeless, closes for renovation.
Jennifer McLaughlin, left, and Joseph Smith wait outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on a winter morning for the doors to open. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)
By DeNeen L. Brown March 3
Every morning, buses carrying hundreds of people from the District's homeless shelters begin arriving at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library hours before it opens. They file off the shuttles, with duffel bags, backpacks and rolling suitcases. Some head up the street to get breakfast and coffee. Others put their bags down near the library's entrance and wait.
When the doors are unlocked at 9:30 a.m., the line of people moves swiftly into the lobby of the renowned central library. Some people head for the computers. Others head for the special-collections section. Some stake out their favorite chairs in the vast lobby decorated by a mural of King.
For the homeless, the modernist landmark has long been a favorite daytime destination. but on Saturday, it will close for a three-year, $208 million renovation, leaving those who have relied on it adrift.
"If you are homeless," said Michael Coleman, 57, who spends most days at the library, "this is your refuge during the day. You take away my refuge, you take away my life."
Eric Sheptock, a 47-year-old advocate for the homeless who is homeless himself, said he worries about everyone who relies on the library.
Where will they go? I've been trying to get D.C. to address that," he said. "It's going to disrupt life for three years."
Sheptock says that a rally will be held starting at 4 p.m. Saturday in front of the library to urge better services for the city's homeless and those who live in poverty.
Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director of the D.C. Public Library, said the library has been working closely with D.C. Department of Human Services to offer the homeless alternatives.
Laura Zeilinger, director of the D.C. Department of Human Services, said the agency will be expanding plans to expand daytime services to the homeless. She said that the homeless consider the library a retreat "they can use during the day without being accused of loitering."
[For D.C.'s desperate, a refuge for the homeless is about to disappear]
The city would like to create a downtown day center for the homeless, like the one it operates on Adams Place in Northeast Washington, she said. Until then, it will add shuttle stops to its buses to give the homeless other options.
The shuttle will pick up people at the 801 East Men's Shelter in Southeast and make stops at Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road NE, where people can look for work at the Department of Employment Services, access computers at the Dorothy Height/Benning Library and see the doctors and nurses at the Unity Health Care Clinic. Another stop will be at Adams Place Day Center, where people can meet case managers, use laundry facilities, showers and computers, and eat breakfast and lunch. People also can be dropped downtown at the Church of the Epiphany, which has bathrooms and a courtyard, she said. The church houses the offices of Street Sense newspaper and the Pathways to Housing's downtown outreach team.
The library system itself is also trying to help the homeless adjust. It is one of the few library systems in the nation to employ a full-time homeless coordinator, Jean Badalamenti, a licensed social worker who assists homeless people and trains staff to recognize and work sensitively with "customers without homes."
[A hidden world: Hundreds of homeless families in D.C. motels]
Badalamenti said the library has been encouraging the homeless to use other branches.
"I've developed a flier to highlight some of the closer-in downtown branches," she added.
A Pathways to Housing intern has been having conversations with the library's homeless regulars, she said, "making sure these customers know about other branches and what is available to them." But many will still miss the District's library at Ninth and G streets NW, with its vast spaces, black steel, blond brick, bronze-tinted windows and countless books.
The library was designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who was celebrated for his austere modern designs. When then-library director Harry Peterson saw the design in 1966, he was impressed. "This is the most functional, the most beautiful, and most dramatic library building in the United States, if not in the world," he declared.
Construction on the library began in July 1968. Three years later, the library system's board of trustees named the building in honor of the slain civil rights leader.
The library opened in 1972, and it was designated a historic landmark in 2007. But many found the building's layout uninviting and illogical. From the lobby, stairs to other floors are hard to find, and the stairwells are dark and depressing. In 2015, the board of trustees voted to renovate the library and transform it into a world-class center for learning.
"The aim is to go beyond a library that is merely transactional — a place where you go simply to check out a book," the board said. After a competition, Mecanoo and Martinez + Johnson was selected to design the renovation.
\The renovation will add about 100,000 square feet of new public space, including a rooftop garden and pavilion. The reconfigured interior will make the basement and other spaces more usable.
During the construction, the library's books will be stored or sent to branches throughout the city. The branches will open additional hours on Thursday mornings to accommodate MLK's patrons. And the city will open a "Library Express" at 1990 K St. NW.
MLK's books and furniture will be packed and stored. The historic "Black Studies" and "Washingtoniana Collection" will be divided and sent to the Washington Historical Society, the Georgetown Library's Peabody Room and the Library of Congress.
