Dear diary,
Today was the staff Christmas break-up, so we all went out for a yum cha lunch in the city. I aimed to get there ten minutes early so I would have enough time to find free parking, but ended up driving around the block in concentric circles for twenty minutes until I found a tiny spot between two dumpsters in a disused alleyway. Score!
I got there to find most people there, including Shannon, who'd come with Talia. They'd found a disabled parking spot conveniently out the front of the restaurant, which really annoyed me. One by one the other staff arrived, all complaining about the cost of parking, and once we were all seated Boudecia made a short speech about how much effort we'd all put in this year. She especially thanked Shannon for her dedication to the library in its extreme, and then to me for all Id done in the past two months. I was so embarrassed I turned as red as the sweet chili sauce in the cruet on the table. Goldie had tears streaming down her face, she was so emotional.
I was grateful when the food arrived and distracted everyone. As we all picked our favourite from the food trolley I gave an understanding and sympathetic smile to the girl who was serving us. I know all too well what it's like having to cart a trolley around all day. I chose the phoenix claws (read: fried chicken's feet) and offered them around, but strangely no-one was game to try one, so I had the lot to myself.
It was a really great meal, and with good company. Boudecia and Shannon went outside to talk while TJ and I discussed Marvel comic for ages, with Bron and Talia joining the conversation occasionally with litle things they knew about it. When Sylvia interrupted and saying the cartoons were much better we told her about all the storylines they hadn't adapted from the original comics. Goldie and Ernesto just shook their heads, muttering to each other about the illiteracy of youth these days. But hey, young people reading something, anything, is definitely an improvement over reading nothing.
I decided that now was the right time to tell. I called for silence, and you'd be amazed how quickly you get the desired effect when you're with people who work in a library. I announced that I'd been offered a job interstate, and that I'd been thinking about and come to a decision. I'd chosen to decline the offer, and stay in Melbourne. I didn't expect the applause that followed, or the bunch of flowers Bron presented to me, and definitely not the bearhug I got from Talia. I felt so loved right then.
But there was something else I had to do. I excused myself and walked outside t where Boudecia and Shannon were talking. Apologising to Boudecia for interrupting, I confronted Shannon and asked her why she'd done it. Shannon took a long drag from her cigarette before replying. She said she'd wanted to get back at the library because her injury there had cost her so much. She said she'd come into the library and asked Goldie if she could check a book out to herself, like old times. All she needed to do then was get access to the system, plug in her USB stick, download the virus into the system, and leave before the whole thing crashed.
I'd worked out the culprit by process of illimination: who had the motive and wouldn't be affected by sabotaging the in-house system? But Boudecia had guessed almost immediately, but had had to do in-depth investigations in order to find proof. She hadn't told the other staff because she didn't want to damage Shannon's reputation. We stood there in silence for a while, letting it all sink in. Boudecia broke the silence by asking Shannon, completely out of the blue, whether she'd like to come back to work at the library. As a volunteer, of course. Shannon put out her cigarette with her wheels and reluctantly agreed. The three of us turned and went back inside to join the others as if nothing had happened.
So that's that. I'm going on holidays to South Australia, to see whether I'd really like to live over there, so I'm going to end this journal on that note. It's been a interesting two months working in the library. While I'm on holidays Boudecia has asked me to do some online 'homework' for her, something called the Learning 2.0 Program. I'll get started on that as soon as I can.
So goodbye all, for now, and thanks for reading!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
#23 Nostalgia
Dear diary,
I can't believe I was so stupid! It was closing time at the library last night, and I was hurrying to finish my trolley. I looked at my watch: 8:58. Only ten folio books to shelve. Easy. I struggled to wedge them into their correct positions, butt he shelves were packed too tightly. My muscles were strained, and beads of sweat were pouring down my forehead. Finally the last one slid into place, though the tier was threatening to burst if anyone tried to take a book from it.
TICK
I ran back to the front desk... but there was no-one there. The front door had already been closed. I called out but heard nothing. I checked my watch: 9:13!? Had it really taken me fifteen minutes to shelve ten folios? I called out again, panic rising in my voice. I scoured the library but couldn't see anyone The staffroom door was locked and I didn't have a keycard, so I knocked once, twice, three times, my fists pounding the door. Nothing.
TOCK
I reviewed my options, one of them looking too good. One of the issues raised the other week was that the library was changing over the cleaning staff, and that there would be a few days in the change-over period where no-one was coming in and we'd have to clean up after ourselves. So, no cleaners in shining armour to come to my aid. My mobile battery was dead and I have no idea how to switch off the answering machine on the front desk phones. The library was recently upgraded with state-of-the-art security measures; the rolling blinds had come down over the 5-inch reinforced windows. The one thing that hadn't been upgraded was the motion-sensor detector system which, as I came to realise that night, is broken.
TICK
I was trapped. In the library. Overnight.
TOCK
I wandered the shelves, feeling pretty desolate. Surely I wouldn't have to spend the night in here. How did this happen? Surely one of the staff on tonight would have noticed they hadn't seen me leave, or... no, they're always busy serving people or doing last-minute closing procedures to even acknowledge me when I say goodnight. I'm noticing a theme emerging here.
