Image from megcabot.com/diary
Today marks my final installment of "Top 20 Things Librarians Wish Patrons Knew." I took an informal poll and asked librarians from around the country what they wish patrons knew or did before they came into the library. What most patrons and non-patrons know is that dealing with patrons (mostly the good ones) are the best part of a librarian's day. We all have our favorites, (just don't ask us to name names, it wouldn't be fair. But if you frequent your local library and the librarian at the reference desk or children's department is especially nice and helpful, it could be you). These are the patrons who make our job a little more enjoyable, who make us look forward to coming to work everyday to help people. I won't lie, there are patrons who make our job difficult and often challenging. If you're afraid you fall into the latter category, go back and read parts 1, 2, 3, and take a look at part 4 below. You may soon find yourself a favorite of your local librarian.
5. Return your items on time. Keeping library materials past their loan period ties them up, especially items that are popular and have a long waiting list. Return your copy of Twilight on time and your fellow patrons will be grateful.
4. Pay your fines. This is a no-brainier and goes hand in hand with #5. It's understandable that your items are late because you forgot them in the car or your kid shoved it under the bed and it took you a week to find it. Almost everyone (even librarians) have had late items at one time or another. For the most part patrons are good about paying their fines, but there are usually a few who make it a bigger deal than it actually is. Do you call American Express after you miss a payment and are charged a late fee and beg them to reverse it even though it was your mistake? Probably not. Suck it up and pay the $1 fine. If you leave it too long (or owe hundreds of dollars in lost items) you risk the library turning you over to a collection agency. Avoid a black mark on your credit score and pay your fines.
3. Be respectful of other library patrons. This includes giving the person ahead of you at the reference desk enough space, not yelling at your kids across the room, talking on your cell phone at the computer, and swearing. The library doesn't have to be a quiet place, but it doesn't need to sound like Husky Stadium.
2. We support Intellectual Freedom. Librarians and circulation clerks are not the content police. We will not prevent a six year-old child from checking out Nightmare on Elm Street or The Book of Bunny Suicides. We believe that it is the parent's or guardian's responsibility to monitor what their children take out of the library. If you do feel an item is inappropriate or should be withdrawn from the collection, ask your librarian for the proper paperwork to fill out. We can't guarantee it will be removed, but it will be considered by a committee and often reshelved in a different section of the library.
1. Use us! We might be in a recession, but don't let the current economic crisis keep you and your family from having fun. Do your holiday shopping at a library book sale (there's one tomorrow in Magnuson Park in Seattle), attend library programs, lectures, and author talks, check out new DVD's, CD's, video games, and best sellers, and use the free wi-fi. The library will continue to offer these things as long as you use them.
Comments
Re: #4, Pay Your Fines...
To the patrons out there who are fearful of paying their fines for whatever reason, the fines are SO not a big deal. Seattle libraries charge only 15 cents a day for an overdue item, with the maximum being $6.00 per item. King County libraries charge only 10 cents a day, and you can have up to $10 in fines before they will insist you pay them. Where else do you get that kind of leniency? Just another reason why libraries ROCK! USE THEM!
I forgot to mention that if you do lose a book (hey, it happens. I've lost a few in my time), ask the circulation staff if you can replace your lost item with a different new item, or if you could purchase the item elsewhere and bring it in. You might be able to replace a $30 DVD with a new copy you found on Amazon.
Love that image. What is it from?
I found it on Google images. It popped up on a number of blogs.
Looks like whoever picked the images to accompany this article didn't read point 20...
Looks like whoever picked the images to accompany this article didn't read point 20...
Fantastic! What a great service you have done for us!
suggestion from a librarian: many libraries have subscriptions to online versions of magazines and articles through research databases. This is stuff you can't get by searching google, but you might be able to login from home at your library's own website.
Thanks to everyone who suggested additional items. And to SC- just because librarians don't want to hear the "sexy librarian" (or Dewey decimal jokes) doesn't mean we are dowdy and unattractive.
Point 5: If everyone returned library materials on time then there would be no fines to collect, a handy revenue stream IF the fines go to the library itself and not the greater municipality.