But MLK's "customers without homes" will miss eating dinner in the library's lobby. Each Wednesday, Catholic Charities handed out dinners across the street from the library, and many took their food back to the library's lobby to sit at a table.
It provided civility.
One recent night, Jennifer McLaughlin, 39, was eating a dinner of orange chicken, rice and a peach muffin. She sat at a table with Sheptock, who paused to take a call on his cellphone. McLaughlin opened her cardboard carton and pulled her chair in a bit more.
"People like sitting at a table and chairs rather than eating on the sidewalk. It's nice to sit at a table and eat your dinner," McLaughlin said. "People are going to miss that. A lot of people know each other, like, 'How you been doing? What's up? Haven't seen you in weeks. Months. When we finish eating, we can go back in line for extra helpings.' Then people line up to go back to the shelter."
DeNeen L. Brown is an award-winning staff writer at The Washington Post who has covered night police, education, courts, politics and culture. Follow @DeNeenLBrown
© 1996-2017 The Washington Post
Quote from: libby on March 05, 2017, 12:13:23 AM
Abby, I enjoy your "Tales" and sympathize with you. I don't like the idea of food in the library, period, , but it could be worse.
Read the following, about the Martin Luther King Library in Washington, D.C. I've never been there, so it was a surprise to me.
"The Washington Post
'Where will they go?' MLK Library, a refuge for the city's homeless, closes for renovation.
Thanks for posting this, it was a good read. I don't think many people realize what a haven the library is for the homeless. Our downtown branch gets the most homeless, but we certainly get our fair share. But they aren't the ones we have a problem with eating in the library!
:mad: A young woman came in today and sat down at one of our tables, set out her laptop and notebook, and started eating cereal with milk in it! Is cafeteria spelled l-i-b-r-a-r-y? :confused: I told her the library has a no eating policy and her she said, "oh, ok.", but her look was more like, "fuck off."
This planet is overwhelmingly populated with idiots. :rant:
My job entails many different things. One of them is checking the refrigerator the patrons can use in the kitchen that is attached to one of the meeting rooms. Last year I found this creepiness.
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12795466_10209248514196664_5155386786088261823_n.jpg?oh=9d424ddddbd2651aee325e1d84d593ed&oe=59335D86)
So I dumped out the ice cube tray to figure out exactly what was in it.
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12813981_10209248514356668_760359642399840948_n.jpg?oh=717a69c337547701a271393701a99b48&oe=59359415)
the melted version
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12803122_10209248514516672_8144582521850307997_n.jpg?oh=b1ecae10b55ad379fdeab4dc294c908c&oe=5933592F)
A co-worker told me there's a game played at baby showers where you try to be the first person to melt the ice, leaving only the baby behind. It's supposed to be play on the breaking of water. :spooked: Makes me wonder what other games they were playing!
Okay. . .that is just creepy. . . :spooked: :spooked: :spooked:
Quote from: Palehorse on March 09, 2017, 10:38:33 AM
Okay. . .that is just creepy. . . :spooked: :spooked: :spooked:
:rolleyes: Yes! :spooked:
Quote from: Palehorse on March 09, 2017, 10:38:33 AM
Okay. . .that is just creepy. . . :spooked: :spooked: :spooked:
I remember when I was cleaning out the freezer how I was like, "whaaaattt? What is this?!" Just glad it wasn't body parts! :eek: :icon_twisted:
Quote from: AbbyTC on March 08, 2017, 08:02:26 PM
My job entails many different things. One of them is checking the refrigerator the patrons can use in the kitchen that is attached to one of the meeting rooms. Last year I found this creepiness.
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12795466_10209248514196664_5155386786088261823_n.jpg?oh=9d424ddddbd2651aee325e1d84d593ed&oe=59335D86)
So I dumped out the ice cube tray to figure out exactly what was in it.
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12813981_10209248514356668_760359642399840948_n.jpg?oh=717a69c337547701a271393701a99b48&oe=59359415)
the melted version
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12803122_10209248514516672_8144582521850307997_n.jpg?oh=b1ecae10b55ad379fdeab4dc294c908c&oe=5933592F)
A co-worker told me there's a game played at baby showers where you try to be the first person to melt the ice, leaving only the baby behind. It's supposed to be play on the breaking of water. :spooked: Makes me wonder what other games they were playing!
Went to a gender reveal party today and they had those. The other games played were how well do you know the mom then one for the dad, the other game was a scrambled word game using baby items. The baby floats after the ice melts.
