Tales from the library

[Purplelady1040]

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.

[AbbyTC]

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.     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. 

[Purplelady1040]

Wow, some people just are plain rude.

[AbbyTC]

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!   

Support your library!

[Locutus]

I wonder what kind of biblical/religious questions they received. 

[Purplelady1040]

I wonder what kind of biblical/religious questions they received.

Probably asking who is Jesus?

[AbbyTC]

I wonder what kind of biblical/religious questions they received.

Probably asking who is Jesus?

Since you're curious, I'll ask her tomorrow and see if she remembers. 

[AbbyTC]

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    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.    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.   

[libby]

I guess maybe some people think of a library as a kind of sanctuary?

[AbbyTC]

Thought I'd post some old pics of the library. (Thanks for the idea, Palehorse.  )

[AbbyTC]

Possibly the only time the kids had a library book.

[Locutus]

...and the first time they saw a very early version of a bookmobile. 

[Palehorse]

  these pics!

[Anne]

I miss the bookmobile, back in the 70's it came to our neighborhood once or twice a month. My kids loved it.

[AbbyTC]

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.     So was the guy drunk, high, or both?  Never heard of a McDonalds that delivered!