Tell me if this makes sense to you...
I had quite a few books checked out of the public library. I knew I was heading out there today, so I sat down on Thursday to renew online the books that were due that day.
I get a notice saying that one of my books has been requested by another patron and I cannot renew it.
Now, I didn't have a problem with that, I understand new books etc get requested. I just wouldn't be able to get to the library until today.
Today when I went to double check which book it was (Bruce Wayne: Fugitive vol.1) I noted there were FIVE other copies CHECKED in to the system. Why the heck did *I* have to return mine when there were 5 other perfectly good copies? Plus, I get no notice that someone else wants the book until I decide to renew it, and if I wait until the last day, which I'm sure a lot of people do to get the maximum renewal time, I'm screwed with a late fee. There's no grace period.
So I decide I'm going to complain. But I was planning on being nice, since, you know, I work in a library and I understand the issues involved.
I get a very sweet girl and I explain the situation to her, saying that I wasn't upset about the 30 cents, but I didn't think it was fair that I was penalized when they had FIVE OTHER COPIES of the book in their system.
Enter bitchy circ lady who says "Well, if the person wants it from this branch, it'll recall it instead of getting it from another branch."
me: But there's no grace period. At *major NJ university* they give you a week to return something that's recalled.
her: That's not our policy.
me: *mentally* Well, fuck your policy *out loud* I just don't think that's fair.
her: Feel free to put a suggestion in our suggestion box.
I didn't want to make a scene, so I paid the damn fine and left with the book I had requested. But I was so close to saying "Your system is STUPID."
I mean, instead of pulling one of these other FIVE COPIES for this person, this poor person needs to wait until *I* bring my copy back. What if I was on vacation? What if I decided screw them, I'm keeping the book another week anyway? Where's the logic in THAT?
*grumbles*
Anyway, the sweet girl was nice and apologized anyway, and if I had dealt strictly with her, I don't think I'd be as upset. I'm pissed because of bitchy lady's attitude.
I get a notice saying that one of my books has been requested by another patron and I cannot renew it.
Now, I didn't have a problem with that, I understand new books etc get requested. I just wouldn't be able to get to the library until today.
Today when I went to double check which book it was (Bruce Wayne: Fugitive vol.1) I noted there were FIVE other copies CHECKED in to the system. Why the heck did *I* have to return mine when there were 5 other perfectly good copies? Plus, I get no notice that someone else wants the book until I decide to renew it, and if I wait until the last day, which I'm sure a lot of people do to get the maximum renewal time, I'm screwed with a late fee. There's no grace period.
So I decide I'm going to complain. But I was planning on being nice, since, you know, I work in a library and I understand the issues involved.
I get a very sweet girl and I explain the situation to her, saying that I wasn't upset about the 30 cents, but I didn't think it was fair that I was penalized when they had FIVE OTHER COPIES of the book in their system.
Enter bitchy circ lady who says "Well, if the person wants it from this branch, it'll recall it instead of getting it from another branch."
me: But there's no grace period. At *major NJ university* they give you a week to return something that's recalled.
her: That's not our policy.
me: *mentally* Well, fuck your policy *out loud* I just don't think that's fair.
her: Feel free to put a suggestion in our suggestion box.
I didn't want to make a scene, so I paid the damn fine and left with the book I had requested. But I was so close to saying "Your system is STUPID."
I mean, instead of pulling one of these other FIVE COPIES for this person, this poor person needs to wait until *I* bring my copy back. What if I was on vacation? What if I decided screw them, I'm keeping the book another week anyway? Where's the logic in THAT?
*grumbles*
Anyway, the sweet girl was nice and apologized anyway, and if I had dealt strictly with her, I don't think I'd be as upset. I'm pissed because of bitchy lady's attitude.