Quote from: me on March 11, 2017, 12:02:19 AM
Went to a gender reveal party today and they had those. The other games played were how well do you know the mom then one for the dad, the other game was a scrambled word game using baby items. The baby floats after the ice melts.
How did you play the game with the babies? I was told they had to hold the ice cube in their hands until it melted and the first person to free the baby won.
Quote from: AbbyTC on March 12, 2017, 08:10:07 PM
How did you play the game with the babies? I was told they had to hold the ice cube in their hands until it melted and the first person to free the baby won.
We put one in our drinks, which were sodas or water. When the ice cube melts they turn face up and float.
Quote from: me on March 12, 2017, 08:31:48 PM
We put one in our drinks, which were sodas or water. When the ice cube melts they turn face up and float.
Interesting. I hope they turn face up! :biggrin:
Quote from: AbbyTC on March 13, 2017, 07:40:23 PM
Interesting. I hope they turn face up! :biggrin:
They do. :)
This story was related to me by a co-worker as it happened on a Saturday. Along with baby showers, patrons use our meeting rooms for birthdays, too. Meeting rooms are on the lower level along with staff offices in a staff only area. We have a policy of no open flames, which includes tea lights, birthday candles, regular candles, anything with a flame. Meeting room policy is reviewed with patrons before they use the room. Can you see which direction this is going in? ;D There's always someone who won't follow directions and think they can get away with whatever, especially if it seems like something that is pretty insignificant. Staff is upstairs along with patrons when the obnoxious fire alarm goes off. Not knowing if it is a false alarm, patrons are evacuated to the designated safety points outside and the fire station is automatically called. As staff was clearing the building, a woman from the meeting room says, "I only lit a tea light. I didn't think the alarm would go off!". Yep, our fire/smoke alarms are that sensitive. The firemen came and per protocol they walked through the building and gave the ok to go back in. The birthday party continued sans tea light. Moral of the story: if a place tells you no open flames, they mean no open flames! :yes:
Quote from: AbbyTC on March 14, 2017, 01:55:01 PM
This story was related to me by a co-worker as it happened on a Saturday. Along with baby showers, patrons use our meeting rooms for birthdays, too. Meeting rooms are on the lower level along with staff offices in a staff only area. We have a policy of no open flames, which includes tea lights, birthday candles, regular candles, anything with a flame. Meeting room policy is reviewed with patrons before they use the room. Can you see which direction this is going in? ;D There's always someone who won't follow directions and think they can get away with whatever, especially if it seems like something that is pretty insignificant. Staff is upstairs along with patrons when the obnoxious fire alarm goes off. Not knowing if it is a false alarm, patrons are evacuated to the designated safety points outside and the fire station is automatically called. As staff was clearing the building, a woman from the meeting room says, "I only lit a tea light. I didn't think the alarm would go off!". Yep, our fire/smoke alarms are that sensitive. The firemen came and per protocol they walked through the building and gave the ok to go back in. The birthday party continued sans tea light. Moral of the story: if a place tells you no open flames, they mean no open flames! :yes:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
It seems, at times, stupidity is a commodity we have way too much of. Today we had Staff Enrichment Day (SED) at our library and all branches were closed. Each library held activities at their own location. This was a first for us since usually SED is either held at my branch or offsite. Putting together SED for just our branch is much easier than the whole library system! :yes: Anyway, back to the stupidity. I put signs up stating we are closed about three weeks ahead of time. There are signs on the outer doors, bulletin board, elevator, and two posted at the circulation desk and reference island. There's also a blurb on our website, FB, and Twitter. I understand some people still won't know we are closed or will forget, which is why we have the signs up on the outer doors. I heard my co-workers say there were some people standing outside of our one entrance and that they had been there for a while, at least five minutes. Since they weren't going away, I went to the door and pointed at the closed sign (It said "All libraries are closed for staff enrichment activities on Monday, March 27.") and said, "we're closed". The one guy looks at me and after I point and say this, asks me, "Are you closed?"! :spooked: Took all I had not to unlock the doors and go out and smack him upside his head! :mad: I retained my professional side and reiterated we were closed for the day. He looked at me in disbelief and finally left. I don't understand why they can't grasp such a simple concept as being closed.
