The fine line
Being a head librarian this summer has taught me a lot about being in charge and laying down strict policies, and teaching people how to do everything that I do. I have 30 work-study students here at Brevard, and 2 full time assistants. The camp has over 400 students and probably 50 faculty, and just about all of them come to the library to get their music.
The library has become my hangout spot, when I'm done with work. The library is far more comfortable than my little tiny ant-infested cabin. So naturally, when people walk up to the library and see lights on, they think "Oh, the library is open!" But they are nearly always disappointed because the door is locked at precisely 5:00 PM, and doesn't open until precisely 9:00 AM the next morning. Even with the hours clearly posted on the door, people still try. So I've learned to be a stickler. If they see me inside, I will at least answer the door. Usually I turn them away and tell them to come back when we're open, but many times I've relented and gotten them the music they needed so desperately for rehearsal the next morning. But when you start doing that for one person, others find out and try the same thing. Today I was so fed up with it, because it's Sunday, and we are ALWAYS closed on Sunday, which means everyone should know that they need to pick their music up by Saturday if they want it before their Monday morning rehearsal. We're 5 weeks into camp, and many people still can't seem to grasp this. So when two girls came knocking on the door today asking for tomorrow's music, I turned them away. And then I felt terrible.
I'm never sure of the right thing to do in situations like these. When people are nice to you (and they were polite), it's best to be helpful and kind. But when the hours are clearly marked on the door, and they still come knocking, are they then trying to take advantage of my friendliness? Should I be strict, or nice? Sometimes I think I've been too hard on the students at camp this summer, and I sense that they dislike or even fear me. With the faculty, it's another story. With them, I try to be helpful even when we're closed, because I know they teach lessons all day and have rehearsals and whatnot. They need to be as prepared as they can be, and I'm there to help them whenever I can. But with the students, I feel the need to teach them responsibility, and letting them come in to get their music after hours doesn't exactly teach them that they need to be more responsible. They need to learn to pick up their music A WEEK EARLIER, instead of the night before or the day of the first rehearsal. With 400+ students at camp, they can't expect me to be available at everyone's convenience.
I guess it just goes with the job...being a bitch sometimes.
The library has become my hangout spot, when I'm done with work. The library is far more comfortable than my little tiny ant-infested cabin. So naturally, when people walk up to the library and see lights on, they think "Oh, the library is open!" But they are nearly always disappointed because the door is locked at precisely 5:00 PM, and doesn't open until precisely 9:00 AM the next morning. Even with the hours clearly posted on the door, people still try. So I've learned to be a stickler. If they see me inside, I will at least answer the door. Usually I turn them away and tell them to come back when we're open, but many times I've relented and gotten them the music they needed so desperately for rehearsal the next morning. But when you start doing that for one person, others find out and try the same thing. Today I was so fed up with it, because it's Sunday, and we are ALWAYS closed on Sunday, which means everyone should know that they need to pick their music up by Saturday if they want it before their Monday morning rehearsal. We're 5 weeks into camp, and many people still can't seem to grasp this. So when two girls came knocking on the door today asking for tomorrow's music, I turned them away. And then I felt terrible.
I'm never sure of the right thing to do in situations like these. When people are nice to you (and they were polite), it's best to be helpful and kind. But when the hours are clearly marked on the door, and they still come knocking, are they then trying to take advantage of my friendliness? Should I be strict, or nice? Sometimes I think I've been too hard on the students at camp this summer, and I sense that they dislike or even fear me. With the faculty, it's another story. With them, I try to be helpful even when we're closed, because I know they teach lessons all day and have rehearsals and whatnot. They need to be as prepared as they can be, and I'm there to help them whenever I can. But with the students, I feel the need to teach them responsibility, and letting them come in to get their music after hours doesn't exactly teach them that they need to be more responsible. They need to learn to pick up their music A WEEK EARLIER, instead of the night before or the day of the first rehearsal. With 400+ students at camp, they can't expect me to be available at everyone's convenience.
I guess it just goes with the job...being a bitch sometimes.