We're taking a bit of a breather while the world rearranges its underpants. Meanwhile, the other blog is here.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Young, dumb and ugly

One of "those" customers in lending today...

A lady came in with her child in tow. He's about eight years old and has every chance of never reaching his tenth. He spent most of his time running round the library shouting at his mother. He ran up to the reference library, pausing only to lean over the bannister to shout:

"Give me my fucking biscuits!"


Bronwyn and Sammi exchange glances when the lady dutifully toddles over and gives the brat his biscuits.

Top comes when she comes to the counter to get her books stamped. The lad goes steaming off on one and has to be persuaded to come back and join his mother. As she hands her books over to Sammi the child starts shaking his bottle of fleurescent fizz around.

"Ooh, you want to be careful there, you'll be spilling your drink. I've had one accident today, I don't think I want another," says Sammi.

So the child deliberately squirts her one.

"There's your books, Mrs.... Do come back soon," smiles Sammi.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: we have some very professional front-line staff.

13 comments:

Gadjo Dilo said...

Nice to hear some positive news - about the staff, not about the manners of the nation's children obviously (can't you "bar" people from a library like you can from a pub?).

Pat said...

What happened to the dear dead days when we tiptoed and whispered and children were seen and not heard?

KAZ said...

I just hope the lovely Sammi doesn't go home and take it out on the cat.

Kevin Musgrove said...

Gadjo: theoretically we can bar people. Theoretically.

Before my time, Pat! (-:

Kaz: have no fear: the staff room is a useful ranting area.

nursemyra said...

Keep a water spray bottle under the counter and use it as they're leaving

Affer said...

I spent a very happy day in the National Library of Singapore. It is a beautiful building, the layout is so user-friendly, and the locals are very proud of it. So much so that they maintain standards by staff attitudes, and a series of posters that remind people of their obligations to others. We can mock and deride places like Singapore; it would be better to learn from their well-ordered and peaceful society.

Macy said...

Poor Sammi! Is it because she's young you think her good manners are "dumb"..?

Kevin Musgrove said...

nursemyra: I'm glad I don't work there, that's exactly what I'd have!

Affer: Singapore disturbs me slightly, in a 'Stepford Wives' sort of way. Having said that, I can't see why we have such a problem reminding people that they have responsibilities for their behaviour.

Macy: ! Sammi's more professional than I am.

Charlie said...

I would've had a tendency to strangle the little bastard and then exclaimed, by way of apology, "He slipped."

No, wouldn't work. Too much paperwork entailed with accidents.

The Topiary Cow said...

oh my god...

One vote for Singapore and let the Stepford wives have at it.

The lack of standards is appalling, as it the inability (from fear of lawsuits) for anyone to state or enforce any standards in public places.

First on Cow's firing line would be those who force us to listen to their inane cell-phone conversations held at loud-voice level.

Moo!

nursemyra said...

Hello Affer - you're not the only one to sing the praises of Singapore Library. I was there for ten days in August and I visited the library four times!

Nota Bene said...

Books are wasted on some people...

Kevin Musgrove said...

Charlie: we've both been there, let us learn the lesson.

Ms. Cow: oh yes...

nursemyra: that's just boasting (-:

Nota Bene: especially the librarians. Welcome aboard!