You can't fix stupid. :no:
Today at opening a gentleman stood at the door and held a fishing pole in one hand, a briefcase in the other, and an SLR camera around his neck. Instead of coming right in, he asked me if we would hold his fishing pole behind the desk for him. That was the first time I ever was asked that! I told him we don't hold things for patrons but he was welcome to take it inside with him. Later I saw him perusing the DVDs with his fishing pole resting on the unit. He told a co-worker he was going to go fishing after he was done at the library. My co-worker then asked me if I thought he was carrying some ice in his briefcase to put the fish on. :laugh:
It's always infinitely interesting when you work with the public. ;D
Quote from: Locutus on March 30, 2017, 03:33:11 PM
It's always infinitely interesting when you work with the public. ;D
That's for sure. Still doesn't beat the woman who came in in her bathing suit with a towel wrapped around her.
Every spring it seems we have a war with ants. It was so bad last year my co-workers would email me ant pictures as a joke. It has started up again, right on schedule. We have a cleaning crew that comes in every day after we close. They have a checklist and check off everything they did. One of the items is to sweep and mop the meeting room floors and the kitchen next to the meeting room. Last night they checked the box. Last night they lied. Before we opened, my co-worker was setting up the meeting room for a program that was to start an hour after we opened. She came walking briskly into my office and told me we had an ant problem in the meeting room. "There's a pile of them on the floor!" I came down and sure enough, there was a pile of ants in a three inch circle with a path of ants radiating from it to the wall. I looked closely at the pile and found a what appeared to be a very small french fry. At least that's my best guess! I got the mop and bucket of water and gave the ants a death a la water. There have been other sightings of ants in some offices which my manager and I didn't understand why because we were told Terminex had come in and looked over and sprayed. My manager asked our facilities manager for a copy of the work order (which had to be signed by someone from the library) Terminex filled out and forwarded it to me. She also asked the building staff if anyone saw Terminex either in or outside of the building. If they were inside, someone had to have let them in to the office area so we were sure we would get a positive response from someone. Instead, one staff member told us how he came into his office and found an ant invasion! He had no food out and had previously cleaned the area from a previous invasion. I looked at the order and discovered it was signed by someone who wasn't an employee. (We have 53 people at our branch and I know everyone.) I pointed this out to my manager and she contacted our facilities manager. Do I need to tell you he was a bit angry? I think Chad, the Terminex guy who supposedly did the inspection is not going to be a happy Terminex employee! Falsifying a report? Not cool, Chad!
Quote from: AbbyTC on April 12, 2017, 07:17:24 PM
Every spring it seems we have a war with ants. It was so bad last year my co-workers would email me ant pictures as a joke. It has started up again, right on schedule. We have a cleaning crew that comes in every day after we close. They have a checklist and check off everything they did. One of the items is to sweep and mop the meeting room floors and the kitchen next to the meeting room. Last night they checked the box. Last night they lied. Before we opened, my co-worker was setting up the meeting room for a program that was to start an hour after we opened. She came walking briskly into my office and told me we had an ant problem in the meeting room. "There's a pile of them on the floor!" I came down and sure enough, there was a pile of ants in a three inch circle with a path of ants radiating from it to the wall. I looked closely at the pile and found a what appeared to be a very small french fry. At least that's my best guess! I got the mop and bucket of water and gave the ants a death a la water. There have been other sightings of ants in some offices which my manager and I didn't understand why because we were told Terminex had come in and looked over and sprayed. My manager asked our facilities manager for a copy of the work order (which had to be signed by someone from the library) Terminex filled out and forwarded it to me. She also asked the building staff if anyone saw Terminex either in or outside of the building. If they were inside, someone had to have let them in to the office area so we were sure we would get a positive response from someone. Instead, one staff member told us how he came into his office and found an ant invasion! He had no food out and had previously cleaned the area from a previous invasion. I looked at the order and discovered it was signed by someone who wasn't an employee. (We have 53 people at our branch and I know everyone.) I pointed this out to my manager and she contacted our facilities manager. Do I need to tell you he was a bit angry? I think Chad, the Terminex guy who supposedly did the inspection is not going to be a happy Terminex employee! Falsifying a report? Not cool, Chad!
Bait them with small piles of rice.
Ants eat rice and drag it back to the nest. The next liquid that enters their world will result in death by explosion.
Rice swells when it comes into contact with liquids. They will explode physically and any rice left in the nests will expand and crush them.
Sounds better than Orkin! ;D
Quote from: Palehorse on April 13, 2017, 11:19:26 AM
Bait them with small piles of rice.
