Librarian is the new Postal

May 5, 2008

{ Monday, Monday }

-Excellent

As always, having fun in the library on Monday:

On the phone with a patron:
“Ok. I just need your library card number.”
“Card number? What’s that?”
“It’s the number on your library card..”
“Oh ok. I see. 555-BOOK.”
"Umm. That sounds like the number for the main branch of our library.”
“It’s the only number on the card. I’ve got it right here in front of me.”
“Well… the number you just read, ending in BOOK, is a telephone number. The library card number is on your card. Probably on the other side….”
“That’s the only number on the card.”
“Ok….”

Then there’s the elderly patron on the copier. He’s a regular. I know the machines are confusing. I know it’s crazy of us to expect you to make your own copies, but that’s what Kinkos is for. If you don’t want to or are unable to make your own copies, please go there. I’m not a copy girl. If I make your copies for you that’s all I will have to time to do today. I can show you how to use the machine; I can’t do it for you. That what “self serve” means.

“”Well fine. Show me how it works, then.”
“You put the paper here, face-up.”
“Like this?”
“No. With the text facing up, so you can see it.”
“Here.”
“No. So you can see the writing on the paper.”
“Well I can’t figure out what you’re talking about with these crazy machines.”
“You see the picture on top? Put the paper just like the picture shows.”
“Like this?”
“No. Turn it over…. here. Fine. I’ll do it. Now hit the green button to make your copy.”
“Which button do I hit?”
“The big green one.”
“This one?”
“No. The green one. The one that says start.”

I really think he’s just messing with me to take up as much of my time as he possibly can because I wouldn’t hit the fucking copy button for him. The girl at the desk just told him to read the instructions on the lid, though. That’s what I get for trying to provide customer service. Next time I’ll be like every other disgruntled library employee and just point.

Labels: Copier, customer service, Library Cards, Monday, patrons, phone

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Jul 30, 2007

{ Out Holes }

-Excellent

Another little bizzare situation. To use the computers in the library you have to sign-in first at the Reservation Computer. There's a little scanner thingy on one side, to scan your library card, and little receipt printer thingy on the other side that prints out your computer reservation. Simple. I'll even admit that the first time you use the computer it can be annoying and confusing, but it's not rocket science. You click the button, you scan your card, it spits out a receipt.

Problem is that the computer is also used to pay for print jobs from the actual usage of the computers. A woman was in, used her library card to get on the computers, and printed a bunch of stuff. She signed herself in with no problems - obviously she knew how the computer worked. But..... when she tried to print her documents she somehow got her library card jammed into the little slot on top of the receipt printer. How the fuck did that happen? All that I can figure is she was trying to “pay” for her print job with her library card, like a credit card reader. Someone needs a lesson on “in holes” and “out holes.”

Labels: In Holes, Library Cards, Out Holes, Printing

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