Library Vignette #4

So today Slipper Lady, who is at the library pretty well all day, every day, and changes into slippers when she comes in, complained to reference staff that there was a bottle of discoloured, dirty water on the table she wanted to sit at, and requested that we contact maintenance to remove it. Staff gently declined, informing her that people often left things on tables and came back for them later (often hours later), and maintenance staff do regular rounds and remove things like that after it becomes obvious no-one was there with it. She was quietly insistent, as she wanted to sit at that table. Staff said no, but suggested that she could sit there anyway as there were four chairs and the bottle was at one end. She declined stating that it could be contaminated with HIV or something. It was pointed out that other tables were empty, and she was welcome to sit at any of them. She insisted that she wanted to sit at that table.
Slipper Lady then left the reference department and went to the children's department at the other end of the building and asked them to call maintenance, and was once again told that they do regular rounds and don't remove things right away. Back she came to reference.
She then accosted one of the adult pages, who went to investigate. The page was told not to remove it.
Slipper lady then decided to remove it herself and put it on a bench nearby, with the sign "DO NOT TOUCH - MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH HIV." She then spoke with another lady just in front of the table she requested. As they were talking, a tutor and her student came from behind Slipper Lady, and set up on the table she was after. By the time she realized that they were there they were all set up. She didn't say anything to them, but then went to a different table and sat down. The bottle was later removed by staff when no-one had come back after a couple of hours.

Greg

One of the perennial problems we have in the library is the intoxicated or drunk person who wants to come in. Every time we see some of them they are drunk. When they come in they are very disruptive, have poor bladder control (i.e. they'll pee anywhere and anytime), loud, and abusive. The gentleman in the photo is Greg, who has arguments with invisible friends, screams obscenities at people and cars going by, and is pretty unpredictable. He once poked me hard in the nose several times before I was able to get him out of the library.
In the photo, Greg is lying on the sidewalk in front of the library. He was there for over two hours harassing people walking by, before moving to a bench. Police had been called, but they didn't show up. That is a problem for us as they often don't show up for Greg or some of the other "regulars" unless there is really aggressive behaviour.
I was impressed the day I told the police despatcher that there was a guy in the lobby with a crowbar who had told me he was waiting for someone, but said he wouldn't use it on the guy in the library, which I thought was pretty considerate of him. Several police cars were there in very short order.

Greg Sleeping on the Sidewalk

Connect 2014

So today I was at the Connect 2014 conference, lots of great displays. As I rounded one corner a gentleman stood before me and exclaimed "Wow - I've got to do you." I thought I was going to get lucky, but he explained that he was a caricaturist and would do my caricature.
He proceeded to spend a few minutes drawing me on a touch-screen laptop. Result is below. I personally think he captured me amazingly well. Note the earring, also.

Library Vignette # 3

At the start of my career at Niagara Falls Public Library (long before computer and internet days!), I was the music librarian. A patron asked me for a particular piece of music, which I had difficulty locating. After about 1 1/2 years, I finally found a record (yes, vinyl) with that piece of music. I rushed it through cataloguing and processing, and gave it to the staff member responsible for the holds system, with instructions to phone the patron to let her know it was here. A slightly puzzled look came on her face and she said "Hate to tell you this, but she died about 6 months ago."

Library Vignette # 2

*heavy european accent*

Patron: "I'd like to fuck a document"
Super Reference Librarian: "I beg your pardon?"
P: "I'd like to fuck a document"
SRL: "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean."
P: "I want to send a document to Kingston by the telephone"
SRL: "Oh, you want to fax it."

Disturbing

So today I had one of those very disturbing reference questions. A young lady in her 20s came in and asked for books on depression and anxiety. Not an unusual request, so I took her to the section, showed her a couple, and left her to browse. A few minutes later she came back, asking for books on control in relationships. Found her a couple, then also got her some codependency books and "healthy relationship" books. She thanked me profusely and went to check some of them out.
Something about her attitude and her demeanour made me think, though. So I quickly looked up the number for the local women's crisis group, which I know runs a shelter but also has group support, therapists, and the like. After she checked out her books, I quietly gave her the paper and said that if she was having problems they could help out. She asked if it was free (yes) and said she really, really needed to talk to someone and almost started crying.
While it is great to be able to help someone in this situation, it also feels crappy that they are in it, and unable to ask for what they really want. It brings back memories of too many times answering the first question of the day where someone needs the shelter, and have obviously been outside most of the night.
At least there is somewhere we can refer people. And yes, we will call for them and arrange for people to be picked up.