Alone and Unobserved

I am endlessly sympathetic of patrons who transgress library policies, especially since many of the library rules are arbitrary—which computers one can use Myspace on, for instance, or the specific zones in the library where food is or is not allowed. What makes me more sympathetic is the paucity of signage in my library. There are reasons the library has chosen to steer away from signs, but it does mean that the first time a patron hears about a specific rule is usually after he or she has broken it.

Where I have trouble sympathizing is if patrons break the rules habitually, or give me attitude when I politely explain the rule and ask them to follow it in the future. A favorite reason: they pay for my salary and the library facilities with their property taxes. Well, fine. I pay property taxes, too, and that doesn’t mean I get to put my feet up on the tables and set open drinks down by the computers. So, TOUGH.

*ahem*

I’m not really bitter. Most of our patrons are respectful of the library’s rules, even if they don’t agree with them, and are happy that we have such a great resource in our community. So, yay us!

In other library news, we are apparently very close to announcing the new system director, who will be one of three amazing candidates that I got to mingle and schmooze with last week. (I promise I didn’t just go for the food.) It will be nice to have closure in that department; the director position has been open since June 2008.

[As Edgy pointed out, despite the prayers of the winter-fatigued among us, June 2008 hasn't happened yet. The previous director retired in 2007, not 2008. I think in June? Or am I making that up, too?]