[Publib] Attitudes in the Library.

[Sharon Foster]

Behavior problems aside--as someone pointed out earlier, everyone
should be held to the same behavior standards in the library--the
public library is the last public space. You can't hang out all day at
city hall. The mall isn't public space. If anyone thinks it is, just
trying going there wearing a t-shirt with a controversial slogan on
it.

If some members of the community are uncomfortable about the presence
and the numbers of poor or homeless people at the library, maybe they
will be motivated to do something to alleviate the underlying problems
instead of just sweeping them (the problems and the people) under the
rug and out of sight.

Sharon M. Foster, 91.7% Librarian
Speaker-to-Computers
http://www.vsa-software.com/mlsportfolio/






2009/3/28 Jillian Lashmett <jlashmet at cumberland.lib.nc.us>:
> While I would love to walk into a church-like library, and relish the few
> remaining public libraries that are able to maintain this absurd/unnatural
> sense of hallowedness, I think there is no excuse save nostalgia to wish
> that the library was like the “good ole days” when people were intimidated
> by it. My own mother will not go into the library, and her daughter is a
> librarian! She does view the library like a church, like it belongs to
> someone else and you are just a annoying visitor who shouldn’t breathe too
> loud. She is a literate adult, over 50 years old and the library intimidates
> her because of how it was in the past. This is just absurd. People should
> not feel this way. It’s bad for business and bad for them too.
>
>
>
> I agree that we should encourage (read enforce) respect in the library, and
> find a way to manage our resources so that we provide high-quality materials
> and put more towards research activities than towards entertainment. I’m a
> strong supporter of computers areas with different functions. I don’t give 2
> craps what someone is doing on Facebook—“networking”, waiting to hear from a
> friend about a job, writing to their child in Iraq, sending ridiculous
> pictures to their friends-- if it is important to them, it is important.
> However, people who are doing research, applying for jobs, dare I say
> it..learning or trying to learn need to have easy access.  They shouldn’t
> have to wait for hours for someone talking crap to their friend who is
> across the room. (In my library, having a bloody teen area would solve 90%
> of our problems, but I’m not the person who makes these decisions.)
>
>
>
> In my opinion there are bigger, deeper issues here than what is
> entertainment and what is valid learning. I work in an urban library and
> when I see people come and do to use the computers or check out books, I see
> one big lesson in race and class, especially class. Adults, librarians
> included, complain and complain about the teenagers and riff raff, but we
> should all know that the people who smell and wreak havoc and spend all day
> on Facebook would be doing this at home if they had the cash. People are
> crummy and lazy and rude and stinky, but they want to participate and the
> library is the only way for a lot of people. It is society’s focus on the
> individual that is the problem, not the library’s. People who have money pay
> attention to the millions of advertisements encouraging them to buy one more
> thing and treat themselves to the healing powers of carrots stuck in your
> ears, and the spa who can provide this service with chocolate covered
> strawberries on top. Even if you don’t have money, this idea is everywhere.
> The library is one of the few public spaces left, and in my town, like many,
> doesn’t have free showers or free mental health care. What’s a librarian to
> do??
>
>
>
> Yes, I want people to have more respect for the library, but no amount of
> rules is going to change that. When I enforce rules, I do my best the convey
> to people that they are not just violating a rule they are disrespecting
> everyone in the library and not just my sense of decorum and the sacredness
> of books. Major attitude shifts need to take place—people have to see
> themselves as part of a larger picture. The rich folks at home are as
> selfish as the poor folks at the library, and that’s part of the problem.
>
>
>
> I’ll stop now so I can go open the doors.
>
>
>
> jillian
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
> On Behalf Of terry.lawler at phoenix.gov
> Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 5:33 PM
> To: Backwage at aol.com
> Cc: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Publib] Attitudes in the Library.
>
>
>
> As usual, you crack me up.  I am very sure that I would never have been able
> to keep a straight face if someone asked me what semen tased like.
>
>
>
> It is true, as a public librarian I don't always get to set the terms of the
> encounter.  I get to set limits, but the terms aren't always mine.  On the
> days when that gets frustrating and I start to judge people, I just remember
> that I have the coolest job on the planet and thank the gods and goddesses
> that I'm not still working at Hooters.
>
>
>
> Oh, and I am pretty sure that I DO make a lot of kids pray for my
> forgiveness;)
>
> ***************************************************************
> "We connect today's community to a world of possibilities."
>
> Terry Ann Lawler             4402 N. 51st Avenue
> Librarian II*Lead               Phoenix  AZ  85031
> Palo Verde Library            602-534-5967
>   www.phxlib.org
>
> Read Our Teen Blog
> www.phxblaze.blogspot.com
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> www.myspace.com/phxlib
>
>
>
> -----Backwage at aol.com wrote: -----
>
> To: Terry Lawler/LIB/PHX at PHXENT, publib at webjunction.org
> From: Backwage at aol.com
> Date: 03/27/2009 03:10PM
> Subject: Re: [Publib] Attitudes in the Library.
>
>
> In a message dated 3/27/2009 11:24:31 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> terry.lawler at phoenix.gov writes:
>
> 1. What sexual positions are good for someone who is 8 months pregnant?
>
> 2. How do I expunge my criminal record?
>
> 3. How do I know when my eggplants are ripe?
>
> 4. I want to make my car run on old french fry juice, how do I do it?
>
> 5. I need to learn how to cook Mexican food, I just moved in with my dad and
> I'm tired of eating quesadillas every night.
>
> Just by way of comparison, the questions I have been recently asked while
> working as an analyst and researcher in a private firm:
>
>
>
> 1.  "Is it true that having sex is good for cramps?"  (at first I thought
> she said "gramps" and had my answer all ready).
>
>
>
> 2.  "How do I expunge my son's criminal record?"
>
>
>
> 3.  "Can you find my son-in-law?" (daughter was pregnant)
>
>
>
> 4.  "What is the cheapest place around for Thai food?"  (they were buying)
>
>
>
> 5.  "You're a librarian?  Why don't you work in a library?  I thought that
> was for women."  (I told him I was pretending)
>
>
>
> 6.  "What does semen taste like?"  (I thought he said, 'cement,' and said,
> "It tastes like concrete, only dry."  After being corrected I said, "It
> probably tastes like children."
>
>
>
> My patrons aren't homeless drunks; they come back from lunch drunk
> sometimes.  One other difference:  when they ask me complex questions, I
> have to produce a written report with footnotes.  Last week I put together a
> response to an RFP in a couple of hours.
>
>
>
> Actually, the difference between this work and public library reference is
> that I can act like an old-time librarian.  I can recommend books and
> un-recommend others.  I can set the terms of encounter.  My people can work
> me very hard (I am on duty 24/7) but they respect me and my work.  Nobody
> dares to correct, doubt or second-guess me.  If they disagree, they can
> write their own report, and they haven't yet.
>
>
>
> On the side, I help some of the employees with their college homework; also
> their kids with whatever they're doing, so long as it isn't math or
> chemistry.  Most of what my firm publishes is written by me:  manuals,
> scripts, all that sort of thing.
>
>
>
> I think that being a librarian (by whatever name) you've got to have two
> attitudes:  one from Jesus and another from God.  You should act like you
> want to wash the feet of everybody you see, and simultaneously project that
> everybody ought to pray for your forgiveness.
>
>
>
> M.
>
>
>
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