Conversations with patrons

Me: Good Evening. How can I help you?
Patron: Someone I know died and it is in the paper. My friends found out about this on the computer. I want it.
Me: Where did this person die?
Patron: In Calgary or Edmonton (in another province)
Me: Was it an accident? Was it reported in the paper or was it an obituary?
Patron: I don't know! (with lot of attitude). My friends found it on the computer. Look for it.
Me: Where did your friends find it? (I meant where on the computer - a newspaper site, general website, email)
Patron: On the computer!! Geez! Can you find it or not?
Me: I cannot find it if I don't know what I am looking for? And I don't know where your friends found it? Can you be more specific? Was this information in the newspaper?
Patron: Look! This person died in Calgary or Edmonton and my friends read about it on the computer! That's all I know. Can you please look into your computer?
Me: Sure. Do you know the name of the person who died? I can check the obituaries first and go from there.
Patron: Not really!
Me: ????????
Patron: ???????

Crazy afternoon

It's been a crazy afternoon and I wasn't even on desk serving patrons!! With two copies of daily schedule floating around any changes I made in the schedule didn't show up and I had to do it all over again. This time it wasn't my fault. I'll leave it at that and not point any fingers :))

I had to register for a conference and the fax machine was acting up. It kept saying "there is a problem with your number. Please check your number and dial again." So after faxing, I had to call the place (out of province) and confirm they got my fax. Gosh! All this technology! It can be useful only when it works! When it doesn't, it is a pain in the - you know where!

I hope the rest of the evening is quiet and I don't have those snarky patrons - what a positive attitude eh? But really on the positive side, I have tomorrow off! yay!!

Sweetheart Librarian

I had a question over the phone today from a patron who explained the contents of a book - Canadian author who wrote about himself and his son; had to do with them watching movies - now she couldn't remember the title.

It didn't take me too long to find the book as I had heard of it. She called me a sweetheart for finding it so quickly and relieving her of her headache.

A few days ago, I helped a patron (she was about 80 years old) find books on dating and relationships by Dr.Phil. This patron has promised to bring me flowers some day for all the help I offered.

I must be having a good month........Hope this luck lasts.......

In case you are wondering about the title in the first case: Film Club: A True Story of a Father and a Son by David Gilmour.