Dear diary,
I got this SMS from Talia yesterday:
hi jay+shan im so xcited!i gotta job @ refugee cntr,my uncle works dere,he sed I cn wrk wif him,lets face it lib is fkd rite now wif bibtek+its munky takin ova,im so sry u guys hav 2 put up wif it,i culdnt do it n ive bn waitin 4 job lik dis1 2 cum along 4 ajes,lv u guys,tlk soon! :-)
So, she’s not coming back to the library then. Normally I have great difficulty in interpreting the meaning of Talia’s text messages, but this one seems abundantly clear. She has found somewhere better and gotten out of the poisonous library environment while she still could.
Maybe I should’ve done the same, and gone back to Adelaide for the apprenticeship. I put it off until December but I know I could walk in any time and they’d be only too happy to see me. So why did I stay? Because of Talia? Well, kinda, but also because I grew to love working in the library. Sure, the staff are crazier than half the patrons (and that is really saying a LOT), and the work’s not all that challenging (I’ve lost count of the number of times distressed patrons have come up to me saying the catalogs aren’t working, when they’ve accidentally switched off the screen), but I really do like it there.
It’s stuffed now, because of Viktor and BiblioTech. Of the original ten staff, six have left. Talia’s found a new job, Pepper’s on vacation, TJ and Bron have been fired, Ernest’s still in hospital and Sylvia’s taking extended sick-leave. Only four of us remain. Goldie looks worn down and scared she’ll lose her job. Boudecia is keeping the place still together, and I think she’s the one thing that’s stopping Viktor from taking full control of the place. Then it’s just Shannon and I, and we can’t even get along.
What happens now?
-Jay
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
#45 Revolution
Dear diary,
You know how you think you know someone and then they go and do something completely out of character and you realise you hardly know them at all? There should be a word for that. I was rummaging through the 423’s today trying to find one, but came up short. That’s a pity, because that would’ve been the perfect word to describe today.
This past week things have been going from bad to worse. The library is slowly turning into a business rather than a service. There have been increases in costs for printing, photocopying, memberships, requests and public computers. Fines are now double what they used to be, and new fines are being introduced. The other day I saw Goldie reluctantly taking money from a patron because they’d returned a book with a dog-eared page and a handful of post-it notes being used as page markers, because apparently now that counts as Damage to Library Items.
But the worst thing is that the lesser-used collections are being ‘relocated’ to make room for other services which make more money. The first collection to be attacked has bee the NEL collection. According to our statistics, books in other languages have a lower borrowing history than books from any other collection. When I arrived today I noticed that Japanese and French had already gone, and that Arabic was looking set to follow. The NEL collection had been weeded down to just over half of what it had originally been.
I found Bron sitting quietly at her desk in the staffroom. She was looking wistfully at a picture of her son, Bronson, which was stuck to the side of her computer. I saw that there was a stack of Greek novels in her bin, recently weeded. I know how much she hates seeing books be destroyed, even those in bad condition.
Talia walked into the office and I went over to say hi. We both walked Bron stand up and walk into Viktor’s office. It looked so ordinary we paid it little attention. As we chatted I noticed that the voices coming from Viktor’s office were getting louder and more heated. Talia and I listened to the conversation between Viktor and Bron rise into an argument. She waved a weeded German autobiography, Mein Kampf, in his face. Probably drawing upon the similarities, I joked to Talia.
And then Bron drew back her fist and king-hit Viktor. He toppled back into his chair and lurched onto the desk, out cold. Bron dusted her hands and walked back into the rest of the staffroom. Talia started a one-woman round of applause. I was too shocked to move. I mean, had that really just happened? Bron? Really?
Viktor came to ten minutes later, but by then Bron had already left the building. That was at 11am. By 12:30 a crowd had formed out the front of the library, led by Bron. There were a lot of pickets and banners and angry shouts, in a number of languages. Bron whipped out a megaphone and addressed the amassing group of protesters. She publicly shamed Viktor and BiblioTech, and demanded the Council intervene and reclaim the library.
The police came and led the protesters away shortly after, although from the expressions of their faces I could see that many from the police force were of the same opinion about the library. Bron didn’t return to work, but later in the afternoon I was walking past the carrels when I saw her on the other side of the window, sticking pamphlets to it about public rallies against the BiblioTech Corp. She was dressed in camouflage gear and wore a fluoro bandana. When she noticed me she waved cheerily. I couldn’t believe this was the same quiet, middle-aged librarian I’d been working earlier this morning.
I guess it’s situations like this which can bring out a lot in people. Huh.
-Jay
You know how you think you know someone and then they go and do something completely out of character and you realise you hardly know them at all? There should be a word for that. I was rummaging through the 423’s today trying to find one, but came up short. That’s a pity, because that would’ve been the perfect word to describe today.
This past week things have been going from bad to worse. The library is slowly turning into a business rather than a service. There have been increases in costs for printing, photocopying, memberships, requests and public computers. Fines are now double what they used to be, and new fines are being introduced. The other day I saw Goldie reluctantly taking money from a patron because they’d returned a book with a dog-eared page and a handful of post-it notes being used as page markers, because apparently now that counts as Damage to Library Items.
But the worst thing is that the lesser-used collections are being ‘relocated’ to make room for other services which make more money. The first collection to be attacked has bee the NEL collection. According to our statistics, books in other languages have a lower borrowing history than books from any other collection. When I arrived today I noticed that Japanese and French had already gone, and that Arabic was looking set to follow. The NEL collection had been weeded down to just over half of what it had originally been.
I found Bron sitting quietly at her desk in the staffroom. She was looking wistfully at a picture of her son, Bronson, which was stuck to the side of her computer. I saw that there was a stack of Greek novels in her bin, recently weeded. I know how much she hates seeing books be destroyed, even those in bad condition.