TICK
After all, I'm just a lowly shelver. to them. I come in, say hi, then go off into the shelves. I only see any of them every thirty minutes or so to restock my trolley. And when they come to find me it's usually just to tell me which section I need to do next. The patrons aren't much better. They expect me to know exactly where to find books on carpeting or why the latest edition of Woman's Day is missing. And they leave piles of books around the carrels like detritus. It's a thankless job, shelving.
TOCK
I was in Junior at that time, and i remember suddeny thinking back to the time I helped make the giant castle, and how fun that had been. It brought back other memories of good times in the library: my initiaion party and meeting all the other staff, the nice woman who brought cupcakes, racing through the shelves with Talia, my first day of shelving with Talia, that one time Talia- oh wait, that was in a dream. There've also been some exciting or intense times: being chased by a madwoman, being involved in a chase after a madman, being knocked unconscious more than once, saving that guy from the wreckage of Reference...
TICK
So then I really got to thinking about my work, and came to realise something: for all its faults, I really enjoy it. Sure, my work might go underappreciated sometimes. Sure, I might be bossed around and forced to pick up other people's mess. But you know what? I like working in a library, not because it's easy work, not because the pay is great, but because I enjoy being part of a team dedicated to upholding the library tradition of... of...
TOCK
It was at that point that mental fatigue (and a lack of dinner) really hit me, and I couldn't continue that train of thought. So I pulled up a comfy armchair, picked up a good book and read myself to sleep. In the morning I hid on top of a Reference shelf and waited while the staff did their morning shelf-reading. Once they'd gone I slpped down, dusted myself off and walked out the front door, pretending I'd just come in to hand in my timesheet. Smooth.
I can't believe I was so stupid! It was closing time at the library last night, and I was hurrying to finish my trolley. I looked at my watch: 8:58. Only ten folio books to shelve. Easy. I struggled to wedge them into their correct positions, butt he shelves were packed too tightly. My muscles were strained, and beads of sweat were pouring down my forehead. Finally the last one slid into place, though the tier was threatening to burst if anyone tried to take a book from it.
TICK
I ran back to the front desk... but there was no-one there. The front door had already been closed. I called out but heard nothing. I checked my watch: 9:13!? Had it really taken me fifteen minutes to shelve ten folios? I called out again, panic rising in my voice. I scoured the library but couldn't see anyone The staffroom door was locked and I didn't have a keycard, so I knocked once, twice, three times, my fists pounding the door. Nothing.
TOCK
I reviewed my options, one of them looking too good. One of the issues raised the other week was that the library was changing over the cleaning staff, and that there would be a few days in the change-over period where no-one was coming in and we'd have to clean up after ourselves. So, no cleaners in shining armour to come to my aid. My mobile battery was dead and I have no idea how to switch off the answering machine on the front desk phones. The library was recently upgraded with state-of-the-art security measures; the rolling blinds had come down over the 5-inch reinforced windows. The one thing that hadn't been upgraded was the motion-sensor detector system which, as I came to realise that night, is broken.
TICK
I was trapped. In the library. Overnight.
TOCK
I wandered the shelves, feeling pretty desolate. Surely I wouldn't have to spend the night in here. How did this happen? Surely one of the staff on tonight would have noticed they hadn't seen me leave, or... no, they're always busy serving people or doing last-minute closing procedures to even acknowledge me when I say goodnight. I'm noticing a theme emerging here.
TICK
After all, I'm just a lowly shelver. to them. I come in, say hi, then go off into the shelves. I only see any of them every thirty minutes or so to restock my trolley. And when they come to find me it's usually just to tell me which section I need to do next. The patrons aren't much better. They expect me to know exactly where to find books on carpeting or why the latest edition of Woman's Day is missing. And they leave piles of books around the carrels like detritus. It's a thankless job, shelving.
TOCK
I was in Junior at that time, and i remember suddeny thinking back to the time I helped make the giant castle, and how fun that had been. It brought back other memories of good times in the library: my initiaion party and meeting all the other staff, the nice woman who brought cupcakes, racing through the shelves with Talia, my first day of shelving with Talia, that one time Talia- oh wait, that was in a dream. There've also been some exciting or intense times: being chased by a madwoman, being involved in a chase after a madman, being knocked unconscious more than once, saving that guy from the wreckage of Reference...
TICK
So then I really got to thinking about my work, and came to realise something: for all its faults, I really enjoy it. Sure, my work might go underappreciated sometimes. Sure, I might be bossed around and forced to pick up other people's mess. But you know what? I like working in a library, not because it's easy work, not because the pay is great, but because I enjoy being part of a team dedicated to upholding the library tradition of... of...
TOCK
It was at that point that mental fatigue (and a lack of dinner) really hit me, and I couldn't continue that train of thought. So I pulled up a comfy armchair, picked up a good book and read myself to sleep. In the morning I hid on top of a Reference shelf and waited while the staff did their morning shelf-reading. Once they'd gone I slpped down, dusted myself off and walked out the front door, pretending I'd just come in to hand in my timesheet. Smooth.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
#22 Teamwork
Dear diary,
Make sure you watch the news tomorrow night - you might catch a segment about how the library staff caught a criminal red-handed. It was a huge concerted effort by all of us, and very heroic, if I may say so. Here's the scoop:
We had a staff meeting today, well, more of a debriefing. As Boudecia was still strangely absent, Goldie took the mantle of leadership for the meeting. We discussed the problems incurred due to the system crashing, and the more pressing issue of the vanished Head Librarian. We also brought up the recent spate of book theft and vandalism which had been terrorising other local libraries. I had planned on mentioning my job offer in Adelaide, but decided to let it sit for the moment. No need to complicate matters.
