more library love

Every so often the council like to check that those of us down at the library are servicing the community. This means that the "Feedback Tablet" makes it's way around the branches. Today it was at Alt. Most patrons have seen it before, and as such ignore it. Much easier than taking a few minutes to recognise just how much work the library staff put in to running their local branch. 

But, every now and then, someone actually looks at the thing while I'm putting their books through. This is probably one of the better conversation I had. 

Guy looks at it, "What's this for?" 
ME: "That's there to tell us all how much you love us."
Guy leans over, puts his hands on mine: "I love you."
ME: "As you should."

Now I'm sure that the little old lady who came in on the end of the conversation was very confused. The guy and I had a chuckle, I gave him his books and he went on his way. This is why I like public libraries. I don't see that happening in an academic or specialist library.

Do I stick it out with the public system and pray that a full time job will come up before I hit 40, or do I try my hand with the academics? Decisions, decisions. Either way, job hunting sucks.

Perils of the reference desk

Ok, so anyone who wasn't at Miss A's BBQ may not have heard of my marathon phone question late last week. Basically I spent 25 minutes on the phone with a little old lady (that I'm not certain is actually a member of my library) trying to find information on Robyn Fong (fashion, 1950s). NLA's digitisation of Australians Womens Weekly (May, 1972 edition) eventually gave me something useful. She decided to call NLA to see if she could get a copy. This was after I told her several times that I could print the information for her if she came into the library. But she got what she wanted, so that wasn't my issue.

That was the end of that ... until today. My branch team leader was on desk with me this morning. She answers the phone and then hands it to me. It's the little old lady again. Apparently she had tried calling for me the other day, but I'd gone home. She had another question for me: Bobo Faulkner (fashion/tv, 1950s). After 30mins on the phone, and much trawling through Trove I was again saved by NLA's digitisation of Australians Womens Weekly (June 1973). She did ask me when I'd be in again. I should have lied, I know, but by that point I just wanted to get off the phone.

So some time in the future she will call again. She'll ask for me, and the cycle will repeat. This is the danger of giving good customer service: they remember your name and then won't talk to anyone else. If you see a librarian walking around with an ice pack on his/her ear then the chances are they have a similiar patron of their own. If you work in information management you may even end up with one (or even more) of your own. Who knows? 

One thing I do know: this was not in the brochure.