Ants eat rice and drag it back to the nest. The next liquid that enters their world will result in death by explosion.
Rice swells when it comes into contact with liquids. They will explode physically and any rice left in the nests will expand and crush them.
That's interesting. Never heard of it. I don't think our facilities manager will go for it, though. He seems to prefer chemicals. :mad:
I was leaving the library and walked past the fishbowl. It's a meeting room, first come first served, with three sides of floor to ceiling glass, so everyone can see into and watch the people inside. When I looked over into it, I noticed the glass on the table had a large crack in the one corner. Damn! So much for going home! Even though I was clocked out, I knew I had to report it. Turns out the one corner was broken off completely, about 8 inches of loose glass. I told my co-worker about it, and she quickly made a sign while I emailed our administrator about it. Because some people can't read, or choose to ignore signs, we also put yellow caution tape across the door. What makes me really mad is I saw three women sitting in the room only 15 minutes before hand. If they are the ones who broke it, why not tell us? Why create a hazard for the next patrons that use it? If they didn't break it and it was like that before them, again, why not tell us? :mad: There's a lady who tutors a little boy in that room, don't people realize how dangerous that is? This has happened two other times and neither of those times were we told, either.
People are assholes. :mad:
I'm blaming the three women. ;D
Quote from: Locutus on May 03, 2017, 02:04:57 PM
People are assholes. :mad:
I'm blaming the three women. ;D
Nope, not the three women. :razz: Turns out it was broken before that. One of our staff was using it for orientation and noticed it was cracked but didn't tell us because she thought we knew. So it cracked the day before or maybe even over the weekend.
Moral of the story: If you see something broken, empty, etc. tell the staff. You may think other people have said something, but more likely no one has.
Grrrrr. Some parents really piss me off. A guy was using the computer today in the adult section and he left his two year old boy to run around basically unsupervised. At one point he almost went out the automatic doors, but our reference librarian stopped him before he could get out. She tried to get him to go back to his dad, but he stopped outside of my office to play on the reading chairs. He was jumping around, holding onto the arm when he must have brought his face down onto the arm. I looked up right when he made the "ouch I hurt myself" face and let out a wail of pain. His dad said to him as he slowly crossed over to pick him up, "I told you not to leave me. Why did you do that?" Seriously? You blame the kid for hurting himself when your supposed to be watching him? :mad: He could have easily used the computers in the children's section and his little boy would have had toys to play with.
I can't stand parents who don't tend to their kids in public regardless of where they are -- library, supermarket, the mall, etc.
What was even worse was the guardian that ignored her 2 year old while he was messing up our stuff. We have a display of non-fiction DVDs and the little boy went over to it and started to play with them. Some he threw to the ground, others he took off the display and moved around. I was walking toward them when I saw all this. As I was about to say something, he opened one up and let the case fall to the ground and then proceeded to pick up another case to open. I got down on his level and asked him to give me the DVD in his hands. He did, but proceeded to go after the ones on the ground. I asked his guardian to keep an eye on him explaining what he was doing. She said to me that he wasn't doing anything wrong and she was watching him! She never looked his way once and after I talked with her she took his hand, leaving the mess, and walked out. :mad:
Anything new at the library Abby? ;D
I've got something for her. Will try to get it on this evening.
Quote from: Locutus on October 20, 2017, 07:59:53 AM
Anything new at the library Abby? ;D
Just the normal rude people. Like the twenty something girl I encountered. There was a chair outside my office I needed to clean as there was a spot of something on it. I put a "out of order" sign on it so nobody would sit on it or move it. Fortunately I was in my office when this girl comes over and throws the sign off and then sat in the chair. I saw the sign flutter down to the floor and went out to investigate. I saw her sitting there and told her the sign was there for a reason as there was spot on the chair and I wasn't sure what it was. She didn't even look at me, but instead grunted and had a disgusted look on her face. I don't understand why some people think signs don't apply to them. :mad:
Quote from: libby on October 20, 2017, 02:36:06 PM
I've got something for her. Will try to get it on this evening.
Looking forward to what you have Libby! :yes:
Here it is! From the Washington Post:
Major Libraries unite to explore the impact that a warmer climate may have on the Arctic
Arctic Imagination
New York Public Library
Dec 5
The Arctic's expanse of ice has mesmerized humans for millennia -- and now it is slowly disappearing.
What might that mean for humanity? For the next year, Arctic Imagination, a multi-library collaboration, will search for answers with events, conversations, readings, and Web-based exhibitions.