I put it down to our increased vigilance for book safety that we first noticed the man in the trenchcoat. His shifty look and darting movements came to the attention of all of us as we were leaving the meeting room. Goldie asked me to keep an eye on him, you know, just in case. I found an excuse to shelve in his general vicinity and dogged his movements out of the corner of my eye. In the magazine section I watched him take some editions of Ralph (why do we even have that?) and slide them under his trenchcoat. Very dodgy.
I tailed him into Non-Fiction, making sure to keep out of his sight by commando rolling and ducking behind squat reading tables. He picked up a Lonely Planet guide to France, flicked through it, took out a pen and scribbled on the page. He then selected another book, a folio on Inuit culture. He tore out the middle page and stuffed it and the guidebook into his trenchcoat. My mouth hung open in shock as he proceeded to swipe unwary books from the shelves and hide them on his person.
He began to walk to the front of the library, so I took a shortcut along Reference to beat him there. I hastily warned Bron and TJ about him, just in time to see him walk past the borrowing counter towards the exit. Bron asked him if he had anything he wanted to borrow, but he ignored her and kept going. Bron reached into the drawer and threw a ring of keys to TJ, who had swiftly dashed over to the door controls. In one movement he grabbed the keys and spun to lock the door.
The man, realising we had him trapped, turned and bumped into Talia. "Sorry," she said sarcastically as a handful of books spilled out from under his coat. He pushed her back hard into Goldie, who luckily managed to catch her without losing her own footing.
"How DARE you do that to her!" Goldie's voice echoed throughout the library, causing everyone to stop and stare. A burly man using PC4 stood up, the glare he fixated on the trenchcoated man full of anger. The thief fled to the back of the library, with me in hot-footed pursuit. I saw him accost Pepper, who shrieked and grabbed onto his trenchcoat. As he ripped her security swipecard from its chain around her neck she pulled off his coat, liberating the library's stolen goods. While I stopped to see if Pepper was alright he used the card to lock himself inside the staffroom.
Five seconds later he came out running, Ernesto lumbering after him. The man flicked out a Swiss Army Knife and waved it at us menacingly. But he didn't count on Sylvia coming up from behind and flykicking it out of his hand. We blocked off all his available exits. He backed into the local history room and grabbed hold of a nearby reader, a young boy.
"Get back, bookworms, and I'll let the kid go safely once I'm out the door."
"No." Boudecia stepped out from the shadows. She extended her hand towards the young boy. The man hesitated, and so did the rest of us. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would explode. Boudecia did not blink as she stared down the thief for what seemed like an eternity. Seconds dragged into hours as time held us in its icy grip. Only Boudecia seemed unaffected. She stepped forward and took the boy's hand in hers. As soon as they were apart from the man time returned to normal speed. The man was in a trance-like state. Boudecia let go of the boy's hand and he ran to the arms of his greatly relieved mother. The police stormed past me to arrest the unmoving criminal. My heartbeat started to slow to normal pace. It was over.
In the second meeting, more ad hoc than the last, Boudecia explained why she had been gone for so long. She'd been investigating the inexplicable system crash, speaking to certain 'contacts' of hers. She had concluded that it had been caused by a bug in the system, and that it had all been sorted out and we weren't to worry. I didn't believe her for one second. For a while I'd thought it had been her, but there was no motive, and if she had done it, why vanish for several days? No, it was definitely someone else who had intimate access to the system, and I've got a good idea whom.
Ah well, it's been a good day regardless. One criminal caught, many books saved. Now I've just got to massage my back; those commando rolls put something out of place. Ow ow ow
Make sure you watch the news tomorrow night - you might catch a segment about how the library staff caught a criminal red-handed. It was a huge concerted effort by all of us, and very heroic, if I may say so. Here's the scoop:
We had a staff meeting today, well, more of a debriefing. As Boudecia was still strangely absent, Goldie took the mantle of leadership for the meeting. We discussed the problems incurred due to the system crashing, and the more pressing issue of the vanished Head Librarian. We also brought up the recent spate of book theft and vandalism which had been terrorising other local libraries. I had planned on mentioning my job offer in Adelaide, but decided to let it sit for the moment. No need to complicate matters.
I put it down to our increased vigilance for book safety that we first noticed the man in the trenchcoat. His shifty look and darting movements came to the attention of all of us as we were leaving the meeting room. Goldie asked me to keep an eye on him, you know, just in case. I found an excuse to shelve in his general vicinity and dogged his movements out of the corner of my eye. In the magazine section I watched him take some editions of Ralph (why do we even have that?) and slide them under his trenchcoat. Very dodgy.
I tailed him into Non-Fiction, making sure to keep out of his sight by commando rolling and ducking behind squat reading tables. He picked up a Lonely Planet guide to France, flicked through it, took out a pen and scribbled on the page. He then selected another book, a folio on Inuit culture. He tore out the middle page and stuffed it and the guidebook into his trenchcoat. My mouth hung open in shock as he proceeded to swipe unwary books from the shelves and hide them on his person.
