Comments on: B&N emailed me back… http://www.lisjobs.com/blog/?p=705 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:31:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Melissa http://www.lisjobs.com/blog/?p=705&cpage=1#comment-6601 Melissa Mon, 11 May 2009 23:26:45 +0000 http://www.lisjobs.com/blog/?p=705#comment-6601 While I understand your frustration, and that particular B & N found a lousy way to convey their message, I worked in a B & N store where people would sit in the comfy chairs 6 feet away from an outlet and then string a cord across making a nice tripping hazard; or move a large overstuffed chair in front of a bookcase thus blocking anyone who wanted to browse--and God forbid--purchase a book. There is community space. But, it is in fact a retail store--not a library. And while they make comfortable seating available to review items before purchase or enjoy a coffee, their main goal is for you to purchase. My assumption would be that the rude signage came from frustrated staff who needed something to point to when a customer was asked to move and said "there's nothing saying I can't use the outlet". Having come to the library world from bookselling, I find it sort of humorous that libraries see bookstores as a threat. When I worked in the bookstore, we were forever grousing about the people who think bookstores ARE libraries and so many times I would refer customers to the library. Students who think nothing of spreading out in the middle of an aisle to study, or ask for the music to be turned off, or want you to carry some obscure medical text needed for a class. Or the guy who comes in every day to read a paperback book and thinks nothing of breaking the spine making it unsaleable. Or the parent who allows a child to pull stickers out of a sticker book. While I understand your frustration, and that particular B & N found a lousy way to convey their message, I worked in a B & N store where people would sit in the comfy chairs 6 feet away from an outlet and then string a cord across making a nice tripping hazard; or move a large overstuffed chair in front of a bookcase thus blocking anyone who wanted to browse–and God forbid–purchase a book.

There is community space. But, it is in fact a retail store–not a library. And while they make comfortable seating available to review items before purchase or enjoy a coffee, their main goal is for you to purchase. My assumption would be that the rude signage came from frustrated staff who needed something to point to when a customer was asked to move and said “there’s nothing saying I can’t use the outlet”.

Having come to the library world from bookselling, I find it sort of humorous that libraries see bookstores as a threat. When I worked in the bookstore, we were forever grousing about the people who think bookstores ARE libraries and so many times I would refer customers to the library. Students who think nothing of spreading out in the middle of an aisle to study, or ask for the music to be turned off, or want you to carry some obscure medical text needed for a class. Or the guy who comes in every day to read a paperback book and thinks nothing of breaking the spine making it unsaleable. Or the parent who allows a child to pull stickers out of a sticker book.

]]> By: Kteacat http://www.lisjobs.com/blog/?p=705&cpage=1#comment-6238 Kteacat Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:30:37 +0000 http://www.lisjobs.com/blog/?p=705#comment-6238 Clearly, B&N wants you to buy the books and then leave...no community space here. I'm annoyed for you! Clearly, B&N wants you to buy the books and then leave…no community space here. I’m annoyed for you!

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