Talia walked into the office and I went over to say hi. We both walked Bron stand up and walk into Viktor’s office. It looked so ordinary we paid it little attention. As we chatted I noticed that the voices coming from Viktor’s office were getting louder and more heated. Talia and I listened to the conversation between Viktor and Bron rise into an argument. She waved a weeded German autobiography, Mein Kampf, in his face. Probably drawing upon the similarities, I joked to Talia.
And then Bron drew back her fist and king-hit Viktor. He toppled back into his chair and lurched onto the desk, out cold. Bron dusted her hands and walked back into the rest of the staffroom. Talia started a one-woman round of applause. I was too shocked to move. I mean, had that really just happened? Bron? Really?
Viktor came to ten minutes later, but by then Bron had already left the building. That was at 11am. By 12:30 a crowd had formed out the front of the library, led by Bron. There were a lot of pickets and banners and angry shouts, in a number of languages. Bron whipped out a megaphone and addressed the amassing group of protesters. She publicly shamed Viktor and BiblioTech, and demanded the Council intervene and reclaim the library.
The police came and led the protesters away shortly after, although from the expressions of their faces I could see that many from the police force were of the same opinion about the library. Bron didn’t return to work, but later in the afternoon I was walking past the carrels when I saw her on the other side of the window, sticking pamphlets to it about public rallies against the BiblioTech Corp. She was dressed in camouflage gear and wore a fluoro bandana. When she noticed me she waved cheerily. I couldn’t believe this was the same quiet, middle-aged librarian I’d been working earlier this morning.
I guess it’s situations like this which can bring out a lot in people. Huh.
-Jay
Thursday, September 25, 2008
#44 Patronage
Dear diary,
Since being promoted to Library Officer I’ve had only a couple of shifts at the desk. I picked up the check-out system quick enough – it’s just checking-in in reverse – and have served a number of patrons. I have to keep calling over Boudecia to help whenever something new, though I really hate to do it because she looks like she’s got enough on her plate already. I talk about what kind of things I’ve come across with Talia or, if there’s no-one else around, not even one of the patrons, Shannon.
Already I’m getting to know the ‘regulars’; the patrons who come all the time and are well-known by the staff. Here are some of them:
Ukulele Patterson – He’s a busker who, well, busks on the street, his usual spot being a few doors down from the library entrance. He borrows two DVDs every time he comes in, and brings them back the next day. Sometimes he’ll hum a tune while I check the DVDs out to him. He’s chatty and impossible not to like.
The Twins Adagio – These two old women are inseparable, dress alike and one of them has the surname Adagio. Go figure. They chat nonstop to each other about books they’ve read. Eve after they’ve left the building you can still smell their heavy perfume scent in the air, and hear their chatter off in the distance.
Toilet Woman – She brings her kid in the pusher in all the time, to use the toilet. Talia reckons he’s got a weak bladder, and that his mother, whom we gave the unfortunate nickname to, borrows random kids books to try and mask her embarrassment. It’s kinda cute.
Mr War – We call him this because he always borrows books on both World War II. Goldie says he’s researching them for a novel he’s writing, while Shannon claims wholeheartedly that he’s a neo-Nazi because he’s bald. Either way, he always talks to me about the atrocities of the war, which kinda freaks me out.
Lester – This is the guy who made fun of Sylvia. He’s a nasty piece of work, incredibly sarcastic, racist and sexist. I’d heard about him ages ago, from Ernesto. Apparently he’s annoyed every member of staff over the fifteen year period since he’s been coming here. Ernesto told me they can’t find enough suitable grounds to ban him permanently, although a former member of staff, Colin Harper, once tried.
Bronson – Bron’s son comes here all the time. It’s school holidays and he spends probably more time here than his mother. He and I get along pretty well, we have lots in common, but he takes my love of graphic novels and video games to the extreme. Surely spending as much time as he does in fantasy worlds can’t be good for you.
-Jay
(Author’s note: Most of these characters are based on regulars at the library where I work. I could’ve gone into much greater detail about a certain individual who is a lot like Lester, only much worse, but for the sake of making this not an essay I think I’ll keep it simple. For now.)
Since being promoted to Library Officer I’ve had only a couple of shifts at the desk. I picked up the check-out system quick enough – it’s just checking-in in reverse – and have served a number of patrons. I have to keep calling over Boudecia to help whenever something new, though I really hate to do it because she looks like she’s got enough on her plate already. I talk about what kind of things I’ve come across with Talia or, if there’s no-one else around, not even one of the patrons, Shannon.
Already I’m getting to know the ‘regulars’; the patrons who come all the time and are well-known by the staff. Here are some of them:
Ukulele Patterson – He’s a busker who, well, busks on the street, his usual spot being a few doors down from the library entrance. He borrows two DVDs every time he comes in, and brings them back the next day. Sometimes he’ll hum a tune while I check the DVDs out to him. He’s chatty and impossible not to like.
The Twins Adagio – These two old women are inseparable, dress alike and one of them has the surname Adagio. Go figure. They chat nonstop to each other about books they’ve read. Eve after they’ve left the building you can still smell their heavy perfume scent in the air, and hear their chatter off in the distance.
Toilet Woman – She brings her kid in the pusher in all the time, to use the toilet. Talia reckons he’s got a weak bladder, and that his mother, whom we gave the unfortunate nickname to, borrows random kids books to try and mask her embarrassment. It’s kinda cute.
Mr War – We call him this because he always borrows books on both World War II. Goldie says he’s researching them for a novel he’s writing, while Shannon claims wholeheartedly that he’s a neo-Nazi because he’s bald. Either way, he always talks to me about the atrocities of the war, which kinda freaks me out.
Lester – This is the guy who made fun of Sylvia. He’s a nasty piece of work, incredibly sarcastic, racist and sexist. I’d heard about him ages ago, from Ernesto. Apparently he’s annoyed every member of staff over the fifteen year period since he’s been coming here. Ernesto told me they can’t find enough suitable grounds to ban him permanently, although a former member of staff, Colin Harper, once tried.