He began to walk to the front of the library, so I took a shortcut along Reference to beat him there. I hastily warned Bron and TJ about him, just in time to see him walk past the borrowing counter towards the exit. Bron asked him if he had anything he wanted to borrow, but he ignored her and kept going. Bron reached into the drawer and threw a ring of keys to TJ, who had swiftly dashed over to the door controls. In one movement he grabbed the keys and spun to lock the door.
The man, realising we had him trapped, turned and bumped into Talia. "Sorry," she said sarcastically as a handful of books spilled out from under his coat. He pushed her back hard into Goldie, who luckily managed to catch her without losing her own footing.
"How DARE you do that to her!" Goldie's voice echoed throughout the library, causing everyone to stop and stare. A burly man using PC4 stood up, the glare he fixated on the trenchcoated man full of anger. The thief fled to the back of the library, with me in hot-footed pursuit. I saw him accost Pepper, who shrieked and grabbed onto his trenchcoat. As he ripped her security swipecard from its chain around her neck she pulled off his coat, liberating the library's stolen goods. While I stopped to see if Pepper was alright he used the card to lock himself inside the staffroom.
Five seconds later he came out running, Ernesto lumbering after him. The man flicked out a Swiss Army Knife and waved it at us menacingly. But he didn't count on Sylvia coming up from behind and flykicking it out of his hand. We blocked off all his available exits. He backed into the local history room and grabbed hold of a nearby reader, a young boy.
"Get back, bookworms, and I'll let the kid go safely once I'm out the door."
"No." Boudecia stepped out from the shadows. She extended her hand towards the young boy. The man hesitated, and so did the rest of us. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would explode. Boudecia did not blink as she stared down the thief for what seemed like an eternity. Seconds dragged into hours as time held us in its icy grip. Only Boudecia seemed unaffected. She stepped forward and took the boy's hand in hers. As soon as they were apart from the man time returned to normal speed. The man was in a trance-like state. Boudecia let go of the boy's hand and he ran to the arms of his greatly relieved mother. The police stormed past me to arrest the unmoving criminal. My heartbeat started to slow to normal pace. It was over.
In the second meeting, more ad hoc than the last, Boudecia explained why she had been gone for so long. She'd been investigating the inexplicable system crash, speaking to certain 'contacts' of hers. She had concluded that it had been caused by a bug in the system, and that it had all been sorted out and we weren't to worry. I didn't believe her for one second. For a while I'd thought it had been her, but there was no motive, and if she had done it, why vanish for several days? No, it was definitely someone else who had intimate access to the system, and I've got a good idea whom.
Ah well, it's been a good day regardless. One criminal caught, many books saved. Now I've just got to massage my back; those commando rolls put something out of place. Ow ow ow
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
#21 Deciding...
Dear diary,
I'm at a crossroads right now. I've practically finished my uni degree, just have to get my results back. I wanted to set myself up for some work in the software engineering field, so a few months ago I applied for a whole batch of jobs in the field, including a microtechnology company in Adelaide. This morning I got an e-mail back from them saying I'd got the position, if I was still interested.
This company is incredible. They're revolutionising microchip manufacturing and development, with new pieces of technology which can only be seen under a microscope. They have mobile phones which are so compact the buttons can only be pressed using a delicate needle. They invented the ultimate bathroom accessory, which can alternate between a hair straightener, blowdryer, nasal hair remover, exfoliator, zit-buster and about thirty other functions. Just make sure you don't confuse the automated hairbrush with the electronic toothbrush, or vice versa.
I would love the chance to work for them, but it would mean a big change for me. For one I would have to leave Melbourne and move to a foreign city. I don't have the accent quite down-pat yet, and knowing that drinking water straight from the tap could put me in hospital is a bit daunting. But it would also mean I'd have to leave the library. Over the past couple of months I've really grown to like that place. It's a weird, whacky workplace with wild whimsy and wonderful writings, ambling adventures and authentic authorial articulation (and alliteration), absent of actual arduous activity.
I wondered as I wandered the shelves today, which path should I follow: start my career at one of the most innovative and internationally software engineering companies, or take some time off after uni and just enjoy working in the relatively relaxed environment of the library? Push myself to climb the corporate ladder or enjoy a simpler life? Whichever choice I make I'm going to regret not doing the other.
Today didn't help to distract me from my dilemma. A man came asking fr books on decision-making (his wife had sent him to the library). I couldn't work out which section to send him to (658 for business management, or 158 for psychology?), so I told him to pick whichever he liked best. I was then approached by two people at the same time, vying for my attention. One was a sheer businesswoman dressed in corporate grey, the other a cheerful old man wearing faded, homely grey. Didn't realise grey was that popular. I tried to help them simultaneously, but I think I just confused them both with my vague answers to their questions. Then as I was shelving in Junior, a mother-of-two asked for my opinion on which of two picture books would be better for her kids. I couldn't take it so I threw my hands up and ran away.
I couldn't wait for the shift to end so I could go home. But we had to wait an extra ten for the indecisive man to leave - he was still choosing which book to borrow.
