Friday, December 28, 2007

Slow Friday:

The Friday after Christmas and before New Years is very slow. So here is my reference log for the day:

10-11am
  1. I'd like to reserve a computer?
  2. How can I reserve a computer?
  3. Can I make a computer reservation?
  4. The computer is frozen.
  5. Can I get a computer reservation?
  6. The computer doesn't want to work.
  7. Can I get a study room?
  8. Computer?
  9. Can you help me find a book. It doesn't come up in your catalog?
  10. I have a computer reservation at 11am. Where is it?
  11. Can I get a computer reservation?

12-1pm

  1. Can I have my library back?
  2. Can you help me find this title in Spanish?
  3. Can you help me find it?
  4. Can you help me find a book on knitting in Spanish?
  5. Can I have my pin number?
  6. What happened to your foot?
  7. Here is a gift for you for Christmas for being so nice. :)
  8. I already used the computer on the express, so you can delete my reservation for 12:30 in case someone needs to use it. (how nice)
  9. (Wow! Real ref question)I'm doing research on a couple and they listed their intention to marry back in 1934. Does that mean they got married within that year? If so, where can I find that record? I'm calling from Oregon.
  10. Do you check out books here?
  11. Can I reserve a computer here?
  12. Where's the bathroom?
  13. Me: Is this your child? Can you please stop him from running around the stacks and calling out for "mama"? Thank you.
  14. They sent me from the front, I'm looking for computer programs for children. (me: to learn how to use the computer?) No, programs to help teach my child about letters and numbers. (me: sorry we don't have that here. We have books to teach you how to work the programs, to teach children to use them.) So you don't have program disks we can take home and practice letters and stuff? (No, we have Leap Frog (c) programs you can use here at the library).
  15. Can I get a study room?
  16. How can I use the Wi-Fi?
  17. me:I'm sorry but you can't use your cell phone here.
  18. me: Ma'am please stop your child from yelling and running through the stacks.
  19. Can I make another computer reservation?

2-3pm

  1. Can I check to see if I have anything late?
  2. Do you have "Forrest Gump" on dvd?
  3. Do you have "Harry Potter" books?
  4. Do you have legal forms here?
  5. How can I get a library card?
  6. Is there somewhere I can enlarge a page?
  7. Can I get a computer?
  8. Can I have a computer?
  9. Can I cancel my reservation?
  10. I am looking for a "High Noon" on dvd.
  11. Do you have "How to win friends and influence people'?
  12. I'd like to cancel my reservation.
  13. Can I make a reservation? I just got my number from the front. (me: no sorry. You need your card to make reservation.)
  14. Do you have a book or anything on "Mario"? (me: like mario brothers? The video game?) Yes, anything like that.
  15. Do you have "Goosebumps" videos?
  16. Can I reserve a computer?
  17. Do you have the movie "On Dangerous Ground"?
  18. Can I make a reservation?
  19. Can I make a reservation for a 15 min computer?
  20. Can you tell me which computer I am on again?


Book Review:

Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi is another great collection of stories from Iran. In this book she recounts stories of women and their experiences. It is a graphic novel that allows you to connect with the characters of her life.





Library Stuff:

Now it seems our profession is attacking another website other than wikipedia. Read all about Yahoo answers here. I myself use it once in a while. Of course I follow up on the answer and don't take it as face value, but that's just me.


Patron Stories:

I approached two teens at the express computer when I noticed they have signed on for a second time, while there is another patron waiting.


Me: Would you please sign off? There is a person waiting for the computer and this is your second session.

Patron: I'm already signed off, I'm just sitting here (with a smirk while his friend snickers in the background.)

Me: If you get up from there so she can use it that would be great.

P: Yea that would be great. (As he is getting up.)

(I ignore his comment and go back to the desk. They stand/lean on the computer station next to the one he was on while he talks to his other buddy on the computer. Now I am getting upset. We don't allow people to loiter by the computers.)

I walk over to them very calmly. They don't notice I'm heading towards them and very loudly say:

Me: Excuse me, guys?! You cannot stand here and chat. If you would like to continue your conversation you need to go to another part of the library. You can go sit down on one of those desks.

Neither of them expected me to approach them again. They were in shock and just stared at each other. They quietly walked to the desk. LOL

Another story: Two girls come up to the desk for a computer reservation. Our policy is that you cannot make an appointment w/out your card. If you don't have it the circ desk gives it to you once, after that you must have you card. This young lady had her number on an old crumpled post it.

Patron: Can I get a computer? I just got my number up front.

Me: You just got this? (as I handle the post it.)

P: Yes.

M: Ok, the next computer is not available until 3pm is that ok? (As I look up her account to check for a note as to when she received this number.)

P: yea, that's ok.

M: I'm sorry. But it shows here that you received you number on the 21st. You need to go back up there and get a new library card if you have lost it. I can't make you a reservation.

P: Yea? Ok.

Ha! Try to pull a fast one on me will ya?! (I told you it was slow day. lol)

Thursday, December 27, 2007

How Lame am I?

How pathetic is it that I RSS my own blog? LOL I have a Google reader account where I catch up on all my favorite blogs and I just added my own. Is that lame?

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

I don't want to come back!!