Bronson – Bron’s son comes here all the time. It’s school holidays and he spends probably more time here than his mother. He and I get along pretty well, we have lots in common, but he takes my love of graphic novels and video games to the extreme. Surely spending as much time as he does in fantasy worlds can’t be good for you.
-Jay
(Author’s note: Most of these characters are based on regulars at the library where I work. I could’ve gone into much greater detail about a certain individual who is a lot like Lester, only much worse, but for the sake of making this not an essay I think I’ll keep it simple. For now.)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
#43 Special character bio - Viktor
Hello again. Time for a quick break in between writing this thing so I can, um, write this other thing. Thanks to everyone who has read this far – wow, you must really have a lot of spare time on your hands. Evidently I do too.
Every story nee some kind of struggle, something which the protagonists can overcome and learn from in the process. Well, most stories follow that pattern, even Spot (though his learning is more in the form of playing). The firs time around, Jay faced up against staff who didn’t quite trust him yet, strange patrons, a poltergeist, and Shannon. This time it’s Boudecia’s perilous quests, Shannon (again), the BiblioTech take-over, and…
VIKTOR
Viktor (35) is a liaison-cum-library manager from the BiblioTech Corporation, which provides new technology and services to libraries. While a corporation cannot be inherently evil in and of itself, the actions of the people who represent it certainly can be. Viktor cares about money and status more than anything else. To him, providing the public with the best quality of information services is just a means of keeping that power and wealth. The people he works with are competitors not colleagues, and he sees it as his right to keep them in their place (or out of his) when they try to do something he sees as threatening to the things he loves, such as not being as efficient as physically possible.
Viktor plays his cards very close to his hand. He smiles with his mouth but never with his eyes, unless he is getting his way. He regularly finds controlling people easy, and thus is completely thrown by Boudecia, who has thwarted his plans. She is the only thing is preventing him from taking over the library. Well, as you’ll find out, almost the only thing.
Enjoy!
The author
Every story nee some kind of struggle, something which the protagonists can overcome and learn from in the process. Well, most stories follow that pattern, even Spot (though his learning is more in the form of playing). The firs time around, Jay faced up against staff who didn’t quite trust him yet, strange patrons, a poltergeist, and Shannon. This time it’s Boudecia’s perilous quests, Shannon (again), the BiblioTech take-over, and…
VIKTOR
Viktor (35) is a liaison-cum-library manager from the BiblioTech Corporation, which provides new technology and services to libraries. While a corporation cannot be inherently evil in and of itself, the actions of the people who represent it certainly can be. Viktor cares about money and status more than anything else. To him, providing the public with the best quality of information services is just a means of keeping that power and wealth. The people he works with are competitors not colleagues, and he sees it as his right to keep them in their place (or out of his) when they try to do something he sees as threatening to the things he loves, such as not being as efficient as physically possible.
Viktor plays his cards very close to his hand. He smiles with his mouth but never with his eyes, unless he is getting his way. He regularly finds controlling people easy, and thus is completely thrown by Boudecia, who has thwarted his plans. She is the only thing is preventing him from taking over the library. Well, as you’ll find out, almost the only thing.
Enjoy!
The author
Saturday, September 20, 2008
#42 Polarity
Dear diary,
I can’t believe I was so naïve! There I was thinking Viktor was a tough but decent guy, and that Boudecia was an antisocial witch (in more ways than one). Okay, I might be right about Boudecia, but I assumed that because of that she was bad and Viktor was good. I think I need to rethink my thinking after today.
In the morning Talia, Shannon and I were called into Viktor’s office, where he an Boudecia were waiting for us. He invited us in cordially and asked us to each take a seat. There were only two and Shannon hurriedly stole the one closest to me, so I ended up sitting on the floor. Viktor poured us some drinks and handed them out wit that over-friendly smile of his. Boudecia sat and watched us like a hawk, or, to be more precise, an owl.
Viktor spoke at length about BiblioTech’s vision for the future of library services. It started off interestingly enough but soon I found my attention drawing a line, with it on the other side to Viktor. He concluded his speech by announcing that he ad Boudecia had come to a decision about who would replace Pepper while she was on leave.
There was one catch, tough. Since SIR had been introduced into the library there was hardly any shelving left for us to do. Also, there was little call for volunteers in a business such as this library. Therefore, one of the three of us would be asked to leave.
Talia and I exchanged horrified glances. Shannon stared straight ahead at the wall. Viktor pretended to look like he had just made a very difficult decision, but there was a twinkle in his eye. Boudecia’s expression was implacable and gave away nothing. Viktor reached into his drawer and pulled out an envelope.
“Best of luck to each of you,” he said, and I despised him so much at that moment. All eyes were fixed on him as he opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. Slowly and deliberately he unfolded it to read out our names and our fates.
I have to give credit to Boudecia for the next part. She told the three of us later, in private, that Viktor had asked her to make the decision and to type up the letter, probably so he could absolve himself of any backlash. Unbeknownst to him she had been prepared and had made the decision before BiblioTech took over, meaning they had no power over the matter.
She’d promoted us all to the ostentatious position of… Library Officer.
Viktor’s disappointment was evident, and he glared at Boudecia aggressively. She looked back at him, and time seemed to slow around the two of them. I’d seen her do this before and so had Talia and Shannon, by the looks on their faces. We walked out fo the room silently as the two bosses stared at each other, suspended in that moment of mutual hatred.
So now I’m a Library Officer! I… I… don’t know what else to say. If the circumstances had been different I’d be dancing around the house, but I’m just stunned by the weight of everything that’s happened lately. I think I… really need to… sleep…
-Jay
I can’t believe I was so naïve! There I was thinking Viktor was a tough but decent guy, and that Boudecia was an antisocial witch (in more ways than one). Okay, I might be right about Boudecia, but I assumed that because of that she was bad and Viktor was good. I think I need to rethink my thinking after today.
