A Long Time Ago in a Library Far, Far Away

At the Paradise Plaza branch, where a dude comes in to get a library card. I give him the required forms and ask for his ID, as per regulations. I notice his middle name, "Kenobi." I thought that was kind strange. And then his first name, "Obi-Wan."

Yes, his real name was Obi-Wan Kenobi Smith. I asked if that was his birth name or if he got his named changed. He informed me that it indeed was the name he was born with. He was born in July of 1980. I think it's pretty clear what movie his parents were watching that summer.

(Note: His name wasn't actually Obi-Wan Kenobi Smith, his name has been changed to protect his privacy. But I swear it was another easily idenifiable "Star Wars" name.)

The Most Adorable Question Ever

This just happened not even two minutes ago. A kid comes up to me at the New Belfast location, all wided eyed:

Kid: "Can I read a book here?"

Me: "Yes, you most certainly can."

Kid: "And I can take one off the shelf and read it?"

Me: "Yes."

Kid: "Any book? Not just in the kid's section?"

Me: "If you think you can read it, you are more than welcome to try any book you want."

Kid: "In the WHOLE library?"

Me: "Yup"

Kid: (Big look of amazment) "Wooooow!"

So yeah, my faith in the future of humanity has been restored a little bit.

The Great Bird Poop Adventure

This happened to me a while ago. But since I recently found out that people are actually reading this blog (and that I didn't get into trouble over the incident) I feel that now is as good of time as any to retell this tale.

So I'm sitting at the Youth Services desk at Longshore, happily typing away when I get a phone call from the front desk. They say that they have a call to transfer to me. I answer and it's the Middletown Branch, wondering where the heck I am.

I went to the wrong branch and nobody noticed until 2 hours after the fact.

So I semi-panic. I mean, I was the one who misread the schedule in the first place and went to the wrong branch on the wrong day. What was really amusing is that the people at Longshore didn't realize I wasn't supposed to be there. They were just happy to get another worker (since all libraries are understaffed) and didn't ask too many questions about how it happened.

Anyway, after swearing to the branch head in Middletown that I was about to speed over the considerable distance between Longshore and Middletown, I get off the phone and inform the staff at Longshore that I'm at the wrong branch and I have to get on over to Middletown before I get fired or something (not exactly a real fear, but this is my first major goof in six months on the job and they're all disappointed that their lunch shifts are in disarray since I was going to provide backup. I find the whole situation rather amusing. I mean, I'm laughing at myself for having tons of egg on my face.

As I rush out to the parking lot, preparing to jump into my car "Dukes of Hazzard" style. I feel something kinda splat against my head. That's right, a bird pooped in my hair. This just topped off the whole experience in craziness.

So I arrive at Middletown, after breaking several speed limits and semi-succeeding in removing most of the bird poop from my hair. I throw open the doors, gasping with apologies for the staff and patrons for my tardiness.

And surprise surprise, the place is beyond dead. We get a grand total of maybe 40 patrons for the rest of the day.

I wonder if Bird Poop counts as getting your hair highlighted?

The Reason We Keep Hand Sanitizer at the Desk

So I'm working at the Buffalo branch. It's been a quite and rather dull day, not too many people coming in.

A woman approaches the circulation desk with a pile of books, DVDs, and other check outable materials. I don't pay too much attention as she puts the stuff down and prepares to pull out her library card. I take my eyes off her for just a second as I switch my computer into "check out" mode. In this miniscule moment of time, she gets her library card and hands it to me. I notice it's a little moist, but don't think too much of it as I scan her card and hand it back to her.

Then she puts it back in her bra. As in, she keeps her library card by her bosom.

I am greatly grossed out.