I just came back after a winter's break of 5 days. And the place is just as I had left it. Same old rude patrons that demand "the internet", cell phone shouting, computer hogging, smelly, rude people who don't know the meaning of good will towards men. ARGH! Doesn't anybody have anything better to do than to go to the library the day after Christmas? Go to the mall and torture those people with your returns and you fighting over the After-Christmas-Sales. Yes, I'm bitter.



Book Review:

Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi is the follow up to her first book that documented her childhood in Iran. This second book continues her story as she experiences life away from home in Austria. She encounters different cultures, people and ideas that shape her life.


I recommend her book for the sole experience of learning about a political refuge's ordeals in Europe. Living in Southern Cali I only have experience as a Mexican immigrant. So it was interesting to read about the refugees in Europe. Satrapi's tales are at times entertaining but you can't help but feel her loneliness and unhappiness because she is away from her family. Go out and pick up this book. You will learn a lot about Iran's culture and religious atmosphere.


Monday, December 17, 2007

Creepy customer


Patron Stories
I'm trying to sit perfectly still. Sssshhh. One of the new creepy guys (picture is not the actual image) has shown up. Last time he was here he was yelling obscenities in the Resource Center. The time after that he tried to join a private meeting we were having with our higher ups, to make sure he wasn't "missing anything". He is now using one of our Internet computers with his headphones on with the volume full blast. I would normally approach a patron that is doing that, where I can hear the sound, I ask them to turn it down. But not today. I'm hoping he doesn't see me and try to engage me into conversation/argument. I'm sitting here praying for the last 30 minutes to pass so that he leaves. Don't. Make. A. Move. Ssshhhh....please leave quietly.

Fun New Book


Sex, Murder and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis is a very fun book to read. The characters make you laugh out loud and allow to get lost in their plot.


Sophie Katz is a novelist who ends up being stalked by a murderer who is mimicking his victim's art. So she is trying to find out who is trying to kill her by reliving her own storyline. Sophie, Mary Ann and Dena are three of most oddest friends I have seen in a while, but they compliment each other. Sophie meets a mysterious Russian, Anatoly, who steals her heart. Their relationship is turbulent and fascinating.


I recommend this book based on the suspense and romance.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Persepolis


by Marjane Satrapi is a great graphic novel. I learned about this book in library school and never got around to read it. But I recently found out that the film based on this book will be released in the US this month. So I decided to read it before it came out.




I LOVE THIS BOOK!! It's an autobiographical graphic novel about a young girl living in Iran during the fall of the Shah and rise of the Islamic revolution. You get Marjane's 11 year old point of view and how world changing events affect her and her family. Along with her life story, you get a history lesson of Iran and what turmoils it has gone through. I feel that I have more understanding towards Iran and it's people just by reading this book. It's a great experience all around and you will be a better person for having read it.


Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Another book


Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper is a book I finished reading a long time ago and just forgot to review. I picked up this book because I had enjoyed Tropper's other works of fiction filled with his humor. This one, not so much.


The story of Zack, as his life changes, is documented in this book. Its premise is that this book gives a guy's point of view of the complications of love. It's true. It does give you the guy's point of view of why he cheats and leads his fiance on. This aspect of the book was interesting. It wasn't just black and white where he was just a d*** who didn't care about the women around him. His cancer scare makes him human and easy to relate it.


This book was a little on the serious side. His "How to Talk to a Widower" which made me cry, ironically had more humor in it. I do recommend this author but not necessarily this book. So pick up his other works first and you'll enjoy his stance on life.
p.s. I didn't get the book cover. It makes it look like a menopausal book.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

What exactly do you need?!


Patron Etiquette:
Be specific. When you come up to the desk don't ask broad questions that deal with a slew of material. Don't ask, "Where is your law area?" If you do be prepared to answer my questions to help me narrow it down for you. Or else I will just send you to the 340's and you'll have to sort it out.

Our library has the Chicano Resource Center. Please narrow your topic down! Asking for books on Chicanos will not give you a good source. You will be directed to all of the 10 bookcases. Good luck finding what you need! Do you want the history, culture, political activism, leaders and in what states? Don't continue answering with "Just anything on Chicanos" over and over again, when I am trying to decipher what you really need. Don't be surprised if you get a look of "Are you stupid?" from your librarian. You don't go to your nearest Pep Boys and ask, "Where are your things for cars?" and not specify. They would give you an even meaner look and gestures.

I have all the time in the world!

Patron Etiquette:
When coming up to the reference desk please have your library cards ready. If all you want is a computer reservation have it handy. Don't waste my time and those standing in line behind you while you rummage through your nap sack, backpack, baby bag, your cargo pant's pockets nor your little sister's wallet (who you have to hunt down on the other side of the library, because she has it) for your library card. You know you need it. Don't act surprise when we ask you for it. Thanks!


Christmas came early
My computer is finally fixed!!!! About a month ago I had a virus show up on my computer and it slowly died. Our IT department gave me the runaround for a month about getting it fixed. I finally contacted the IT manager and CC'd my boss. Sure enough I got a response the next day and is now fixed. I feel like a little girl with a new toy. But now I have to re-assign my book marks and RSS feeds. Oh well.