In the morning Talia, Shannon and I were called into Viktor’s office, where he an Boudecia were waiting for us. He invited us in cordially and asked us to each take a seat. There were only two and Shannon hurriedly stole the one closest to me, so I ended up sitting on the floor. Viktor poured us some drinks and handed them out wit that over-friendly smile of his. Boudecia sat and watched us like a hawk, or, to be more precise, an owl.
Viktor spoke at length about BiblioTech’s vision for the future of library services. It started off interestingly enough but soon I found my attention drawing a line, with it on the other side to Viktor. He concluded his speech by announcing that he ad Boudecia had come to a decision about who would replace Pepper while she was on leave.
There was one catch, tough. Since SIR had been introduced into the library there was hardly any shelving left for us to do. Also, there was little call for volunteers in a business such as this library. Therefore, one of the three of us would be asked to leave.
Talia and I exchanged horrified glances. Shannon stared straight ahead at the wall. Viktor pretended to look like he had just made a very difficult decision, but there was a twinkle in his eye. Boudecia’s expression was implacable and gave away nothing. Viktor reached into his drawer and pulled out an envelope.
“Best of luck to each of you,” he said, and I despised him so much at that moment. All eyes were fixed on him as he opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. Slowly and deliberately he unfolded it to read out our names and our fates.
I have to give credit to Boudecia for the next part. She told the three of us later, in private, that Viktor had asked her to make the decision and to type up the letter, probably so he could absolve himself of any backlash. Unbeknownst to him she had been prepared and had made the decision before BiblioTech took over, meaning they had no power over the matter.
She’d promoted us all to the ostentatious position of… Library Officer.
Viktor’s disappointment was evident, and he glared at Boudecia aggressively. She looked back at him, and time seemed to slow around the two of them. I’d seen her do this before and so had Talia and Shannon, by the looks on their faces. We walked out fo the room silently as the two bosses stared at each other, suspended in that moment of mutual hatred.
So now I’m a Library Officer! I… I… don’t know what else to say. If the circumstances had been different I’d be dancing around the house, but I’m just stunned by the weight of everything that’s happened lately. I think I… really need to… sleep…
-Jay
Thursday, September 18, 2008
#41 Dressed-up
Dear diary,
More changes are happening at the library, and not all of them for the best. BiblioTech has issued us with new nametags, which is actually a step up from the anonymity of being a tag-less shelver. There’s now also a formal dresscode. I received my shirt in the mail. It’s white with blue stripes and looks quite good on me, I think.
But uniforms don’t work for everyone. Talia looked very uncomfortable in hers, though that was probably more because she had to wear a skirt. I don’t think she’s ever worn one in her life – I’ve never seen her so self-conscious, especially around the older male patrons in the library. None of the women are too keen on the idea. Goldie was ‘informed’ by our BiblioTech liaison Viktor that jewellery was against dresscode policy, and that it gave a bad public image, and that we wouldn’t want that now would we?
She wasn’t the worst affected, though. Yesterday I came in and saw an unfamiliar short Asian girl behind the desk. Thinking she was a patron who’d gotten lost I walked up behind her – she was facing away from me – and coughed politely. She turned around… and it was Sylvia. She looked so, so… unusually plain, that I couldn’t hide my shock. No gothic flowing dress, no coloured and spiked hair, no nail varnish, no make-up. She looked at me dejectedly and turned back to staring into space.
I noticed that, as the shift dragged on, she became slower and more distracted. I saw her standing still for five minutes holding a pile of DVDs in her arms, which she was in the middle of carrying to the trolley. I went off to shelve and was joined by TJ, who was equally worried about her. There was little to do as SIR had finished most of the shelving, so we both returned to the desk to see if Sylvia was alright. And that’s when it happened.
There was a man waiting there, one of the regular “problem patrons”, as I found out later. He was strumming his fingers impatiently on the counter as Sylvia wandered around the returns bins in her zombie-like state. He called her over in an annoyed tone, and as she made her slow journey over to him he started up at her, calling her “useless” and “stupid” and even going for the racist remarks.
TJ ran to her aid and told the man to give her a break, but that just made him angry at TJ. They argued louder and louder. Sylvia looked panicked and hid under the check-in desk, while I stood there like a stunned mullet. It likely would’ve turned into a brawl if Bron hadn’t come then and threatened to call the police if the guy didn’t leave. He stamped off muttering to himself and left, but not before spitting at Sylvia in her makeshift coop. TJ chased him out of the library and down two streets before he was stopped by two men who must’ve though TJ was the perpetrator in what little they saw of the actual scene.
When Viktor caught wind of what happened he fired TJ just like that, with no warning, for “bringing disrespect to the library with his actions”. TJ just huffed and panted – he was catching his breath and trying very much to control his anger. He stormed out without a word. Sylvia was sent home and the rest of us told to get back to work. Sylvia didn’t come in today, and I overheard Bron talking with Goldie that she was taking a leave of absence, effective immediately.
In the space of about two weeks we’ve gone down from ten regular staff to six, plus Viktor. I’m worried about what’s going to happen next!
-Jay
More changes are happening at the library, and not all of them for the best. BiblioTech has issued us with new nametags, which is actually a step up from the anonymity of being a tag-less shelver. There’s now also a formal dresscode. I received my shirt in the mail. It’s white with blue stripes and looks quite good on me, I think.
But uniforms don’t work for everyone. Talia looked very uncomfortable in hers, though that was probably more because she had to wear a skirt. I don’t think she’s ever worn one in her life – I’ve never seen her so self-conscious, especially around the older male patrons in the library. None of the women are too keen on the idea. Goldie was ‘informed’ by our BiblioTech liaison Viktor that jewellery was against dresscode policy, and that it gave a bad public image, and that we wouldn’t want that now would we?
She wasn’t the worst affected, though. Yesterday I came in and saw an unfamiliar short Asian girl behind the desk. Thinking she was a patron who’d gotten lost I walked up behind her – she was facing away from me – and coughed politely. She turned around… and it was Sylvia. She looked so, so… unusually plain, that I couldn’t hide my shock. No gothic flowing dress, no coloured and spiked hair, no nail varnish, no make-up. She looked at me dejectedly and turned back to staring into space.
