In the Afternoon

Part of the city blew up! We watch streaming helicopter footage.
Fax.
Notarization.
The importance of being earnest on DVD.
She left a USB cable here last week. I remember someone turning it in, but it's gone now.
Clashes of cavalry, by Thom Hatch, and Robert Fulghum books.
More streaming footage. Several stores trashed. I'm glad I took a different route to work today.
"Why this computer keep going off?"
Midwives, by Chris Bohjalian. "Don't take grand avenue. They blocked it off for some reason." We know.
A patron says the explosion occurred in the beauty shop.
Microfilm advice.
Printer advice.
Notarization. Sign where my finger is, ma'am. My FINGER.
A patron waves to me as he leaves. I do not remember who he is.
We rescue the contents of her floppy.
Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, and Papillon.
Cribbage.
Two faxes.
I replace the computer reservation printer roll.
The perfect storm.
Public computer reboot.
Sorry, sir, the only newspaper on microfilm here is the local one.
Yes, sir, that class begins Tuesday.
Another reboot.
Phone books.
Two-sided copying.
That's not the patron password screen, ma'am, it's the Windows boot screen.
Shut up! (School is out)
"I need a county clerk's office number. My wife's in prison, it's a long story."

(Later) Happily, no fatalities. A few injured. That's kind of a miracle. It's a busy street.

Yesterday, in the Snow

Every other library and every school in the district is closed today, but us? We're open.
"I am too allowed to use the computers! My library said they would tell you about the change! I walked all the way in this weather to use the computers here! I have a consitutional right to swear! I'm going back and I'm going to sue you!"
The next patron is equally loud. He's from a rich suburb and in a friendly chatty way refers to our town as the "Armpit of Illinois" and adds "I'm sure there's a few good things about this town," in a very loud voice.
Sorry, ma'am. We still don't have the IL-1363 forms. I know the state's hotline told you otherwise.
Computer signup advice.
Do we have a certain flyer?
I am described as a "computer maven."
His Blackjack needs tethering to a Mac.
We're closing at 11:00!
Everyone is so impatient today. Circ is understaffed, and people are whining and complaining about what a hurry they're in.
Today's paper.
One True Friend, by Joyce Hansen.
Breaking Point, by Martha Beck.
He's desperate for wireless, so much so that he's willing to sit outside in the winter storm to use it.
Time to go, folks! We're closing! ... Uh, folks? Ahem! Folks?

Selected Transactions from Today:

"I have a book title. It's in German. M-E-I-N ... K-A ... Your copies are checked out? Do you have any Noam Chomsky?"

She inhaled the Princess diaries series in three weeks, but will have to wait months for the final volume.

I figure out what "sopa de pollo para" means through sheer repetition of titles.

Yesterday Morning:

Bathroom.
Library cards over there, sir.
"I'm completely computer literate." They storm off when I tell them about the signup
procedure.
Hepatitis C. "Want to see what I'm up against." I didn't need to know that he has it ...
Tax forms are out in the lobby, ma'am.
Study room signup.
Night, by Elie Wiesel. The patron hangs up before I can grab a copy. She calls back and hangs up on my coworker.
Computer signup. "How come we gotta go through this?"
Fax.
Today's paper.
I locked the woman out of the study room!
Help in filling out the meeting room request form.
The spelling of "Iroquois."
Super Mario brothers.
Pen.
Computer signup advice.
Estimated tax form.
Discussion over the cost of the thumb drives we sell now.
Scissors.
Two for the dough, by Janet Evanovich.
You have to go into your email account to send email, ma'am.
Bathroom's over there, sir.
Why don't we offer daytime computer classes anymore, and why didn't she get a flyer in the mail like her friend did?
Blood brother, by Anne Bird.
The religion, by Tim Willocks. Mad dash, by Patricia Gaffney. Bone Lake, by Drusilla Campbell.

In the Afternoon:

Er, Happy New Year.
Terry McMillan books.
The best Christmas pageant ever, by Barbara Robinson.
How to put money on her print card.
"I've been to four libraries and your's is the only one that doesn't allow ..."
Fax.
Computer class signup.
Maus 2, by Art Spiegelman.
Computer class signup.
Where can she get her birth certificate?
Don't run!
Computer class signup, and you get a library card over there, sir.
I confuse a patron when describing the difference between our library cards and print cards.
How to put money on your library card, or print card ... whatever.
Sorry, we don't have headphones.
Chibi vampire 7 and 8.
Renewing a late ILL? I can't, sorry.
Lorenzo's oil.
Computer class signup.
"Urban authors."
Damn, it's busy.
Fax.
How to upload a resume.
More urban authors.
"All the computers are reserved, but no one's at 'em."
Another urban author.
Pencil.
Printer advice.
I can't register you to vote until I get a current address, sir.
A recording of Taps.
They'll make change over there, ma'am.
Well, I didn't call you, lady (Librarian V did).
It's the slowest machine in the library, ma'am. Nothing I can do.
Back issues of the paper are over there, ma'am.
Wiccan books.
That class is booked up, ma'am.
(repeat)
"I can't log in ... Sorry, I did after all."
They'll renew your card over there, ma'am.
We had our run of Huckleberry Finn audio tapes and movies last year. Every student who wants it now is going to get the book whether they want it or not.
Herbal healing. They're so buzy jabbering at each other that they lose me when we reaach the stacks.
Sheet music with some harmonies, maybe doo-wop.
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson.
No, Librarian M isn't on desk today.
Another patron amazed that we can't set up our computer classes for their convenience.
How would he buy a book online?
The man just stares at the copier until I help him out. Twice.
The age of turbulence, by Alan Greenspan.
MORE copier advice for that man.
You need a library card to use the Internet, sir.
How to put money on a library debit card.
Parkinson's disease.
The computer reservation station is over there, ma'am.
"what county is Matteson Illinois in?"
"You show me how to print?"
The computer reservation station is over there, kids.

In the Morning

That guy's shoes squeak worse than mine.
Can I help you? (Click)
HOBET guides.
A patron explains the difference between Charlie Mccarthy and Paul McCartney, also the difference between rich and poor.
Can I help you? "No."
Today's paper.
A straightedge ruler and a pen, a black one, please.
A patron picks up an ILL'd videotape.
Sorry, no tax forms yet.
Two faxes and a paper clip.
He wants to call Flint, Michigan's library for a CD.
A project chick, by Nikki Turner.
Today's paper.
They'll get you a new card over there, lady.
They'll check your book out over there, lady.
Local restaurant phone number.
Microfilm reader help.
The microfilm lady is back because I failed to explain something.
He wonders why he can't convert a vid file to an MP3 from the software on our public machines.
Police officer exam books.
Our replacements are late, I'm told, because they're having lunch with the director.