I had a volunteer shift at the library on Saturday and my nemesis was there! He couldn’t pick on me about my badge because we got new ones. They are black and yellow–the color of warning, as in warning! you are talking to a volunteer not a real librarian! And I had my lanyard tied up high so the badge was visible above the desk and from far away which probably made Mike very happy. He didn’t come over but I caught him staring at me a couple of times. Once I gave him a big bright smile, looking directly at him. He did not smile in return, instead he gave me that looking though you gaze we all do when we want to pretend we didn’t see somebody.
No doubt Mike wanted to come over and pick on me about something, but for a good part of my shift I was providing entertaining company for a nice, but lonely man of 84. I know his age because he told me. I also know his name and that he is the only person with that name in the Twin Cities phone book so if I ever wanted to look him up… Right. He wasn’t asking for a date, he just likes to talk.
And talk he did. He quoted H.L. Mencken to me and was impressed when I knew who that was. I impressed him even more because I knew who Percy Shelley was and know his poem “Ozymandias” which he was trying to recite to me. On second thought, maybe he was trying to pick me up and I was clueless. He also hinted at his past as a communist and boasted that he got to meet Castro once. When he finally decided to go off and look something up in the library he left with a big grin on his face and turned around and waved at me before stepping onto the elevator. Since he had to keep writing things down with a stubby library pencil on little slips of paper, he may or may not remember my name or anything he said to me.
While I am on the subject of libraries, school started up today for the summer quarter. This new class is a continuation of the last quarter’s class. More reference services stuff but with less emphasis on how to do database searches and more emphasis on theory and user behavior and all that. The final project assignment has already been posted and it should prove fun. Are you ready for this? I have to answer seven reference questions for the the Internet Public Library. How cool is that? It’s email reference not live chat, thank goodness. The professor has warned us that it generally takes students about 45 minutes per question so don’t wait until the last minute! I will let you all know how it goes.
Very cool assignment! I hope you enjoy the class. Some theory sounds good. And what a funny story about your library friend — it sounds like you made someone’s day!
Yeah, it did feel like the 84 year old man was trying to pick you up.
Ha ha — I’ve had old men trying to ’show me the sights’ etc. when I’ve been on the reference desk. One of the hazards of the job in any public library, being hit on by old lonely men….
Your class assignment sounds very fascinating. IPL is a great resource which you will be adding to!
Dorothy, I think I did make his day. And already the first reading for class has been interesting. A good sign!
Dark Orpheus, I was afraid of that.
Melanie, you are so kind! So I have finally reached the age in my life where I get hit on by lonely old men instead of young cute ones. Sigh. How do you gently make the old ones go away?
That does sound like a really fun assignment. The librarians I know are all deeply informed people–it must come from all of the digging into reference materials.
wow, I love hearing about your adventures in the library. I can only imagine the stories that come from such a job! I have such admiration for library systems…the one in my home town offers a learning program for seniors and my dad lectures (he’s a senior) on books as part of it - they offer such great programs for people interested in learning.
Oh, I love old men like that. Not only did I used to have conversations with them when I worked in the library world, but I also used to run into them riding the bus around Manhattan. And, as usual, you’re making me wish I could go back to library school.
That actually does sound like a fun assignment and practical, too! Wouldn’t it be funny if when you got your degree and your job and eventually became Mike’s boss! hehehehe.
You’ll make a great librarian! Helping people is the number one rule, and I think you have that one down pat. Don’t let Mike get to you. There’s one of his kind everywhere. It’s some kind of horrible rule.
J.D., digging into the reference materials from all the interesting questions they get asked.
Courtney, that’s so cool your dad lectures at the library! And what a great program. I think any job that deals with the public will create great stories.
Emily, it’s never too late to go to library school!
Danielle, it would be funny if I ended up being Mike’s boss. The question is, would I be able to stick to the higher moral ground in such a situation?
Lisa, thanks! I think you are right about the horrible rule. I wonder who do we petition to get it changed?