I noticed that, as the shift dragged on, she became slower and more distracted. I saw her standing still for five minutes holding a pile of DVDs in her arms, which she was in the middle of carrying to the trolley. I went off to shelve and was joined by TJ, who was equally worried about her. There was little to do as SIR had finished most of the shelving, so we both returned to the desk to see if Sylvia was alright. And that’s when it happened.
There was a man waiting there, one of the regular “problem patrons”, as I found out later. He was strumming his fingers impatiently on the counter as Sylvia wandered around the returns bins in her zombie-like state. He called her over in an annoyed tone, and as she made her slow journey over to him he started up at her, calling her “useless” and “stupid” and even going for the racist remarks.
TJ ran to her aid and told the man to give her a break, but that just made him angry at TJ. They argued louder and louder. Sylvia looked panicked and hid under the check-in desk, while I stood there like a stunned mullet. It likely would’ve turned into a brawl if Bron hadn’t come then and threatened to call the police if the guy didn’t leave. He stamped off muttering to himself and left, but not before spitting at Sylvia in her makeshift coop. TJ chased him out of the library and down two streets before he was stopped by two men who must’ve though TJ was the perpetrator in what little they saw of the actual scene.
When Viktor caught wind of what happened he fired TJ just like that, with no warning, for “bringing disrespect to the library with his actions”. TJ just huffed and panted – he was catching his breath and trying very much to control his anger. He stormed out without a word. Sylvia was sent home and the rest of us told to get back to work. Sylvia didn’t come in today, and I overheard Bron talking with Goldie that she was taking a leave of absence, effective immediately.
In the space of about two weeks we’ve gone down from ten regular staff to six, plus Viktor. I’m worried about what’s going to happen next!
-Jay
Friday, September 12, 2008
#40 Bosses
Dear diary,
Since Pepper’s gone Boudecia’s been doing all her duties, and it’s definitely made things… different. For example, she now does story time with the kids. Pepper used to let the kids run around the Junior Playground (as she called it) while she read stories, whereas Boudecia makes them sit in rows and columns in complete silence. Yesterday a little boy spoke while she was reading “Where’s My Cow?”, and she made him sit in Teenage facing the wall for the rest of the story. She runs story time like it’s lunch break at a prison, only with less food.
Viktor’s virtually the opposite, and everything you could want in a boss. He always smiles at me, shakes my hand, says I’m doing a great job all the time, even when he catches me reading out in the shelves and I hide my book quickly but I know he’s spotted me doing it. I just have one small, tiny, insignificant issue with the way he runs the library.
Today I was on with Ernesto and TJ. It so rarely happens that there are only guys working that we decided to celebrate this momentous occasion. I had the footy up on the checkout computer so we could watch while we were working, and Ernesto had brought ginger beer – it’s as close as we’re gonna get to drinking on the job. TJ was talking about this girl he really likes, when Viktor came up to the desk and sat with us on the beanbags we’d dragged over from Junior, as Boudecia won’t allow non-standard chairs in there any more.
It was kinda awkward for a moment, then Viktor grabbed a beer from the Esky – a converted Repairs box – and settled in. We watched footy for a bit, then he made a joke about how great it was that we were all enjoying a break, with emphasis on the word ‘all’. It got awkward again. Viktor turned towards Ernesto, who quickly got up and got back to work. TJ and I shifted uneasily in our comfy seats.
Viktor mentioned that he was going to stack the boxes of new books when he got up, and he looked over at Ernesto again. Ernesto sighed and waked over to where the boxes were lying. He went to pick one up but it must’ve been to heavy for him because it stayed where it was. TJ and I started to rise to help him, but Viktor put his arms around our shoulders in a blokey-camaraderie kind of way, told us to enjoy the game and pushed us back down. We both obeyed, and the awkwardness factor went off the scale.
A few minutes went by with the huffing and puffing from Ernesto’s direction being muted by the sounds of the game. He was struggling but Viktor refused, politely, to let us leave our seats. After a couple more minutes we heard Ernesto panting from the heavy weight of the boxes. Viktor looked over, smiled and said,
“Need a hand old man? If you’re not up to it one of these younger, fitter lads can do the work for you.”
Ernesto muttered something under his breath and resumed his labour. He bent down to pick up the last box, hefted it up with great effort, and went to stack it on top of the other boxes. It happened in slow motion. He jammed his finger as he went to put the box down. It fell towards him, winding him and knocking him backwards. The rest of the stack came crashing down.
As the ambulance left I remember Viktor saying that there was no OHS procedure in place, and that’s why Ernesto got hurt. I went to say something and he looked at me and smiled and said how there would be a new vacancy while Ernesto was recovering from his injury. Something about the way he said it struck me as odd, almost like what had juat happened wasn’t all that important. Maybe I’m just imagining things…
-Jay
Since Pepper’s gone Boudecia’s been doing all her duties, and it’s definitely made things… different. For example, she now does story time with the kids. Pepper used to let the kids run around the Junior Playground (as she called it) while she read stories, whereas Boudecia makes them sit in rows and columns in complete silence. Yesterday a little boy spoke while she was reading “Where’s My Cow?”, and she made him sit in Teenage facing the wall for the rest of the story. She runs story time like it’s lunch break at a prison, only with less food.
Viktor’s virtually the opposite, and everything you could want in a boss. He always smiles at me, shakes my hand, says I’m doing a great job all the time, even when he catches me reading out in the shelves and I hide my book quickly but I know he’s spotted me doing it. I just have one small, tiny, insignificant issue with the way he runs the library.
