Librarians everywhere hate me - Page 2

libraryvixen · 10-24-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracilicious

And lady, ten dollars is nothing as far as fines go. Trust me. Nothing.

Uhh... that's what is is right NOW. That's not what it was before...

It was pretty high. Let's say... oh... high thirties.

Alex · 10-24-2005, 10:36 PM

From my time behind a reference desk your experience is hardly unusual. At least you didn't come in and say "Do you have that green book by the famous science fiction author?" or "I'm looking for that book that was mentioned on NPR last week."

Morrigoon · 10-25-2005, 11:43 AM

You know though, Alex... sometimes that helps. I was in a bookstore trying to find Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and had forgotten the name of the book. So I mentioned something about the guy having two dads, and it was on Oprah. A lightbulb went on for the bookstore guy because he'd had TONS of people coming in for it (Getting your book on Oprah does amazing things for sales, you know), so he knew exactly which book I was looking for.

If "science fiction book that was on NPR" had been highly requested in the last week, chances are you'd have known about it from past people hunting for it. (But hey, who listens to NPR anymore? j/k)

edit: Oh, and I just have to say... when I saw this thread on "new posts" I originally read it as "Libertarians everywhere hate me," and I was wondering why libertarians would have problems with you returning books late

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 10-25-2005, 12:47 PM

Librarians hate me, too.

When, really, they should thank me. My enormous fines have no doubt bought them a few books, even if they had to waste man power to call me again and again about the late books, the late fees.

And, most recently, they sent creditors after me. I have a library fine on my credit report!

How...intellectual?

Heh.

Matterhorn Fan · 10-25-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Wind Up Bird Chronicles! Yes that's it! How could I have forgotten that. Librarians everywhere hate me!

She laughingly declares, "Yes we do!"

Oh, please tell me that "yes we do" part of this story was a joke. Because that's a horrible thing to say. She should've said "We enjoy the challenge."

Isn't that why people become reference librarians? Because they like to help others locate information? (At least, as college English teacher, that's the kind of reference librarian duties I practice, as my students are too afraid, often, to ask the actual librarians.)

tracilicious · 10-25-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

Oh, please tell me that "yes we do" part of this story was a joke. Because that's a horrible thing to say. She should've said "We enjoy the challenge."

Isn't that why people become reference librarians? Because they like to help others locate information? (At least, as college English teacher, that's the kind of reference librarian duties I practice, as my students are too afraid, often, to ask the actual librarians.)

Would that I could tell you that. Would that I could. Mind you, she was laughing while she said it, but I was still a bit taken aback. I think you are right about why people should become librarians. Unfortunately, I think there will always be a percentage that become librarians because they like books a heck of a lot more than they like people. Helping people is probably a downside to the job for people like them. Still, she was nice enough. I didn't walk away feeling insulted. Just stupid. And, well, I'm used to that feeling by now.

tracilicious · 11-01-2005, 12:36 AM

I'm bumping this because I'd hate for CP to miss a librarian post while in France.

Alex · 11-01-2005, 08:24 AM

Quick comment as to why people should become librarians, it needs to be pointed out that there are a whole lot of librarians who never go near a reference desk.

I love reference librarianship (if only I hadn't been able to make twice as much money not working in libraries, I'd still be doing it), but I couldn't do pubilc library reference work, because:

1) Too many kids. I still don't know why people under 25 are allowed out of their bedrooms.

2) The questions tend too much to the banal ("what is the capital of Peru, it would be amazing if you actually knew how to find such secret information") for me. I much more preferred academic reference desks (in universities) where you still get boring questions but you also more frequently get to actually be a part of the research process.

So there are lots of reasons to become a librarian and lots of places your preferences can take you. The second worst reason, in my opinion, is "I like to read" because there aren't many librarians in the world who actually get to do much reading. The worst is "I like books." If you like books, become a bookseller or a preservationist. Being a librarian is not about books, it is about information.

Just my opinion, recently irritated by yet another person saying, upon hearing that I was once a librarian, "oh, I'm considering going to library school because I really like books, and quiet, and reading." Of course, this same person was complaining that she didn't understand why being a librarian should require a masters degree when she learned how to use the library in second grade. (There is a valid debate about how necessary post-graduate degrees should be, but she was simply irritating me.)

