Peeve of the Day: "I Disbelieve Your Reality!"

There are those very special people who come to the information desk, ask a question, and then choose to just disbelieve what we tell them.

Which, I suppose, they have every right to. My issue is when they just keep insisting that we are incorrect or wrong, over and over when we show them source after source of why we have the answer we have. Take for instance this encounter:

"I was told I can take a GRE test at Zee University"
"Well, let me check the locations that are GRE testing sites.... it looks like Zee University is not on that list. There are other local venues to take the test."
"I was told that Zee University offers this test."
"Well, according to the GRE offical testing website, they are not listed as a venue for the test."
"I would like to take the GRE test at Zee University, will you please let me know when the next test will be there?"
"It does not list any future testing dates for that particular venue"
"My teacher at ourlocalcollege told me that I could take my test at Zee University...."

Impressive isn't it? The blatant disregard to the reality of what is. The asking of the same question over and over as if the answer would somehow miraculously change. (I do believe that is the definition of insanity, no?) And given that Zee University is a good distance away, I haven't a clue why they were so hung-up on taking the test there and not someplace more local.

Education is Supposed to be Convenient, Don't You Know?

So I get this call on the reference desk today.

"Hello, do you have any videos on lumber?"
"No, I'm sorry I do not."
"What about on rain forests?"
"Do you mean in regards to deforestation and lumber?"
"Yes"
"I'm looking... and no, it appears that the only videos on rain forests we have are about the animals and ecosystems specifically - they don't appear to mention talking about deforestation and lumber. Is this for an assignment?"
"Yes"
"Ah. What grade level?"
"College."
"Oh." "Have you checked at the college library for materials yet?"
"No. It's hard to find the time to go, I have to work and it's just very inconvenient for me."
"Oh." "Well, we do not have any materials that will help you with your assignment here, I highly suggest you check with the college library - the materials they have there are gathered specifically to help college students with their assignments. The materials we have here are geared more to a general audience and do not necessarily translate well to academic papers."
"Well, could you get the materials from the college library for me?"
"Yes, if you would like to wait a month, I would be happy to do that."
"A month? Are you kidding me, I need them sooner than that."
"Then I suggest that you go to the college library (where you should have gone in the first place!) and get the materials directly from them."

And for the record -yes. We do state to all of our ILL (Inter-Library Loan) patrons that we expect to get the book in about a month. Sometimes we manage to get things faster than that - but not always. It makes me sad that I could say that and not lie, when it would make a much better story to have been an evil librarian jerking him around. Oh wait, that's right - librarians don't' usually jerk people around - everyone just thinks we do. Let me assure you - we don't like all the hoops and bureaucratic red tape either!

Crispy Librarians Just Say NO

Here's a tip from the librarian:

Do not ask me if I "can do that" and especially, don't punctuate it with the phrase, "right?"

Under no circumstances, if by some weird circumstance it must be asked, do not repeat it.

Because, most likely, the answer you will get, regardless of whether or not "I can" will be "NO."

Doubting the librarian is foolish. Goading the librarian in a manipulative gesture to appeal to their sense of ability, just plain stupid. We don't do what we do to prove we can do it. We'd have stuck to a career of hacking if that were the case. We do what we do because (most days) we like helping people. Except if your evil, in which case, we prefer to mock you in the back room for being so, write blogs to vent about you, and count our blessings that most people aren't like you.

Theme of the Day: Purple Pasty Faces

So, it should suprise no one that Mr. FOY came in today bumbling about something or another that his brain just couldn't comprehend. It makes perfect sense he started yelling and turning purple. Really.

And then a day later, right after a new encounter with the still peeved Mr. FOY from the previous day, I had to deal with Mr. Screenplay turning purple and getting in my face too. He was adamantly insisting that the library staff was out to get him and intentionally sabotaging him. He beleives, that when he returns materials, we hide one of the items he is supposed to return so he has to pay for it. The librarians are all unhelpful. The director won't listen to him.

I wonder why.

Peeve of the Day: Human Time Leeches

Mr. FOY called before we were open requesting something.

When I called him 15 mins after we opened, he stated " You missed the boat, I already have that." .... then why the hell didn't you try wherever you found it first instead of leaving us a message and having us do all that work for nothing?!?

The other major culprit of this phenomenon is Mr. Screenplay. I had blissfully not dealt with him in ages. It seems his anger at our new building had finally worn off and his need to belittle people and talk at someone overrode it. SO he got in my face. Incensed. About some musical composer from the 40s. Who was long dead. And yadda yaadda yadda. He invaded my personal space. It felt like an attack on me, even though rationally, I knew it wasn't. He tried to peer at my screen. Had it been anyone else, I would have been flattered they were so obviously going for a glance at my cleavage. The man is a sadistic asshole.