[Publib] a delicate issue

[Chris Ely]

At 06:20 PM 11/24/2008, imukherjee100 at qc.cuny.edu wrote:
>Is anyone out there who can help us in dealing with a senior patron 
>whose arrival turns the library into an intolerable odor-polluted 
>place?  This customer is undoubtedly a fiction/best seller reader 
>and used to be one of our regulars. We tried our level best by 
>spraying around room freshener upon her departure. In the beginning 
>staff members complained but now things are getting out of hand as 
>other patrons started complaining too. It's definitely not a 
>"homeless" issue. Any suggestion on how to deal with this matter in 
>a legitimate and professional way would be really helpful. Thanks in advance.

Let me present the other side of the coin. It's still odor pollution, 
but many people wouldn't think so because it doesn't affect them.

I have three patrons who apparently bathe in perfume before leaving 
their homes. I'm sure their perfume is quite lovely, but as a 
migraine and allergy sufferer, their visits can leave me ill for 
days. My current part-timer isn't affected by it, so if he's here, he 
waits on them. Even so, lurking in the workroom a good 12 feet from 
the front desk can still leave me overwhelmed.

I'm not saying everyone should stop wearing perfume, as most perfume 
wearers don't bother me during brief interactions, but some might 
want to consider not being quite so "generous" with sharing their 
favorite scent. I've found a light citrus air freshener than helps a 
bit (and also helps with the other type of odor), but so far, we 
haven't said anything to anyone. I did have to ask the part-timer not 
to wear a particular fragrance, but since that's a daily interaction 
and not something every few weeks, it's a bit different.

Has anyone spoken to a patron about "smelling too good" before?

Chris Ely

=====================
Whitewright Public Library, Whitewright, Texas
www.whitewright.lib.tx.us  <librarian at whitewright.lib.tx.us>

"Pathetic human race. Arranging their knowledge by category just made 
it easier to absorb. Dewey, you fool, your decimal system has played 
right into my hands." Futurama
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