Library Lunacy
The man who runs the liquor store down the way from the library just brought me some keys that were left behind. He'd be a good detective. They had one of our little key-ring library cards attached so he figured I could look up the owner and contact them. He said he found the keys on the floor by the vodka.
So, I scan the barcode and pull up the owner's information and call the daytime phone number listed on their account. Imagine my surprise when I get an automated phone system...for a church! The name on the account was unisex and the answering system didn't give any names at all so I am listening to all the options trying to decide if the person getting liquored up in the middle of the afternoon is the Deacon, the youth minister, the choir director...finally I just hit the option for operator and got a voice mail. And it happened to be the person I was looking for!
I simply said "This is L from the Lake Library. The gentleman who owns the beverage store found your keys and, because there was a library card on them, asked me to look you up and contact you. If you'd like to pick them up at the library, our hours are X or if you need to call me, our number is X."
A church lady. I hope she isn't searching madly for her keys. And, I hope she doesn't need them any time soon because we are closed until Tuesday at noon, woops!
I used to be so amused when I worked at Barnes and Noble and some soft-spoken little lady would come in and buy "150 Great Sunday School Songs and Rhymes," "Teaching Preschoolers About Christianity," "The Teacher's Heart: Inspirational Page a Day Calendar," and then, hidden at the bottom of the pile was something like "How to Get Both Legs Behind Your Ears and Other Hot Tricks to Tempt Your Lover." (I am inventing all these titles, but you get my point!)
It was hard not to grin at moments like those, and great practice for being a librarian.
So, I scan the barcode and pull up the owner's information and call the daytime phone number listed on their account. Imagine my surprise when I get an automated phone system...for a church! The name on the account was unisex and the answering system didn't give any names at all so I am listening to all the options trying to decide if the person getting liquored up in the middle of the afternoon is the Deacon, the youth minister, the choir director...finally I just hit the option for operator and got a voice mail. And it happened to be the person I was looking for!
I simply said "This is L from the Lake Library. The gentleman who owns the beverage store found your keys and, because there was a library card on them, asked me to look you up and contact you. If you'd like to pick them up at the library, our hours are X or if you need to call me, our number is X."
A church lady. I hope she isn't searching madly for her keys. And, I hope she doesn't need them any time soon because we are closed until Tuesday at noon, woops!
I used to be so amused when I worked at Barnes and Noble and some soft-spoken little lady would come in and buy "150 Great Sunday School Songs and Rhymes," "Teaching Preschoolers About Christianity," "The Teacher's Heart: Inspirational Page a Day Calendar," and then, hidden at the bottom of the pile was something like "How to Get Both Legs Behind Your Ears and Other Hot Tricks to Tempt Your Lover." (I am inventing all these titles, but you get my point!)
It was hard not to grin at moments like those, and great practice for being a librarian.