(The indecisive man incident really did happen to me. It was hilarious, though not so much for him. -The author)
I'm at a crossroads right now. I've practically finished my uni degree, just have to get my results back. I wanted to set myself up for some work in the software engineering field, so a few months ago I applied for a whole batch of jobs in the field, including a microtechnology company in Adelaide. This morning I got an e-mail back from them saying I'd got the position, if I was still interested.
This company is incredible. They're revolutionising microchip manufacturing and development, with new pieces of technology which can only be seen under a microscope. They have mobile phones which are so compact the buttons can only be pressed using a delicate needle. They invented the ultimate bathroom accessory, which can alternate between a hair straightener, blowdryer, nasal hair remover, exfoliator, zit-buster and about thirty other functions. Just make sure you don't confuse the automated hairbrush with the electronic toothbrush, or vice versa.
I would love the chance to work for them, but it would mean a big change for me. For one I would have to leave Melbourne and move to a foreign city. I don't have the accent quite down-pat yet, and knowing that drinking water straight from the tap could put me in hospital is a bit daunting. But it would also mean I'd have to leave the library. Over the past couple of months I've really grown to like that place. It's a weird, whacky workplace with wild whimsy and wonderful writings, ambling adventures and authentic authorial articulation (and alliteration), absent of actual arduous activity.
I wondered as I wandered the shelves today, which path should I follow: start my career at one of the most innovative and internationally software engineering companies, or take some time off after uni and just enjoy working in the relatively relaxed environment of the library? Push myself to climb the corporate ladder or enjoy a simpler life? Whichever choice I make I'm going to regret not doing the other.
Today didn't help to distract me from my dilemma. A man came asking fr books on decision-making (his wife had sent him to the library). I couldn't work out which section to send him to (658 for business management, or 158 for psychology?), so I told him to pick whichever he liked best. I was then approached by two people at the same time, vying for my attention. One was a sheer businesswoman dressed in corporate grey, the other a cheerful old man wearing faded, homely grey. Didn't realise grey was that popular. I tried to help them simultaneously, but I think I just confused them both with my vague answers to their questions. Then as I was shelving in Junior, a mother-of-two asked for my opinion on which of two picture books would be better for her kids. I couldn't take it so I threw my hands up and ran away.
I couldn't wait for the shift to end so I could go home. But we had to wait an extra ten for the indecisive man to leave - he was still choosing which book to borrow.
(The indecisive man incident really did happen to me. It was hilarious, though not so much for him. -The author)
Monday, December 10, 2007
#20 Special character bios - TJ, Pepper & Ernesto
Let's take another short break from the hectic world of the library to look at the final three characters: TJ, Pepper and Ernesto. Nothing else to say really except enjoy. So, enjoy!
TJ
TJ, real name Thomas John (24), has always travelled the easy road. Having finished. He started a uni course but soon realised he didn't have the patience to actually study, so he gave up and slacked around at home. He frequented the library to pass away the time reading the graphic novels, and when a position for a shelver was advertised he took it up as a way to spend even more time in the library. TJ's knowledge of teenage literature is second to none, and he's quite happy to sit back knowing that he's not going to be replaced any time soon. If he can find an excuse not to work he will, though he has been putting a lot of effort in trying to work up the courage to ask Sylvia out on a date. One day he'll get around to it. One day.
PEPPER
Pepper (39) is bubbly and friendly most of the time, especially when organising children's events and putting on voices for storytime. When she's unhappy she'll storm off and sulk for hours on end until someone comes over to lend a friendly ear. Pepper's biggest concern is that her fortieth birthday is fast approaching and she definitely doesn't think she's ready for it. She would rather pretend it's her twentieth again and invite all the kids from the library to the park for fun and games. She enjoys planning big parties, creative design and ballet.
ERNESTO
A mysterious man with an equally mysterious past, Ernesto (somewhere around 60) left the monastery to become a Reference Librarian. He is a man of few words, preferring to let his actions speak for themselves. When he does speak his heavy Portugese accent resonates with a deep wisdom. He seems to radiate calmness and temperance, halting argumentative patrons (and staff) in their tracks. Ernesto treats the library as a flock he must tender, guiding patrons to the book that feels right to them while warding off distractors.
***Thanks to everyone who kept reading this far. I know, I write too much, but there're only four more entries after this ne and then you can relax. I know I will.
-The author
TJ
TJ, real name Thomas John (24), has always travelled the easy road. Having finished. He started a uni course but soon realised he didn't have the patience to actually study, so he gave up and slacked around at home. He frequented the library to pass away the time reading the graphic novels, and when a position for a shelver was advertised he took it up as a way to spend even more time in the library. TJ's knowledge of teenage literature is second to none, and he's quite happy to sit back knowing that he's not going to be replaced any time soon. If he can find an excuse not to work he will, though he has been putting a lot of effort in trying to work up the courage to ask Sylvia out on a date. One day he'll get around to it. One day.
PEPPER
Pepper (39) is bubbly and friendly most of the time, especially when organising children's events and putting on voices for storytime. When she's unhappy she'll storm off and sulk for hours on end until someone comes over to lend a friendly ear. Pepper's biggest concern is that her fortieth birthday is fast approaching and she definitely doesn't think she's ready for it. She would rather pretend it's her twentieth again and invite all the kids from the library to the park for fun and games. She enjoys planning big parties, creative design and ballet.
