herbiehancock

I'm not sure when it happened, but I think good phone manners have gone by the wayside. At least, that is the way it seems to me when I answer the phone and make calls from the library. In the past week, especially, I have encountered an abundance of rudeness over the phone. Lately, I have felt like saying "How rude!" to some of the patrons I have talked with on the phone. Stephanie Tanner from the old TV show, "Full House" comes to mind. Recently, one patron requested over thirty books through our inter-library loan system. Although some would consider that a large number of books to request, I really had no problem with it. Requesting books from other libraries is one of the services that we offer. It is just part of our job. I would like to explain something though. We belong to a network consortium of libraries called the SEO (Serving Every Ohioan) Library Center. The consortium is made up of "75 library systems at 166 physical locations thro...

It is very nice to be appreciated. As my regular readers know, the library where I work is struggling to continue to serve the public after receiving large budget cuts from our state funding. In November, a local funding renewal levy for the library will go on the ballot. I was surprised to see the first letter to the editor about our situation in the newspaper this week. You can read the letter in the photo below. (Click the image to enlarge it if necessary.) It made me smile to read this letter. It really is nice to have someone appreciate what you do. I can only hope that the rest of the community feels the same way about our library that this gentleman does. * * * * * My son started back to school this week. It has been a tradition for us that on the first day of school, I take a picture of my sons holding a calendar and standing in front of the door. I have one from every year starting with preschool. It is fun to watch them grow. Aside from a schedule mix-up wh...

When it is closing time at the library, part of my job is to walk all around the library and make sure that everyone is out of the building before we leave to go home. Included in that sweep of the building, we are to check the restrooms, both the men's and the women's, to make sure they are empty. When I check the restrooms, I always knock on the door first before entering. Rarely is there anyone in there, but we are still to check for stowaways. Not too long ago, I knocked on the men's room door and waited for an answer. There was no answer, so I opened the door and went on in. Unfortunately, there was a gentleman standing at the urinal when I entered. OOOOPS! I don't know why he didn't speak up when I knocked! So this week, I was making the rounds as usual. I knocked on the men's room door and waited for an answer. There was no answer, so I cautiously opened the door. Then I heard a sort of yelp and somebody yelled "HEY!" However, the yel...

These are just a few of the reasons I've had to smile lately. If you look around today, perhaps you will find some reasons to smile too. * * * * * A Coworker With a Sense of Humor There is a young man who visits the library where I work who always wears his pants sagging down and droopy so that the top of his underwear shows. I'm sure you've seen someone like this. T his habit drives me crazy. I have never understood this fad. My coworker knows how I feel about this fashion "statement," and she feels the same way. She decided to have a bit of fun with me. She could see our saggy pants patron coming to the desk for me to wait on him. She was in our supervisor's office and was visible to me, but she was not visible to Mr. Droopy Drawers. She immediately pulled her pants down so that they were drooping just like the patron's. She then swung her backside around in a little swagger dance to make sure that I could see her. Of course, I laughed. ...

As mo st of you know, I am a librarian. The other day at work, I was checking in a book and a small birthday card fell out of it. Inside the card was a five dollar bill. This got me to thinking about the many odd things patrons use as bookmarks that are left inside of books and returned to libraries. The bookmarks left behind sometimes paint a picture of the person who checked out the book. Some of the following items I have found myself, others have been found by people I have worked with, and others I have read about or heard about from other librarians. Odd paper items found lying around the house (These are the most common---whatever is there at hand, that is what patrons stick into the book to reserve their place in the story.) paper money of various denominations store receipts admission tickets or stubs to plays, concerts, movies, or other performances church bulletins candy and gum wrappers party invitations thank you notes birthday and get well cards pictures cut out from mag...