Today I was on with Ernesto and TJ. It so rarely happens that there are only guys working that we decided to celebrate this momentous occasion. I had the footy up on the checkout computer so we could watch while we were working, and Ernesto had brought ginger beer – it’s as close as we’re gonna get to drinking on the job. TJ was talking about this girl he really likes, when Viktor came up to the desk and sat with us on the beanbags we’d dragged over from Junior, as Boudecia won’t allow non-standard chairs in there any more.
It was kinda awkward for a moment, then Viktor grabbed a beer from the Esky – a converted Repairs box – and settled in. We watched footy for a bit, then he made a joke about how great it was that we were all enjoying a break, with emphasis on the word ‘all’. It got awkward again. Viktor turned towards Ernesto, who quickly got up and got back to work. TJ and I shifted uneasily in our comfy seats.
Viktor mentioned that he was going to stack the boxes of new books when he got up, and he looked over at Ernesto again. Ernesto sighed and waked over to where the boxes were lying. He went to pick one up but it must’ve been to heavy for him because it stayed where it was. TJ and I started to rise to help him, but Viktor put his arms around our shoulders in a blokey-camaraderie kind of way, told us to enjoy the game and pushed us back down. We both obeyed, and the awkwardness factor went off the scale.
A few minutes went by with the huffing and puffing from Ernesto’s direction being muted by the sounds of the game. He was struggling but Viktor refused, politely, to let us leave our seats. After a couple more minutes we heard Ernesto panting from the heavy weight of the boxes. Viktor looked over, smiled and said,
“Need a hand old man? If you’re not up to it one of these younger, fitter lads can do the work for you.”
Ernesto muttered something under his breath and resumed his labour. He bent down to pick up the last box, hefted it up with great effort, and went to stack it on top of the other boxes. It happened in slow motion. He jammed his finger as he went to put the box down. It fell towards him, winding him and knocking him backwards. The rest of the stack came crashing down.
As the ambulance left I remember Viktor saying that there was no OHS procedure in place, and that’s why Ernesto got hurt. I went to say something and he looked at me and smiled and said how there would be a new vacancy while Ernesto was recovering from his injury. Something about the way he said it struck me as odd, almost like what had juat happened wasn’t all that important. Maybe I’m just imagining things…
-Jay
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
#39 Convinced
Dear diary,
We got a load of new equipment for the library today. A lot of it’s really cool, like the cordless scanners, which you can use to check-in books from anywhere in the library. They also have portable screens which you can strap to your wrist! It certainly makes in-house check-ins a lot easier.
The coolest thing is this new robot gadget. It has all the above trimmings ad so much more. It’s got incredible AI – it reads spine labels and knows when there’s something out of order. It means I’ll never have to shelf-read again! It’s called SIR (Shelving and In-house Returns) and is meant to be complementary to BOB in that it checks stuff in insead of checking stuff out.
Viktor was there overseeing the whole operation. He’s moved into Boudecia’s office, and even though the others all offered to share their desks with her she refused. Instead she’s using the Reference terminal in the main part of the library, sharing with Shannon. I can see Shannon’s kind of afraid of Boudecia, which makes me feel better, out of spite.
So, new technology, no more shelf-reading, Shannon’s annoyed, and the pay is slightly better. What more could I ask for?
-Jay
We got a load of new equipment for the library today. A lot of it’s really cool, like the cordless scanners, which you can use to check-in books from anywhere in the library. They also have portable screens which you can strap to your wrist! It certainly makes in-house check-ins a lot easier.
The coolest thing is this new robot gadget. It has all the above trimmings ad so much more. It’s got incredible AI – it reads spine labels and knows when there’s something out of order. It means I’ll never have to shelf-read again! It’s called SIR (Shelving and In-house Returns) and is meant to be complementary to BOB in that it checks stuff in insead of checking stuff out.
Viktor was there overseeing the whole operation. He’s moved into Boudecia’s office, and even though the others all offered to share their desks with her she refused. Instead she’s using the Reference terminal in the main part of the library, sharing with Shannon. I can see Shannon’s kind of afraid of Boudecia, which makes me feel better, out of spite.
So, new technology, no more shelf-reading, Shannon’s annoyed, and the pay is slightly better. What more could I ask for?
-Jay
Friday, September 5, 2008
#38 Overtaken
Dear diary,
When I arrived at work today there was a sign out the front stating that the library was closed. Confused, I let myself in through the back entrance and found everyone in the staffroom. They were all concerned. Boudecia came out of her office carrying a cardboard box; her birdcage was sitting on top of a pile of stationery and, of course, books.
Viktor came out after her, smiling. He looked like he’d just won a million dollars, however the exact opposite had just occurred – he’d invested $1,000,000 in the library, my library, and ended up owning more than half of the shares. This meant that he had just seized ownership of the library from the council, for BiblioTech Corp.
He explained all of this to us as we stood there bewildered in the staffroom. Sylvia seemed shocked. Goldie appeared gobsmacked. TJ was in turmoil and Bron looked befuddled. I saw Talia grip Shannon’s arm and the two of them wore deeply concerned expressions. I can’t understand why.
Ernesto was first to speak. He began by asking the question that was on the forefront of all our minds: What will happen to us? Viktor smiled another of his smiles and said that we would all keep our jobs. But on one condition: that we signed a contract with BiblioTech Corp to say that we would be employed by them and solely them, with no ties to council.
I wonder how this will affect my work? The others are quite apprehensive about the takeover, but I don’t see a problem with it. I mean, they produce some great pieces of equipment, and having direct access to all of it can only improve services in the library. Right?
-Jay
When I arrived at work today there was a sign out the front stating that the library was closed. Confused, I let myself in through the back entrance and found everyone in the staffroom. They were all concerned. Boudecia came out of her office carrying a cardboard box; her birdcage was sitting on top of a pile of stationery and, of course, books.
Viktor came out after her, smiling. He looked like he’d just won a million dollars, however the exact opposite had just occurred – he’d invested $1,000,000 in the library, my library, and ended up owning more than half of the shares. This meant that he had just seized ownership of the library from the council, for BiblioTech Corp.
