Dear fellow students,
If you study at the library (or at least pretend to study), you've probably seen me. I sit at this desk for 15 hours a week, looking over my section and making sure everything is as it should be. I try to be as quiet as possible so I won't disturb you, and when you make your way to an empty desk, I greet you with a smile to show you that I'm human and I care about you, the patrons of our library.
So, to prove to you that I'm not an android built to patrol the second floor, I've answered some questions about my job here.
No, I don't get paid to just sit at a desk for a few hours.
There's actually a lot more to my job than meets the eye. In the mornings, I get the lovely privilege of switching out the newspapers on their sticks so that you can grab the most up-to-date information. The task is very tedious, and my hands are practically black with all the ink that rubs off by the time I finish, which is usually around an hour after I start. I label and sort all the current journals and periodicals that we receive in the mail in the afternoon. I also take statistics of the section at the top of every hour, recording information that helps the library understand how much everything gets used. Lastly, do you know how to work a microform machine? Because I have been trained extensively on how to operate all three types of machines we own to better assist our patrons with their research needs.
Yes, I love interacting with patrons.
Even though I'm obligated to answer your questions, I'm always happy to do so. It's so nice to be a helpful resource to someone, even if I'm just telling them where the bathroom is. Don't feel like you have to figure everything out for yourself. If you need assistance, reach out to someone at a service desk like mine. We're here to help you!
No, I don't know where everything is in the library.
But if you ask me, I will try my absolute best to help you find out what you're looking for, where to find it, or who to ask for more help. I do, however, know my floor forwards and backwards, so if you're looking for current periodicals, reference books, microforms, or microfiche, I'm your gal.
Yes, I despise when people ignore the rules.
There's a sign before you enter my section that reads, "Quiet Study Area," and it means just that. People come to this section to get work done and they don't want to be disrupted. If you get a phone call, please take it outside the section. Wear your headphones. Talk quietly. If I'm giving you the stink eye, or oh-so-subtly clear my throat, your whispering isn't quiet enough. Please have courtesy for others; this isn't your dorm room.Yes, I'm jealous of the food you bring in.
I only get a 15-minute break during my shifts, so if I get to use it at all, I typically go to the restroom, fill up my water bottle, and maybe check out a book for myself. Let's face it, 15 minutes is not enough time to order food from the cafe downstairs at peak hours, and finish it before I have to be back at my desk. So if you do bring food with you to study, kindly clean up after yourself when you're finished. Nobody wants to study at a dirty desk. And I'd be upset if you wasted good food.
You may not always see me, but I'm there at the desk. I'm there in the stacks sorting journals. I'm putting out the latest newspapers. I'm searching through microfilms to send out for interlibrary loans. And I do it all for you, the patrons. I love my job at the library, and I hope you love our library in return.
Sincerely,
Your friendly campus library assistant