ERNESTO
A mysterious man with an equally mysterious past, Ernesto (somewhere around 60) left the monastery to become a Reference Librarian. He is a man of few words, preferring to let his actions speak for themselves. When he does speak his heavy Portugese accent resonates with a deep wisdom. He seems to radiate calmness and temperance, halting argumentative patrons (and staff) in their tracks. Ernesto treats the library as a flock he must tender, guiding patrons to the book that feels right to them while warding off distractors.
***Thanks to everyone who kept reading this far. I know, I write too much, but there're only four more entries after this ne and then you can relax. I know I will.
-The author
Friday, December 7, 2007
#19 Exorcism
Dear diary,
Boudecia's still missing; no-one has been able to contact her. I'm thinking her disppearance has something to do with the recent problem with the system. When it crashed I immediately blamed the poltergeist, because of its mischievous warning. Unfortunately I hadn't been able to confirm my theory for a couple of reasons: (a) no-one else besides Talia believes it even exists, and (b) it hasn't shown up since then. It's difficult to interrogate an invisible, noncorporeal phantasm which may or may not be real in between shelving. Trust me.
Just as I'd pushed it to the back of my mind, it appeared again. I was in No Man's Land, that awkward empty space between Fiction and Non-Fiction, when three books whipped off the Fiction trolley:
HAV ING FUN
"Go away, I've had enough of your jokes. They're just not funny," I whispered angrily, with strains of weariness and fear in my voice. Some hunger too, as I'd skipped lunch and was really not in the mood for games.
WHY NOT
"Just, because." Wow, how lame.
JEE ZUN FUN
"You brought down the system! It took me and Sylvia hours to repair it! You caused hundreds of dollars worth of damage! Get out of here before I throw the book at you!"
SYL VIA AND I
I gathered up the growing pile of Fiction books on the floor, including the misplaced Paperback, all the while muttering to myself. I wouldn't let it get the better of me, not this time. I marched to the front desk and dumped the books noisily on the check-in counter, causing Ernesto to take notice. He stared at me weirdly. I mumbled "poltergeist was reading these" and strode back to my trolley, getting angrier all the time. When I got back to Fiction I found books strewn all over the floor.
LIL BAB YUP SET BUT SYS TEM STU FUP NOT MYN
A man and his son tippie-toed over the mess. The father looked at me and shook his head, dismayed that I'd let the library come to ruin. That was the last straw. I shrieked furiously and grabbed specific books off the shelf.
HOW ZAT YAS
I was about to finish my sentence with a Colleen Hitchcock novel when Ernesto appeared. He had changed into a ceremonial red robe and donned a priest's skullcap. I dropped the book out of embarrassment.
"Last time you said you'd seen a poltergeist I asked you to get a glass of water. Best you go do that now."
I ran to the staffroom and poured myself a glass. Pity it wasn't vodka, because I'd really have liked a shot at that moment. With glass in hand I returned to find Ernesto chanting and holding forth a crosier which had come out of nowhere. Books were flying around him, but he was in the eye of the storm and therefore untouched. As the literary wind picked up speed, a solitary folio flew out and landed at my feet. I saw Ernesto mouth the word "read", so I did.
F 060.77105 IND
"Find what?" I called out, but my words were lost in the whirlwind. He looked and me and said "turn". Placing the glass on the table I slowly inverted the book and read the second part of the message in the Dewey number.
"Soil logo? What the? Where's that?" I called out. Ernesto shrugged, his attention clearly focused on controlling the tempest brewing inside the library. Suddenly it dawned on me. I ducked into the 800s, making a beeline for poetry. I dropped to my knees and found my target: the small cairn Ernesto and I had erected in memory of a former shelver. I drew in breath then exhaled, blowing the rubbish everywhere. The wind died instantaneously.
Ernesto and I sat in the armchairs. He looked exhausted. We sat for a while in silence efor I asked him what had happened. He motioned to the glass of water, which had turned a purple colour.
"In there now. Vengeful spirit we created. Defeated by an old man and a shelver. Balance restored."
We got up and walked to the staffroom with the glass of ghostly water. I watched as he poured it down the sink, gone forever. It had been a pest, I'll give it that, but the last thing the poltergeist said was that it didn't cause the system to crash. If that's true, then who or what did?
Boudecia's still missing; no-one has been able to contact her. I'm thinking her disppearance has something to do with the recent problem with the system. When it crashed I immediately blamed the poltergeist, because of its mischievous warning. Unfortunately I hadn't been able to confirm my theory for a couple of reasons: (a) no-one else besides Talia believes it even exists, and (b) it hasn't shown up since then. It's difficult to interrogate an invisible, noncorporeal phantasm which may or may not be real in between shelving. Trust me.
Just as I'd pushed it to the back of my mind, it appeared again. I was in No Man's Land, that awkward empty space between Fiction and Non-Fiction, when three books whipped off the Fiction trolley:
HAV ING FUN
"Go away, I've had enough of your jokes. They're just not funny," I whispered angrily, with strains of weariness and fear in my voice. Some hunger too, as I'd skipped lunch and was really not in the mood for games.
