This is A Slave State
Working with the public is always a challenge but some folks are more challenging than other. As a backdrop to this "episode" at the library I will reference a conversation I had with one of my co-workers.
Co-worker: What would happen if you went to the store to buy milk and got to the register and didn't have any money to pay for it?
Me: Is this a trick question?
Co-Worker: No, I am being serious, what would happen?
Me: Hmmmmmmm I wouldn't get any milk unless I stole it.
Co-Worker: So why is this place any different? Why do people think they can come in here with nothing but get whatever they want?
Me: Because this is a government entity so they assume tax dollar cover everything. Therefore it all belongs to them. The problem is we are in a bad economy and the government at all levels is cutting funding for everything and most of the people that come in here are unemployed or underemployed(including us) so they aren't even paying taxes but they don't SEE that they think is should all be FREE.
Fast forward to the SLAVE state episode.
Patron: I need a guest pass to use the computer.
Co-Worker: We no longer offer guest passes to residents of the state. You must have a library card to use a computer.
Patron: Well I have a card but I don't have it with me so I just need a pass for today.
Co-Worker: I'm sorry ma'am but we are not allowed to issues guest passes to anyone who is a resident of the state.
Patron: Then why can't you just look up my number?
Co-Worker: It is against the card issuers policy. If you need a replacement card you can get one for $2 or you can go and get your card if you haven't lost it.
Patron: What if I don't want a card?
Co-Worker: That is your choice but you can't use the library's services with out it.
Patron: Is this a state law or just you all? This is turning into a slave state.
Co-Worker: No ma'am it isn't a state law. It is a library rule and other county libraries require a card too, not just us. In fact most of the surrounding counties require them.
Patron: So I have to either spend $10 to drive home and get my card or I have to pay $2 to replace the card? This is a slave state. But ya'll can't keep these kids in school. Where do I go to get my card looked up?
As I pass the circulation desk I hear this same patron referring to us as a slave state again and fussing at a manager about not having her library card. So the manager pulls up her account and informs her that she has over $100 in fines.
Um, you can't owe that much unless you didn't return several books. Even our fines cap out at like $20 but after you have had a book out for so long we then charge you for the book. But guess what slave, if you bring the book back in good condition we will remove the price of the book. You can bring the book back a year later and we will still remove the charges IF the book is in good condition. That means no food, mold, bodily fluids, etc. Yes we need to be clear about this because we recently had a book returned that looked like it had been swimming in coffee or coke.
Seriously, in the time it took this woman to argue with 2 different people only to get the same responses/results, she could have gone all the way home and got her library card and come back. Better yet if you don't want to follow the rules of the library then go buy your own computer and printer and sign up for internet service at your home then you can eat, drink, be naked, look at porn, talk on your phone and yell at your kids AS you use YOUR computer.
I feel like this is more a societal issue than just this one patron. Just about everyone that comes in has some excuse or complaint as to why they shouldn't have to follow the rules. We have turned in to a "me, me, me" society. It is all about me and people seem to think that rules that apply to everyone else don't apply to them.
This especially applies to the no cell phone usage policy. For some reason no one can abide by that rule and it causes a scene every time you have to ask them to leave or stop using their phones. I have been called everything but a child of God, told I needed to focus on what is important and referred to as the POE-LICE by one patron. All because I asked them politely not to use their phone in the LIBRARY.
Bottom line is every where you go there are rules you have to follow. You don't have to agree with them or like them. Hell I don't like many of the rules that apply to me as an employee but I still have to follow them. The library is not your living room. We have most of the dos and don'ts posted if you could just pay attention to your surroundings and READ.
Co-worker: What would happen if you went to the store to buy milk and got to the register and didn't have any money to pay for it?
Me: Is this a trick question?
Co-Worker: No, I am being serious, what would happen?
Me: Hmmmmmmm I wouldn't get any milk unless I stole it.
Co-Worker: So why is this place any different? Why do people think they can come in here with nothing but get whatever they want?
Me: Because this is a government entity so they assume tax dollar cover everything. Therefore it all belongs to them. The problem is we are in a bad economy and the government at all levels is cutting funding for everything and most of the people that come in here are unemployed or underemployed(including us) so they aren't even paying taxes but they don't SEE that they think is should all be FREE.
Fast forward to the SLAVE state episode.
Patron: I need a guest pass to use the computer.
Co-Worker: We no longer offer guest passes to residents of the state. You must have a library card to use a computer.
Patron: Well I have a card but I don't have it with me so I just need a pass for today.
Co-Worker: I'm sorry ma'am but we are not allowed to issues guest passes to anyone who is a resident of the state.
Patron: Then why can't you just look up my number?
Co-Worker: It is against the card issuers policy. If you need a replacement card you can get one for $2 or you can go and get your card if you haven't lost it.
Patron: What if I don't want a card?
Co-Worker: That is your choice but you can't use the library's services with out it.
Patron: Is this a state law or just you all? This is turning into a slave state.
Co-Worker: No ma'am it isn't a state law. It is a library rule and other county libraries require a card too, not just us. In fact most of the surrounding counties require them.
Patron: So I have to either spend $10 to drive home and get my card or I have to pay $2 to replace the card? This is a slave state. But ya'll can't keep these kids in school. Where do I go to get my card looked up?
As I pass the circulation desk I hear this same patron referring to us as a slave state again and fussing at a manager about not having her library card. So the manager pulls up her account and informs her that she has over $100 in fines.
Um, you can't owe that much unless you didn't return several books. Even our fines cap out at like $20 but after you have had a book out for so long we then charge you for the book. But guess what slave, if you bring the book back in good condition we will remove the price of the book. You can bring the book back a year later and we will still remove the charges IF the book is in good condition. That means no food, mold, bodily fluids, etc. Yes we need to be clear about this because we recently had a book returned that looked like it had been swimming in coffee or coke.
Seriously, in the time it took this woman to argue with 2 different people only to get the same responses/results, she could have gone all the way home and got her library card and come back. Better yet if you don't want to follow the rules of the library then go buy your own computer and printer and sign up for internet service at your home then you can eat, drink, be naked, look at porn, talk on your phone and yell at your kids AS you use YOUR computer.
I feel like this is more a societal issue than just this one patron. Just about everyone that comes in has some excuse or complaint as to why they shouldn't have to follow the rules. We have turned in to a "me, me, me" society. It is all about me and people seem to think that rules that apply to everyone else don't apply to them.
This especially applies to the no cell phone usage policy. For some reason no one can abide by that rule and it causes a scene every time you have to ask them to leave or stop using their phones. I have been called everything but a child of God, told I needed to focus on what is important and referred to as the POE-LICE by one patron. All because I asked them politely not to use their phone in the LIBRARY.
Bottom line is every where you go there are rules you have to follow. You don't have to agree with them or like them. Hell I don't like many of the rules that apply to me as an employee but I still have to follow them. The library is not your living room. We have most of the dos and don'ts posted if you could just pay attention to your surroundings and READ.
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