Violence at the Circ Desk

Interesting things happen when you walk away from the circulation desk. You could come back to a line when you have not seen people all day. You could find a pile of materials, left for any reason but only a few logical. There can also be someone new when you get back.

     "ST, have you met Patty?" Brenda said.

     As the reference librarian, I care very little about the circulation staff. As people, I afford them most common courtesy and hope they are competent enough not to call the reference desk every time someone does not know their password or needs to print.

     I put on a smile. "Hi," I said to the new woman behind the desk. She was tall and her name tag was new, as were her high heeled shoes. She gave a good fistbump, our knuckles clacking together. Nice smile, warm with her own, "Hi."

     "Well, I'll get out of your way-" I said while Brenda said, "ST, can you go over the circ desk with Patty?"

     "I need to… sure." I had been off the reference desk for an hour. Leaving Edgar alone that long could lead to complications.

     "I've got to go see about the violence in the bathroom," Brenda said and was gone.

      Patty asked, "Is there always violence in the bathroom?" 

     "She means a mess. Something gross."

     "Violence is gross."

     "I just meant that as a euphemism."

     "People being hurt is not an okay thing to joke about."

     "I don't think it's a joke. I just-"

     "Then why are you smiling?"

     "Because…" I was uncomfortable, but no idea why. "It's just her way of saying there's shit on the walls."

     "You said violence was a joke. If the bathroom is a mess, then just say that." Patty stood her ground. She held eye contact and demanded an explanation. Interesting, from a customer service perspective.

     "How about I show you how to check in books?" I said and turned to the station.

     Patty beat me to it. She wiggled the mouse and the computer opened up. She began clicking. Windows I had never seen popped open. None of them were correct. I let her continue.

     She stopped. "I can't find it."

     "Mind if I jump on?" I said.

     "It's better if I do it myself," she said.

     "Okay." Made sense. It's how I taught patrons about their Kindles. "Close those windows."

     She did. Then she closed the library software, Mousa.

     So we got to learn how to open the circ desk in the morning. Log into all the products. Which post-it note on the circ desk had the correct password. Then I had her click the button for "check in" and we got to work on the books someone laid on the desk while we were not paying attention.