True Tales of the Library

[owlectomy]

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.

Comments

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's tremendous fun looking for a book based on a very limited amount of information.

I used to have a great superpower. A client would come into the store saying, "I'm looking for a book? I don't remember the title, or the author, but it's blue?" and I'd turn around, whip it off the shelf and say, "Here you are." And they'd gaze at it in awe and say, "How did you know?" Fellow salespeople were simultaneously amazed and irritated.

I have, alas, lost the knack, because I haven't worked in a bookstore for years. But wow, when I had it, I had it.