[Publib] (no subject)

[Joshua Neff]

I'm one of the Persons in Charge at my library. As far as I'm concerned,
it's not the job of non-PICs to deal with rude people like that. That's why
I get paid the big (*ahem*) bucks, to deal with the jerks.

As far as our policy goes, if a patron is being disruptive or is interacting
with staff in an inappropriate manner, we can kick that person out of the
library for the day. If the person returns later and misbehaves again, they
can be kicked out of the library for an extended period of time.

Personally, if anyone talked to my staff in that way, I'd kick 'em out
without a second thought, and I'd do it happily. Nobody talks to my staff
like that and gets away with it.


--Joshua M. Neff
Indian Creek Branch
Olathe Public Library 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Scuderi, Judy
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 10:57 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] (no subject)

Second try to get this posted:

Publibbers,

I know patron behavior has been discussed on the list before but I would
like to know your general thoughts and perhaps stated policies about verbal
abuse by patrons.

Here is the story:

A patron came to the computer desk and asked for the next available opening.
The librarian told him there was an opening at 2:15.  The man said "what
time?" and the librarian said in a louder voice 2:15.  The man went
ballistic.  He told the librarian that he did not need to yell at him.  The
librarian was very calm and said "sir, I wasn't yelling, I was just giving
you your time slot."  The man continued to yell at the librarian about this
and that, and then he threw in a couple of cuss words.  The computer
librarian tried to keep him calm but he just didn't stop ranting.

In your experience, what would you have done and/or what do your policies
state?  This is a continuing problem for us.

And, somewhat related:

Do you issue library cards to homeless patrons?

What do you require for patrons to sign up for computer use?  We currently
have a sign up sheet that the librarian uses to sign up patrons (patrons do
not sign themselves up) and we require no i.d. or library card.  Do you
require i.d. in case there is a problem, perhaps regarding computer use or
patron behavior? 

Thanks,

Judy Scuderi
judy.scuderi at lakelandgov.net
Technical Services Librarian
Lakeland Public Library
100 Lake Morton Drive
Lakeland, Florida 33801
863 834-4278
863 834-4293 (fax)

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