The Liminal Librarian

No, this isn't another post about cell phone usage, but I've been struck lately by the difference little things can make to people's perceptions of their public libraries. To wit:

• Yesterday I got an e-mail from my library that I'd returned a case without a CD, and to please bring back the CD. Wondering what kind of fines I'd accrued, I logged into my account to find that they'd renewed the CD for me so I wouldn't see any. I {heart} my library.
• When visiting the little branch library mentioned previously, we were using the self-checkout station when up popped a password prompt saying: "ITEM NOT DISCHARGED, ENTER OVERRIDE." Not patron-friendly language there, and I wonder how many people stand there typing in their e-mail or other passwords before giving up.
  
• My mom will no longer visit a certain local library. This is largely because, while browsing once, she stood a book on top of the shelf and was accosted by an overzealous security guard. "Ma'am, you're not allowed to display books in this library." She explained she just put it there while bending down to look at the bottom shelf, to no avail.

All of these things are minor, but each leaves a lasting impression. We could probably all benefit from taking a step back and thinking about the impression our "small stuff" is making.

Labels: publiclibraries, smallstuff