Gemini Cricket · 11-01-2005, 08:35 AM

"Do you have that book by... you know. It has pages in it. I think it has a cover. Hard, no soft. You know, the book. The book? I think it's made out of paper. It was written by somebody. You know, Dr. Something Something. No? The cover has a picture on it. It's a book, though. I'm sure of that."

tracilicious · 11-01-2005, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

1) Too many kids. I still don't know why people under 25 are allowed out of their bedrooms.

Of course, this same person was complaining that she didn't understand why being a librarian should require a masters degree when she learned how to use the library in second grade. (There is a valid debate about how necessary post-graduate degrees should be, but she was simply irritating me.)

Well I'm certainly glad that they are, as my husband would still be confined to his room otherwise. I do wish I could selectively confine people. Then again, I also wish I had a rocket launcher on my car to fire at people that drive too slow.

Why does being a librarian require a degree?

10-24-2005, 10:36 PM	#12
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	From my time behind a reference desk your experience is hardly unusual. At least you didn't come in and say "Do you have that green book by the famous science fiction author?" or "I'm looking for that book that was mentioned on NPR last week."
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10-25-2005, 11:43 AM	#13
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	You know though, Alex... sometimes that helps. I was in a bookstore trying to find Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and had forgotten the name of the book. So I mentioned something about the guy having two dads, and it was on Oprah. A lightbulb went on for the bookstore guy because he'd had TONS of people coming in for it (Getting your book on Oprah does amazing things for sales, you know), so he knew exactly which book I was looking for. If "science fiction book that was on NPR" had been highly requested in the last week, chances are you'd have known about it from past people hunting for it. (But hey, who listens to NPR anymore? j/k) edit: Oh, and I just have to say... when I saw this thread on "new posts" I originally read it as "Libertarians everywhere hate me," and I was wondering why libertarians would have problems with you returning books late __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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10-25-2005, 12:47 PM	#14
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	Librarians hate me, too. When, really, they should thank me. My enormous fines have no doubt bought them a few books, even if they had to waste man power to call me again and again about the late books, the late fees. And, most recently, they sent creditors after me. I have a library fine on my credit report! How...intellectual? Heh.
	Submit to Quotes

11-01-2005, 12:36 AM	#17
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	I'm bumping this because I'd hate for CP to miss a librarian post while in France. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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11-01-2005, 08:24 AM	#18
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Quick comment as to why people should become librarians, it needs to be pointed out that there are a whole lot of librarians who never go near a reference desk. I love reference librarianship (if only I hadn't been able to make twice as much money not working in libraries, I'd still be doing it), but I couldn't do pubilc library reference work, because: 1) Too many kids. I still don't know why people under 25 are allowed out of their bedrooms. 2) The questions tend too much to the banal ("what is the capital of Peru, it would be amazing if you actually knew how to find such secret information") for me. I much more preferred academic reference desks (in universities) where you still get boring questions but you also more frequently get to actually be a part of the research process. So there are lots of reasons to become a librarian and lots of places your preferences can take you. The second worst reason, in my opinion, is "I like to read" because there aren't many librarians in the world who actually get to do much reading. The worst is "I like books." If you like books, become a bookseller or a preservationist. Being a librarian is not about books, it is about information. Just my opinion, recently irritated by yet another person saying, upon hearing that I was once a librarian, "oh, I'm considering going to library school because I really like books, and quiet, and reading." Of course, this same person was complaining that she didn't understand why being a librarian should require a masters degree when she learned how to use the library in second grade. (There is a valid debate about how necessary post-graduate degrees should be, but she was simply irritating me.)
	Submit to Quotes

11-01-2005, 08:35 AM	#19
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	"Do you have that book by... you know. It has pages in it. I think it has a cover. Hard, no soft. You know, the book. The book? I think it's made out of paper. It was written by somebody. You know, Dr. Something Something. No? The cover has a picture on it. It's a book, though. I'm sure of that."
	Submit to Quotes