The collective -- its members include the New York Public Library, the National Library of Norway, the Royal Danish Library, the National Library of Sweden, the Central Library of Greenland, and the Stockholm Public Library -- appropriately skews Scandinavian. Its focus, however, is international. That makes sense: Arctic ice affects ecosystems worldwide, and it holds scientific and symbolic meaning in art, culture, and law beyond Scandinavia.
In the past, the Arctic was seen as a distant, ungovernable frontier, a place for adventure and discovery. But as the ice melts, the region has become uniquely vulnerable. That change presents what the Collective calls "an intellectual and artistic challenge."
To address that change, Arctic Imagination has facilitated public talks with such figures as avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson and hunter Lars Jeremiassen, who helps monitor Arctic ice using sled dogs.
On December 5th at 7 P.M. Canadian author, journalist, and filmmaker Naomi Klein will join journalist Martin Breum at the New York Public Library for Arctic Imagination's next United States-based event, a convention about climate change and Arctic ice. Tickets for the discussion are $40, and the event will be live-streamed on the library web site.
Can't head to New York or Scandinavia to ponder the once-endless Arctic? You can join the conversation without leaving your laptop. The collective's online "Polar Treasures" exhibition features Arctic Explorers' vintage diaries, old advertising images that imagine the icy perils of the North Pole, and more. Learn more at articticimagination.com
-- Erin Blakemore
Quote from: libby on October 20, 2017, 10:48:30 PM
Here it is! From the Washington Post:
Major Libraries unite to explore the impact that a warmer climate may have on the Arctic
Arctic Imagination
New York Public Library
Dec 5
The Arctic's expanse of ice has mesmerized humans for millennia -- and now it is slowly disappearing.
What might that mean for humanity? For the next year, Arctic Imagination, a multi-library collaboration, will search for answers with events, conversations, readings, and Web-based exhibitions.
The collective -- its members include the New York Public Library, the National Library of Norway, the Royal Danish Library, the National Library of Sweden, the Central Library of Greenland, and the Stockholm Public Library -- appropriately skews Scandinavian. Its focus, however, is international. That makes sense: Arctic ice affects ecosystems worldwide, and it holds scientific and symbolic meaning in art, culture, and law beyond Scandinavia.
In the past, the Arctic was seen as a distant, ungovernable frontier, a place for adventure and discovery. But as the ice melts, the region has become uniquely vulnerable. That change presents what the Collective calls "an intellectual and artistic challenge."
To address that change, Arctic Imagination has facilitated public talks with such figures as avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson and hunter Lars Jeremiassen, who helps monitor Arctic ice using sled dogs.
On December 5th at 7 P.M. Canadian author, journalist, and filmmaker Naomi Klein will join journalist Martin Breum at the New York Public Library for Arctic Imagination's next United States-based event, a convention about climate change and Arctic ice. Tickets for the discussion are $40, and the event will be live-streamed on the library web site.
Can't head to New York or Scandinavia to ponder the once-endless Arctic? You can join the conversation without leaving your laptop. The collective's online "Polar Treasures" exhibition features Arctic Explorers' vintage diaries, old advertising images that imagine the icy perils of the North Pole, and more. Learn more at articticimagination.com
-- Erin Blakemore
Thanks Libby! That's interesting and I'm going to check out the website. But we all know climate change isn't real. :wink: :biggrin:
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 22, 2017, 12:02:12 PM
Thanks Libby! That's interesting and I'm going to check out the website. But we all know climate change isn't real. :wink: :biggrin:
Oh Yeah! Seriously, reading that article made me think about something my son, who was a Farm Operator at Mt. Vernon (George Washington's Home) told me -- there is a seed bank in Scandinavia that has tried to save as many 'old' seeds as possible: Svalbard Global Seed Vault - Crop Trust:
"Deep inside a mountain on a remote island in the Svalbard archipelago, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, lies the Global Seed Vault."
Thinking about that and now the library project made me think about
Fahrenheit 451. All in one way or another trying to save what we have for future generations.
Quote from: libby on October 23, 2017, 10:19:04 PM
Oh Yeah! Seriously, reading that article made me think about something my son, who was a Farm Operator at Mt. Vernon (George Washington's Home) told me -- there is a seed bank in Scandinavia that has tried to save as many 'old' seeds as possible: Svalbard Global Seed Vault - Crop Trust:
"Deep inside a mountain on a remote island in the Svalbard archipelago, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, lies the Global Seed Vault."
