True Tales of the Library

On a Wednesday before school lets out, typically the most public service I have to do is getting a list of requests for an elderly technophobe who can't use the computers to do it.

But I have just about had it with people who can't be bothered to find out what they want before they ask me for it.

Patron: I want "Pillars of Fire" by Ken Follett.
Me: "Pillars of the Earth," right?
Patron: "Pillars of Fire."
Me: Okay, it looks like Ken Follett didn't write "Pillars of Fire," but he DID write "Pillars of the Eart"...
Patron: Oh, I see, I had it written down wrong! I meant "Pillars of Fear."
Me: ... Could you take off your headphones, please? That might be helpful.

Actually, it's tremendous fun looking for a book based on a very limited amount of information. It can even be fun when the information is wrong (as when a patron was looking for romantic suspense by Erin Brockovich; the author is, in fact, Janet Evanovich.) I don't want to intimidate people from asking for information because they may not have all the information; it's what I have a graduate degree for. But... yeah.

(no subject)

Well, no one is surprised that the library budgets look bad.

I'm just glad that this time I have room not to panic.

...Yet.