Thank you
True that, Steve. It's a very clever strategy on the library's part to make their fines only 10 or 15 cents a day. If it was a dollar a day, like movie rental fines used to be, we would be MUCH more diligent about taking them back on time. But because the fines seem so miniscule, we don't sweat it if they're a few days overdue. An overdue book here, an overdue cd there, and before you know it...you owe 15 dollars! It's a psychological ploy, I tell you, and a clever one at that...;D
As a librarian, a lot of good points were made in this article. But some of these points are very "whiney" and I'm embarrassed to be associated with them. We're in the business of providing service, and there are some things we must simply deal with.
As a children's librarian, I'd like to add to #8--practice good hygiene. If your children are too sick to be at school, then they are too sick to be in the library. Please think of others (including the library staff) and keep germs at home. Thank you!
I partly agree with Carlo: This is a pretty whiney list and one that skips the most important points that the public should know about libraries. For instance: Did you know that libraries offer amazingly high "return on investment" of tax dollars? (So they're among the very best services to fund in your community.) Did you know that you need a masters degree to be a professional librarian? (Yes, there really IS that much to know in this job.) Did you know that many librarians are computer networking experts? Did you know that just a fraction of today's info is available for free on the web, and that libs have the "good stuff" that's not free on Google? Did you know that you don't even have to leave home to use your library's resources; you can tap into them from home in your PJs?
Does the public realize that librarians have local, state, national, and int'l associations and conferences that they use (like other business people) to share best practices, to continue their education, and to discuss how to run their complex library systems?
There are so many old notions that need to be laid to rest and so many important things that people don't understand about modern libraries. I'm extremely disappointed to see a list of 20 things wasted on basic manners. I guess the librarians who contributed their ideas were more concerned about catching cold than about promoting the value of their profession. What a shame to waste a great chance to reach out to the public to say why libraries are still so important.
I agree with Kathy Dempsey and would also point out that not all librarians are "avid" readers. We're readers to be sure, but not always voracious about it. We like TV, radio, music and movies, just like everyone else. But we do have (or should have) an idea about what is hot in the book world and pop culture generally, bestsellers, new authors, etc. Also, while this article was generally good, it does seem very public library focused. There are many of us who work in academic, school and special libraries as well. We do encounter some of the same issues though and a few unique ones.
Trying to use your library card from another state!
It would be great to see this series compiled into one page so we could share it with patrons and students. :)
Jenne- You're welcome to cut and paste and create your own handout.
Betsy, Kathy, and Carlo,
Thank you for your input. Betsy and Kathy, you pointed out a lot on good ideas I missed. These articles were focused on public librarians and these are what they wished public library patrons knew or did. In the the future I'd like to compile separate lists for academic, school. and special librarians based on their suggestions on what they wish their patrons knew or did. I always welcome suggestions for future columns.
I would like to add that we would appreciate not having to guess your request when asked through an open, gum-chewing mouth!
I want everyone to know that it's okay to ask the librarian! I blogged about this earlier this month at www.bookgoddess.wordpress.com.
Book Goddess- Thank you for the reminder! And remember there's no such thing as a dumb question.
I agree it would be good to see more "this is what we do for you" points. I'd also add to #2 that if a parent requests his/her child not be allowed to take R-rated moves out, for example, the library can put a note in that child's record and the request will be honored.
Thanks so much for putting this out there! I'm considering sending this on to the staff at my school so they can better understand the help that I provide.
Nina- Some libraries have policies regarding #2. Parents should check with the library when signing their child up for a card to see if they can put a note or block on the card to prevent a child from taking home an R rated movie; however, most libraries I've worked for will not do that. But it is worth a shot.
I agree with Carlo. This list is truly picayune and sanctimonious. It serves to reinforce the stereotypes that we are trying to eradicate.
This is the most appalling, embarrassing list I've ever seen. As a librarian, I am mortified that someone would actually take the time to make this list and publish it. Of course, we wish patrons would do things to make our jobs easier; but we are in a SERVICE profession. This makes librarians look not only whiney, but snobbish and condescending.
How about a list of how patrons could better use their library? A list of things we offer that maybe they are unaware of?
I'm absolutely disgusted. I hope no actual patrons actually read this.
Another one (at the risk of being whiney)
I am not your friend. I've worked here almost 20 years and now all patrons look exactly alike. A simple 'hi' in the grocery store is fine but don't stop me and strike up a conversation. I don't really remember who your are.
And no, you cannot join me and my friends at a club or restaraunt.
I am not your friend.
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