Thinking about that and now the library project made me think about Fahrenheit 451. All in one way or another trying to save what we have for future generations.
I looked that up. Currently they have 930,000 samples, but can store 4.5 million varieties of crops! Wow! Here's the link in case anyone else is curious. https://www.croptrust.org/our-work/svalbard-global-seed-vault/
Thanks for the info, Libby!
:yes: You are welcome. I'm glad to know someone I can share information like that with. My son shared my interests, but he passed away several years ago. Topics like this make me wish Bo D would join us again. He posted some of the most fascinating science topics -- among other things!
I run a weekly and monthly collections report and vet patrons for putting them into collections with a collection agency. Oh, the irony I see sometimes. One patron in collections has a book he didn't return called "Credit Repair". :spooked:
Quote from: AbbyTC on October 26, 2017, 09:41:38 PM
I run a weekly and monthly collections report and vet patrons for putting them into collections with a collection agency. Oh, the irony I see sometimes. One patron in collections has a book he didn't return called "Credit Repair". :spooked:
:rotfl:
Never a dull moment at the library. I'm not sure why our branch has so many problems with this, but we seem to be the only ones. Another patron jumped the curb and ran into our hedges and hit the tree. The tree faired much better than her car.
(https://scontent.fphl2-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/23800005_377110359396449_1166406387983404129_o.jpg?oh=00ed654095016cba5be520cc311a18fe&oe=5AA3161A) (https://scontent.fphl2-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/23800198_377110366063115_2417566855582852749_o.jpg?oh=af2092ad12d3fcd74ac369e6b3112306&oe=5A88E6F0)
The license plate frame said "This was God's choice". Guess she must have pissed him off.
Quote from: AbbyTC on November 20, 2017, 06:38:40 PM
The license plate frame said "This was God's choice". Guess she must have pissed him off.
Or maybe God just woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day! ;D
BTW, nice Thanksgiving hat on your avatar! :yes:
Quote from: Locutus on November 20, 2017, 06:45:04 PM
BTW, nice Thanksgiving hat on your avatar! :yes:
Thanks! Abby wanted to get in the holiday spirit.
I really wish people would be more considerate. I can't believe the Youth Services Assistant accepted them. That's mold spots all over and they weren't even the worse ones.
(https://scontent.fphl2-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/25488510_388020278305457_6990968360820494146_o.jpg?oh=d855c383501a02d20e90c53cda0ebb25&oe=5AB52D5A)
Quote from: AbbyTC on December 19, 2017, 07:32:46 PM
I really wish people would be more considerate. I can't believe the Youth Services Assistant accepted them. That's mold spots all over and they weren't even the worse ones.
(https://scontent.fphl2-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/25488510_388020278305457_6990968360820494146_o.jpg?oh=d855c383501a02d20e90c53cda0ebb25&oe=5AB52D5A)
Typical of money that is buried instead of deposited in the bank. . . :yes:
Quote from: Palehorse on December 20, 2017, 01:50:25 PM
Typical of money that is buried instead of deposited in the bank. . . :yes:
I applaud Abby for working at the library. Dealing with the public can always be gross in one way or another - smells, looks, the occasional "say no to crack" that happens to be sitting down somewhere, etc. ;D
Quote from: Locutus on December 20, 2017, 07:10:46 PM
I applaud Abby for working at the library. Dealing with the public can always be gross in one way or another - smells, looks, the occasional "say no to crack" that happens to be sitting down somewhere, etc. ;D
Thank you, Locutus. We got computer chairs last year that prevent seeing that! Which is good because I always got an eyeful of crack from one huge man that I could see from my office window when I looked out to give my eyes a break from the computer screen. :spooked: Not a good break for my eyes! We need to replace the chairs elsewhere as there are still a lot of ass cracks out there. Just say no to ass crack! Hmmm, maybe I can make a sign....
Here's an interesting piece on women delivering library books on horseback. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/librarians-horseback-new-deal-book-delivery-wpa
:smile: Fascinating, especially the old photos.
From the "Can patrons really be that stupid?" files. Our copier was out of order and we were waiting for the repairman to come in. I put an 8x11 Out of Order poster in an acrylic holder in front of the keyboard. (Patrons need to release their print jobs from a computer used only for this purpose.) The only way to the keyboard is to physically move the poster out of the way. Another Out of Order poster was on the coin ops and still another one was on the copier itself, covering the keyboard. My office is now near this copier and I could hear money dropping into the coin ops and then "why isn't it printing out my paper?" :spooked: It took a lot of self control not to get up, open the door, and tell her how stupid she was! I then heard her ask our reference librarian why she didn't get the copy. :rolleyes: Every time I think I've seen/heard the maximum stupidity imaginable, someone comes along and tops it.