He explained all of this to us as we stood there bewildered in the staffroom. Sylvia seemed shocked. Goldie appeared gobsmacked. TJ was in turmoil and Bron looked befuddled. I saw Talia grip Shannon’s arm and the two of them wore deeply concerned expressions. I can’t understand why.
Ernesto was first to speak. He began by asking the question that was on the forefront of all our minds: What will happen to us? Viktor smiled another of his smiles and said that we would all keep our jobs. But on one condition: that we signed a contract with BiblioTech Corp to say that we would be employed by them and solely them, with no ties to council.
I wonder how this will affect my work? The others are quite apprehensive about the takeover, but I don’t see a problem with it. I mean, they produce some great pieces of equipment, and having direct access to all of it can only improve services in the library. Right?
-Jay
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
#37 Sojourn, part 2
(Previously, in Shelver Explorer: Boudecia reveals her powers to me and tells me I must learn more about the library. She and Ernesto lock me in a storeroom where I am attacked by what I believe to be my old nemesis, the poltergeist. The story picks up after I am backed up in a corner…)
The poltergeist stared me down, its eyes flashing an angry red. I saw other spirits swarming behind it. They each looked identical, except for one which had a book floating inside it. It plucked the book out and threw it at me. As the book reached the apex of its trajectory it exploded into a flurry of paper. Several small scraps fell in front of me, and I knew instantly that I should read them.
[You] [flushed] [one of us] [down] [the sin] [k!] [You’ll] [suffer for] [That]
They swarmed me, swiping at me with ghostly claws. Their scratches left no marks but felt cold and clammy, like a cold clam. I closed my eyes in terror; it didn’t help to know that they couldn’t actually hurt me by going full pelt as they were. I began mentally reciting closing procedures to block out their screeching.
Alert patrons we’re closing in 15 minutes. Check toilets. Turn off BOB. Collect in-house items. The ghosts must’ve realised they weren’t achieving anything, and the assaults became less ferocious and less frequent.
Alert patrons we’re closing in 10 minutes. Turn off catalogues. Turn off photocopiers. Refill photocopiers and printers. The attacks stopped completely, yet I didn’t dare move from my huddled foetal position in the corner.
Alert patrons we’re closing in 5 minutes. Turn off printers. Turn off public computer terminals. Take stats. I heard a loud grinding sound straight ahead, and when I looked up I saw the ghosts commandeering a filing cabinet, headed very slowly in my direction.
Alert patrons that the library as closed. Lock the front door. Switch off front desk terminals. Ask the librarian if there’s anything else I can…
I can… do… to help…
I picked up the decimated book in front of me and flicked through the pages at lightning speed, tearing out any relevant pages. Son I had what I needed, and carefully I tore out individual words and lay them down on the floor. The cabinet-cum-juggernaut hadn’t made it very far before I had my message ready.
[S] [orry about] [the other] [pol] [terge] [ist] {I’m} [new] [here] [I] [did] [NT] [know]
The ghosts stopped mid-attack. One floated towards me, its eyes uch darker than the others’. It looked vaguely familiar, yet implacable. The tattered remains of the book flew out of my hand, and small tears of paper fell to the floor like confetti.
[You] [will make up] [for it] [you have] [my] [blessing] [say] [hi] [to the] [living] [librar] [ians] [from me,] [book] [man]
With that, the lights began to flicker and slowly came on. When they did the ghosts had vanished. There was mess everywhere, and there was now a rogue filing cabinet awkwardly positioned in the centre of the room. There was a hole in the wall where it had been – about human-sized – and I tentatively crawled through it. I’m an explorer at heart – if I were a cat I’d’ve been killed by curiosity long ago. The tunnel curved upwards, and I could see light poking its way in. I found a trapdoor handle and pulled, revealing my location: under one of the carrels in the Reference section.
I emerged effortfully and staggered back ot the front desk where Boudecia and Ernesto were waiting for me. Ernesto smiled and patted me on the back, while Boudecia raised her chin ever so slightly to signal her approval.
“Book man says hi,” I said, before stumbling past them both and out the front door.
-Jay
The poltergeist stared me down, its eyes flashing an angry red. I saw other spirits swarming behind it. They each looked identical, except for one which had a book floating inside it. It plucked the book out and threw it at me. As the book reached the apex of its trajectory it exploded into a flurry of paper. Several small scraps fell in front of me, and I knew instantly that I should read them.
[You] [flushed] [one of us] [down] [the sin] [k!] [You’ll] [suffer for] [That]
They swarmed me, swiping at me with ghostly claws. Their scratches left no marks but felt cold and clammy, like a cold clam. I closed my eyes in terror; it didn’t help to know that they couldn’t actually hurt me by going full pelt as they were. I began mentally reciting closing procedures to block out their screeching.
Alert patrons we’re closing in 15 minutes. Check toilets. Turn off BOB. Collect in-house items. The ghosts must’ve realised they weren’t achieving anything, and the assaults became less ferocious and less frequent.
Alert patrons we’re closing in 10 minutes. Turn off catalogues. Turn off photocopiers. Refill photocopiers and printers. The attacks stopped completely, yet I didn’t dare move from my huddled foetal position in the corner.
Alert patrons we’re closing in 5 minutes. Turn off printers. Turn off public computer terminals. Take stats. I heard a loud grinding sound straight ahead, and when I looked up I saw the ghosts commandeering a filing cabinet, headed very slowly in my direction.
Alert patrons that the library as closed. Lock the front door. Switch off front desk terminals. Ask the librarian if there’s anything else I can…
I can… do… to help…
I picked up the decimated book in front of me and flicked through the pages at lightning speed, tearing out any relevant pages. Son I had what I needed, and carefully I tore out individual words and lay them down on the floor. The cabinet-cum-juggernaut hadn’t made it very far before I had my message ready.
