It's Not Monday Again!!!

Today we're having a science fair at the library. It will be a nightmare. Oh sure, fun for the kids and parents, but we are already swamped!!

We are starting to have more books in the back that need to be brought up front to shelve than on our shelves! Then everyone says, "It shows they're checked in, but I can't find them." Welcome to our library. The only one in the state of Texas that has more checked-in books that can't be found. Oh, sure we have them. But have you seen them stacked up on the floor in the back??? The sorting shelves were full a long time ago.

So we have to put the books we can't find on request so they can be found at the other libraries where they have a very small percentage of patron visits and checkouts.

Then? We're swamped with holds. With checking them in. With getting THEM shelved in our hold shelves.

*weary smile*

We have an automatic book drop now that checks the books in. But we still have to check them in. Why? Because it doesn't sort books into separate bins for the different libraries. It doesn't check to see if movie cases have movies in them. Or that audiobooks are returned with all their cds. Or if the items coming in are on hold for someone else. Or if the books are soaking wet, like someone dropped them in the bathtub while reading and taking a soak. Or if the book has missing pages, or colored on, or written on, or highlighted, or run over with their car--yes, we had a book with tire tracks on it--very warped book. Or they allowed their wolf pup to teethe on it. Or...well, you get the point. The book drop isn't human.

When we got all these new-fangled gadgets--the self-check is great!--we had patrons saying the library wouldn't need us any more.

Right.

We are so swamped we can't get caught up. And no, we don't get to read books all day! *big grin*

So this is me on Monday--wishing I could be this puppy and not at work!

Maybe this is the way to deal with a Monday!


Thanks so Bonnie for the kilted Darth Vader!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com