WHY NOT
"Just, because." Wow, how lame.
JEE ZUN FUN
"You brought down the system! It took me and Sylvia hours to repair it! You caused hundreds of dollars worth of damage! Get out of here before I throw the book at you!"
SYL VIA AND I
I gathered up the growing pile of Fiction books on the floor, including the misplaced Paperback, all the while muttering to myself. I wouldn't let it get the better of me, not this time. I marched to the front desk and dumped the books noisily on the check-in counter, causing Ernesto to take notice. He stared at me weirdly. I mumbled "poltergeist was reading these" and strode back to my trolley, getting angrier all the time. When I got back to Fiction I found books strewn all over the floor.
LIL BAB YUP SET BUT SYS TEM STU FUP NOT MYN
A man and his son tippie-toed over the mess. The father looked at me and shook his head, dismayed that I'd let the library come to ruin. That was the last straw. I shrieked furiously and grabbed specific books off the shelf.
HOW ZAT YAS
I was about to finish my sentence with a Colleen Hitchcock novel when Ernesto appeared. He had changed into a ceremonial red robe and donned a priest's skullcap. I dropped the book out of embarrassment.
"Last time you said you'd seen a poltergeist I asked you to get a glass of water. Best you go do that now."
I ran to the staffroom and poured myself a glass. Pity it wasn't vodka, because I'd really have liked a shot at that moment. With glass in hand I returned to find Ernesto chanting and holding forth a crosier which had come out of nowhere. Books were flying around him, but he was in the eye of the storm and therefore untouched. As the literary wind picked up speed, a solitary folio flew out and landed at my feet. I saw Ernesto mouth the word "read", so I did.
F 060.77105 IND
"Find what?" I called out, but my words were lost in the whirlwind. He looked and me and said "turn". Placing the glass on the table I slowly inverted the book and read the second part of the message in the Dewey number.
"Soil logo? What the? Where's that?" I called out. Ernesto shrugged, his attention clearly focused on controlling the tempest brewing inside the library. Suddenly it dawned on me. I ducked into the 800s, making a beeline for poetry. I dropped to my knees and found my target: the small cairn Ernesto and I had erected in memory of a former shelver. I drew in breath then exhaled, blowing the rubbish everywhere. The wind died instantaneously.
Ernesto and I sat in the armchairs. He looked exhausted. We sat for a while in silence efor I asked him what had happened. He motioned to the glass of water, which had turned a purple colour.
"In there now. Vengeful spirit we created. Defeated by an old man and a shelver. Balance restored."
We got up and walked to the staffroom with the glass of ghostly water. I watched as he poured it down the sink, gone forever. It had been a pest, I'll give it that, but the last thing the poltergeist said was that it didn't cause the system to crash. If that's true, then who or what did?
Thursday, December 6, 2007
#18 Taxonomy
Dear diary,
I've begun to notice there's a very distinct boundary between patrons and library staff. They think and act differently. For one, other peple don't know Dewey. It's the most logical classification system ever invented, and they should use it in bookstores. I've come up with some categories for patrons:
Nice People - Thankfully this group makes up the majority of patrons. They're ind, polite and provide you with a warm snse of job satisfaction when they find what they're looking for. One woman, after I helped her find books on canaries for her grandchildren, returned later that day with a plate of cupcakes for the staff. Te only problem with these people is that they tend to be s nice that they don't want to interrupt what you're doing, so I rarely get to speak to them.
The Oblivious - Safest when seated, otherwise they stumble around completely unaware of their surroundings. Some of them are Readwalkers who, well, read while they walk. I've had a couple of them collide with my trolley when it's been sticking out into an aisle.
Wanderers - I've seen people walk around the library and stare at the shelves dumbfounded for half an hour, because they don't know where to look. They rarely ask for directions, probably because they feel stupid enough already. I feel bad about leaving them there, but I'm always busy doing something else.
Collectors - These people, once they find out what section they're after, grab every book they can find on a topic. They take those books to one of the carrels, flick through them then leave them all lying around for me to pick up after them. How annoying.
Displayers - I've seen documentaries where lions have hunted down zebras and mutilated them, leaving a bloodied carcass strewn across the dusty savannah. These people do much the same to piles of books, especially in narrow aisles. Major trolley hazard.
Seekers - They know all too well how to use the catalogue terminals, but they never leave them, prepared to sit there for hours until they've found everything they want. If they're not on the catalogues they're coming up to you with a list full of catalogue references, asking you to pinpoint their locations. They often presume to know more than you about the library layout.
Inquisitors - Question after question after question. The temptation to slap them is hard to resist. I once made the mistake of trying to show one man how to use the catalogue. Forty minutes later I was still explaining how to use the advance search, having made little headway. These people are usually elderly technophobes or parents 'helping' their kids research a school project.
Taskmasters - This last group is by far the most irritating. They have no qualms about interrupting you because they believe the world revolves around them. If you don't fulfil their every demand they threaten to inform our superior of your insolence. They often show little respect for privacy or property. One Taskmaster I was trying to appease snatched a book from the hands of a Readwalker, flcked through it quickly then rammed it into the wrong spot on a nearby shelf.
If you can think of any I've left out let me know. Libraries - they're a crazy world.