[S] [orry about] [the other] [pol] [terge] [ist] {I’m} [new] [here] [I] [did] [NT] [know]
The ghosts stopped mid-attack. One floated towards me, its eyes uch darker than the others’. It looked vaguely familiar, yet implacable. The tattered remains of the book flew out of my hand, and small tears of paper fell to the floor like confetti.
[You] [will make up] [for it] [you have] [my] [blessing] [say] [hi] [to the] [living] [librar] [ians] [from me,] [book] [man]
With that, the lights began to flicker and slowly came on. When they did the ghosts had vanished. There was mess everywhere, and there was now a rogue filing cabinet awkwardly positioned in the centre of the room. There was a hole in the wall where it had been – about human-sized – and I tentatively crawled through it. I’m an explorer at heart – if I were a cat I’d’ve been killed by curiosity long ago. The tunnel curved upwards, and I could see light poking its way in. I found a trapdoor handle and pulled, revealing my location: under one of the carrels in the Reference section.
I emerged effortfully and staggered back ot the front desk where Boudecia and Ernesto were waiting for me. Ernesto smiled and patted me on the back, while Boudecia raised her chin ever so slightly to signal her approval.
“Book man says hi,” I said, before stumbling past them both and out the front door.
-Jay
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
#36 Sojourn, part 1
Dear diary,
For the past few weeks I've been avoiding Boudecia. She hasn't approached me since I witnessed her metamorphosis, and I certainly didn't want to bring it up, so it was fairly mutual. I hadn't told anyone else about it either - I mean, it's not the kind of thing which normally comes up in conversation. I was quite content to leave it unsaid. But that wasn't to be.
She approached me as I was shelf-reading in Fiction. I saw her coming but when I tried to stand I found the pins-and-needles that had set in my legs made that slightly impossible to achieve. I looked up timidly as my transforming boss towered above me, blocking out the fluorescent lighting and casting a heavy shadow upon me.
“Come with me, boy. It is time you learnt more about the library, what it truly is. I eed you to assist a… member of staff.”
Her command was so impelling that I stood to attention despite the protest from my legs. Boudecia led me to the staffroom, where Ernesto was waiting for us. His eyes gleamed knowingly, and I felt a wave of peace wash over me to combat the fierce intensity of Boudecia.
Without a word the two librarians turned and walked toward the locked door at the back of the staffroom. They each reached into their pockets and retrieved identical silver keys. They inserted the keys into the two locks simultaneously. I heard several clicks, like a horde of scuttling scarabs, and the door creaked open.
I walked past the two doorkeepers slowly and entered the room. Behind me I heard a SLAM! as the door shut. I pounded on the door with my fists, but to no avail. The room was pitch black and felt damp. There was a feint ‘whooshing’ sound all around. I brought out my trusty Swiss army knife and turned on the flashlight, then immediately wished I hadn’t.
Pale silhouettes floated around the storeroom, their features translucent and ectoplasmic. They flickered from one colour to the next, never staying one for too long. It was like a rainbow was exploding inside every one of them. My jaw dropped, as did my army knife. The light switched off the moment it hit the floor, and the room was flown into darkness once more.
I bent down to pick up the army knife, desperate to have light, to be able to see the things I now knew were everywhere around me. I fumbled with it nervously before finally locating the right button. The light high-beamed a ghost which was right I front of me. It wore a face I have never forgotten: it was the poltergeist, the one Ernesto and I banished last year by pouring it down the sink. Both it and I stared at each other, frozen in uncertainty. We must’ve reached a decision at the same time, because as I backed away it came towards me, eyes menacing. My back hit the all, and I knew I was trapped here, in a corner in a storeroom, with nowhere to go…
To be continued…
For the past few weeks I've been avoiding Boudecia. She hasn't approached me since I witnessed her metamorphosis, and I certainly didn't want to bring it up, so it was fairly mutual. I hadn't told anyone else about it either - I mean, it's not the kind of thing which normally comes up in conversation. I was quite content to leave it unsaid. But that wasn't to be.
She approached me as I was shelf-reading in Fiction. I saw her coming but when I tried to stand I found the pins-and-needles that had set in my legs made that slightly impossible to achieve. I looked up timidly as my transforming boss towered above me, blocking out the fluorescent lighting and casting a heavy shadow upon me.
“Come with me, boy. It is time you learnt more about the library, what it truly is. I eed you to assist a… member of staff.”
Her command was so impelling that I stood to attention despite the protest from my legs. Boudecia led me to the staffroom, where Ernesto was waiting for us. His eyes gleamed knowingly, and I felt a wave of peace wash over me to combat the fierce intensity of Boudecia.
Without a word the two librarians turned and walked toward the locked door at the back of the staffroom. They each reached into their pockets and retrieved identical silver keys. They inserted the keys into the two locks simultaneously. I heard several clicks, like a horde of scuttling scarabs, and the door creaked open.
I walked past the two doorkeepers slowly and entered the room. Behind me I heard a SLAM! as the door shut. I pounded on the door with my fists, but to no avail. The room was pitch black and felt damp. There was a feint ‘whooshing’ sound all around. I brought out my trusty Swiss army knife and turned on the flashlight, then immediately wished I hadn’t.
Pale silhouettes floated around the storeroom, their features translucent and ectoplasmic. They flickered from one colour to the next, never staying one for too long. It was like a rainbow was exploding inside every one of them. My jaw dropped, as did my army knife. The light switched off the moment it hit the floor, and the room was flown into darkness once more.
I bent down to pick up the army knife, desperate to have light, to be able to see the things I now knew were everywhere around me. I fumbled with it nervously before finally locating the right button. The light high-beamed a ghost which was right I front of me. It wore a face I have never forgotten: it was the poltergeist, the one Ernesto and I banished last year by pouring it down the sink. Both it and I stared at each other, frozen in uncertainty. We must’ve reached a decision at the same time, because as I backed away it came towards me, eyes menacing. My back hit the all, and I knew I was trapped here, in a corner in a storeroom, with nowhere to go…
To be continued…
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