If you keep reading the Zone, someone may top even that. :wink: :biggrin:
Quote from: Locutus on June 06, 2018, 05:57:36 PM
If you keep reading the Zone, someone may top even that. :wink: :biggrin:
Gee, whoever could you mean? :wink: :laugh: I already have read enough stupid things on here. I'll never understand why it is so hard to fact check things before posting and not tell lies. I've encountered both and it still surprises me. You would think after almost three years I'd be use to it! ;D
I take care of room reservations for our branch and we can get some odd requests for room use. The latest one was for a house warming party. :spooked: Isn't the idea of a house warming party to have it at your HOUSE? Hence the name?
We also had a group come in hosting a "grandmother's tea" birthday event. They looked at the room the day before the event and declared our tables (long ones that seat 6) were unacceptable and proceeded to rent round ones and bring them in. They also told us they didn't like our walls. What do you think this is, the Hilton? :mad: After the party they asked if they could store their rented tables in the meeting room until they could pick them up the next day! Of course the answer was no, they had to be removed as we are not a storage facility.
:rolleyes: and I thought a library was a place where people went to find books to read, where the rich and poor have equal access.
Quote from: libby on August 12, 2018, 08:30:23 PM
:rolleyes: and I thought a library was a place where people went to find books to read, where the rich and poor have equal access.
Did you see the article in Forbes by that shitzhead that said Amazon has replaced the need for local libraries? The backlash was so swift and severe that Forbes has to delete it. ;D
Here's one link about the removal:
https://qz.com/1334123/forbes-deleted-an-op-ed-arguing-that-amazon-should-replace-libraries/
No, I didn't see it and thanks for the link. I'll read it later. Am having trouble with my computer.
Quote from: Locutus on August 13, 2018, 06:15:07 PM
Did you see the article in Forbes by that shitzhead that said Amazon has replaced the need for local libraries? The backlash was so swift and severe that Forbes has to delete it. ;D
Here's one link about the removal:
https://qz.com/1334123/forbes-deleted-an-op-ed-arguing-that-amazon-should-replace-libraries/
Obviously he hasn't been to a library in a looooong time. This:
"The communities that would be affected the most would likely be low-income people, immigrants, and, really, the most marginalized among us," says Paul Guequierre, director of communications for the Urban Libraries Council, a membership organization for North American public libraries. " We have free basic computer classes, over the summer we provided free lunches for children, we help people find services for whatever their needs may be, and two of our libraries have a movie night once a month. That's just the top of the iceberg of everything we do. I had the opportunity to help a woman who was being abused by her husband by providing her with information on where to go and an ear to listen to her story. I was able to share with her my story and how I left before the physical violence began as she was going through something very similar. She told me I gave her hope and thanked me for the encouragement. You don't get that with Amazon and probably not Starbucks.
Libraries can be amazing places. Support your library! :yes:
Quote from: AbbyTC on August 14, 2018, 07:16:10 PM
Libraries can be amazing places. Support your library! :yes:
:yes:
Aaarrrggghhh! I'm going to put a huge sign up in our computer area. It will say, "IF YOU NEED TO PEE, GO TO THE BATHROOM." and another one that says, "THIS IS A URINE FREE ZONE". My co-worker gave me a chair last Friday that had a pee stain on it and I came in today to find a chair outside of my office with a HUGE pee stain on it. :mad: :mad: Seriously, if you can't hold it, buy Depends. Surely you know when you have to use a bathroom.
Quote from: AbbyTC on April 11, 2019, 05:42:28 PM
Aaarrrggghhh! I'm going to put a huge sign up in our computer area. It will say, "IF YOU NEED TO PEE, GO TO THE BATHROOM." and another one that says, "THIS IS A URINE FREE ZONE". My co-worker gave me a chair last Friday that had a pee stain on it and I came in today to find a chair outside of my office with a HUGE pee stain on it. :mad: :mad: Seriously, if you can't hold it, buy Depends. Surely you know when you have to use a bathroom.
G..R..O..S..S!!!
It constantly amazes me what those who have to deal with the pubic run across in their jobs. Cleaning up bodily fluids is just something that nobody should have to do. Ever.