I've begun to notice there's a very distinct boundary between patrons and library staff. They think and act differently. For one, other peple don't know Dewey. It's the most logical classification system ever invented, and they should use it in bookstores. I've come up with some categories for patrons:
Nice People - Thankfully this group makes up the majority of patrons. They're ind, polite and provide you with a warm snse of job satisfaction when they find what they're looking for. One woman, after I helped her find books on canaries for her grandchildren, returned later that day with a plate of cupcakes for the staff. Te only problem with these people is that they tend to be s nice that they don't want to interrupt what you're doing, so I rarely get to speak to them.
The Oblivious - Safest when seated, otherwise they stumble around completely unaware of their surroundings. Some of them are Readwalkers who, well, read while they walk. I've had a couple of them collide with my trolley when it's been sticking out into an aisle.
Wanderers - I've seen people walk around the library and stare at the shelves dumbfounded for half an hour, because they don't know where to look. They rarely ask for directions, probably because they feel stupid enough already. I feel bad about leaving them there, but I'm always busy doing something else.
Collectors - These people, once they find out what section they're after, grab every book they can find on a topic. They take those books to one of the carrels, flick through them then leave them all lying around for me to pick up after them. How annoying.
Displayers - I've seen documentaries where lions have hunted down zebras and mutilated them, leaving a bloodied carcass strewn across the dusty savannah. These people do much the same to piles of books, especially in narrow aisles. Major trolley hazard.
Seekers - They know all too well how to use the catalogue terminals, but they never leave them, prepared to sit there for hours until they've found everything they want. If they're not on the catalogues they're coming up to you with a list full of catalogue references, asking you to pinpoint their locations. They often presume to know more than you about the library layout.
Inquisitors - Question after question after question. The temptation to slap them is hard to resist. I once made the mistake of trying to show one man how to use the catalogue. Forty minutes later I was still explaining how to use the advance search, having made little headway. These people are usually elderly technophobes or parents 'helping' their kids research a school project.
Taskmasters - This last group is by far the most irritating. They have no qualms about interrupting you because they believe the world revolves around them. If you don't fulfil their every demand they threaten to inform our superior of your insolence. They often show little respect for privacy or property. One Taskmaster I was trying to appease snatched a book from the hands of a Readwalker, flcked through it quickly then rammed it into the wrong spot on a nearby shelf.
If you can think of any I've left out let me know. Libraries - they're a crazy world.
Monday, December 3, 2007
#17 Literacy
Dear diary,
It's so good to see the library back up and running. A lot of the patrons have complained that it was closed for so long, but that's just a sign they were worried about us. It's a great boon to us staff because we don't have to shelf-read or weed the collection because they've already been done.
I was a bit worried that people would be anxious to know exactly what happened, so I took the initiative of making small hand-outs to explain about the system crash. They weren't received well by anyone else, though. I left them at the front counter, and as I was walking off to shelve Pepper called me back. She said she couldn't hand them out because they weren't library-issue and besides, my spelling was horrible.
Here's the note:
"Wear sorry four the system brake down, butt it can-knot bee helped. Please torque two the staff iff yew have any problems with you're card ore bor-road items."
Damn spellcheck, it always does this. I knew I shouldn't've changed the setting to 'Homonym'. It's bad enough when it Americanizes everything. Look, it's doing it again!
Later on some police came into the library. They approached me in the shelves asking to speak to the Head Librarian. I took them to the staffroom, where Boudecia was having her short lunch break, then went back to what I was doing. An hour later Pepper dinged the bell for assistance as Sylvia was helping someone else and the patrons were three-deep at the counter. Boudecia didn't appear so I went to find her, but she was gone. The owl was missing from its cage on her desk too.
I wonder if the police took her in for questioning about the library being closed. I wonder if she knows more than she's letting on. I wonder why the owl's gone. I wonder if I'm thinking about this to much.
It's so good to see the library back up and running. A lot of the patrons have complained that it was closed for so long, but that's just a sign they were worried about us. It's a great boon to us staff because we don't have to shelf-read or weed the collection because they've already been done.
I was a bit worried that people would be anxious to know exactly what happened, so I took the initiative of making small hand-outs to explain about the system crash. They weren't received well by anyone else, though. I left them at the front counter, and as I was walking off to shelve Pepper called me back. She said she couldn't hand them out because they weren't library-issue and besides, my spelling was horrible.
Here's the note:
"Wear sorry four the system brake down, butt it can-knot bee helped. Please torque two the staff iff yew have any problems with you're card ore bor-road items."
Damn spellcheck, it always does this. I knew I shouldn't've changed the setting to 'Homonym'. It's bad enough when it Americanizes everything. Look, it's doing it again!
Later on some police came into the library. They approached me in the shelves asking to speak to the Head Librarian. I took them to the staffroom, where Boudecia was having her short lunch break, then went back to what I was doing. An hour later Pepper dinged the bell for assistance as Sylvia was helping someone else and the patrons were three-deep at the counter. Boudecia didn't appear so I went to find her, but she was gone. The owl was missing from its cage on her desk too.
I wonder if the police took her in for questioning about the library being closed. I wonder if she knows more than she's letting on. I wonder why the owl's gone. I wonder if I'm thinking about this to much.
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