We are the best

When I told the man he could request DVDs from other branches to be placed on hold for him, he thought that the service we provide is absolutely awesome!

Even when I told him that he'd be #x on a certain list and that he'd have to wait a while, he said-- that is great! I didn't even know I could do this.

He continued-- this is the best mall in the whole county! You guys are the best!

Admits it

Man: Hi, I have some questions about the computers because, I'll admit it right now, I'm a techno weenie!

Fish food

A woman walked by the reference desk and threw invisible fish food at me. Huh? I thought. And she said "fish food for your little bowl."

Thanks!

In which we have a hater! and a fan!

Random Lady: Do I have to have a library card to use the computers?

Me: Yep.

RL: What if I don't want to get a library card?

Me: Well, we could give you a one-time guest pass, but the computers are really for library users.

RL: NEVER MIND.
(she leaves)

Guy sitting nearby who spends hours every day on the genealogy database: Wow. Who wouldn't want to get a library card??

Things I don't miss on my days off

• Kids playing hide n seek in the stacks.
• Extra loud music that comes from headphones. They say they'll turn it down but that lasts about 10 seconds and back up the volume goes.
• Bawling babies
• Those who think they can bring in their Big Macs and eat them in the liberry.
• Lots more, but enough for today-- my day off.

Laptop

Man brings his laptop to the desk and asks how he can get on yahoo with the wireless connection.

Marian looks at the pc and asks him something about the wireless card.

He replies-- I don't know, it's my old lady's computer.

Technology

A woman brings in a really old 5.5 inch floppy and asks if she can use it in our pcs. I tell her no, and she says, oh, you use the mini ones instead?

I didn't say this, but was thinking-- actually the technology has changed so quickly that now people walk around with flash sticks instead of "mini" discs.

Knit/Crochet

Man: Where are the knitting and crochet books?

I show him where they are, in a sort of dark corner of the liberry.

He remarks-- just like Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard over here.

Questions of the week

Where's will-call? (looking for books on reserve-- maybe we should rename it will-call)

Online ref: I lost my gingerbread recipe ... it was from the late 1990's... can you help me?

Kids Area: Where are the books where they can't rip the pages? (board books)

a service we provide

I was working on the virtual reference questions tonight. (We answer the questions via a gmail account). One question popped up. I read it and called the customer with the answer in less than five minutes after the question was submitted. She was shocked.

Now that is a service we provide!

In Transit

Man-- What does in transit mean?

Me-- It means the book is on the way here.

Man-- So how do the books get here, like, do volunteers drive cars?