Working on the job....psssh

There are a few perks that come with working in the library, and one of them is being able to pick up and read books while on the job that catch your eye. I spotted this book, The Bacon Cookbook: More than 150 Recipes from Around the World for Everyone's Favorite Food, from my desk and was imediately intrigued. I love bacon, but because of the obvious health concerns-high sodium, cholesterol, and fat-don't eat it too often. However after quickly glancing through the book, I found a few recipes that piqued my interest. This book will definitely make it on my Amazon queue.

Whistling is for the dogs.

This blog is fast becoming my outlet to let off steam from everyday life with a bit of food and knitting thrown into the mix. And this blog entry is no different. If ain't broke.....

My work day was pretty ordinary except for one glaring incident. While working at my desk a patron whistled, yes whistled, for me to come over and help him with the computer. Since I've been on the job, patrons have caught my attention to ask for help in a variety of ways. Some say, "Excuse me, Miss", "Ma'am, can you help me", "Can you help me". Others just raise their index finger or wave (that really annoys me for reasons I will cover later), and now today, someone whistled for me like I was a dog.

Pissed off does not even to begin to describe my reaction to the rude gesture. I am a woman, human being, and at least in my capacity at work, someone who has a better understanding of computers than the person asking for assistance; and as such I should be treated with respect. I'm not asking for statutes to be built in my honor or parades thrown on my birthday (Ha ha!), but I expect to treated respectfully as any human being would, and my authority to be acknowledged and recognized. It's very simple, you wouldn't whistle for your mother, so don't whistle for me.

If I could look at this from a more objective standpoint, I could possibly admit there might have been a cultural dynamic at work. It was apparent this particular patron was a recent immigrant to the United States. Perhaps he saw nothing wrong with what he did, maybe his actions did not breach his social norms. But for me this just another gesture in a long line of socially unacceptable actions I have to put up with at work.

At first I did not think too much about the a male patron (and it's almost always men), who would raise his finger or dismissively wave his hand. But when these events occur on a daily basis, and when male patrons continually disregard your warnings to curb their conduct, the wonder of the situation ceases to exist, and you see things for how they really are.

I don't answer to you....

On the grand scale of things, I ranked pretty low on the totem pole at work. I do not have the authority to make procedural decisions (or really any other kind of decisions) on my own without prior approval from my immediate supervisor.

I'm more than certain the other employees are aware of this. I have deferred to my supervisor more than once when I am not sure about the correct procedure for any given situation. I've hardly been secretive about my ignorance on work related issues. So why then does my co-worker ask me to go over my supervisor's head, and then cop an attitude for not 1, but 2 days when tell him I'm not sure I can do what he asked without my supervisor's approval?

And the best part is, this particular co-worker is old enough to be my father, and should in theory, be above this kind of childish pettiness of withholding materials, which keeps me from doing my job. One can argue I'm engaging in the same type of childish antics by writing this entry, but I like to think I'm squarely in the adolescent range of petty behavior. :)

On a more positive note, I'm looking forward to trying out a few of the recipes in the new cookbooks I just received. This one is on the top of the list. Doesn't it look yummy?

The things you take for granted.

Even after all this time I still see the world through rose colored glasses. For the most part people are good with a few bad ones thrown into the mix. But life has a way of ramming reality down your throat. Every now and then I get this wake up call and today is no different.

When I first started my job at the library, I had unreal, romanticized expectations, largely colored by my childhood experiences and my time spent working in the university libraries at college. My version of the library is G-rated. Everyone is neat and tidy, respectful of the materials and each other. Librarians smile at the children first learning to read while another child beams with pride at checking out his/her first library book. Adults come in to read the morning paper or check out the newest crime novel. Unfortunately this library is only found on Sesame Street.

My library although privy to these scenes is also much more raw. Things I did not have to worry about or existed when I was kid are now the norm. The children's washroom has a lock which only the librarians have a key to. All library staff has to be on watch for suspicious activity or patrons who have been banned from the library for any variety of issues (from minor to criminal offenses). And everyone must be especially mindful of children. Like last month, I had to send a child (no more than 10 years old) back to the Children's Library because there are too many dangers posed to a unattended child in the adult part of the library; or even earlier this week when I had to call an adult patron on his behavior (walking around with a unlit cigarette in his mouth) in part because children were present. I've never seen myself as the motherly type, but even now, I see certain situations in much the same way a parent would.

I don't often dwell upon the tangibles of my job while I'm off the clock, but my early morning haze (I woke up this morning in a panic because I couldn't remember what day it was.) was lifted after reading a work email asking all employees to be on guard yet again. Sigh. It's going to be a long day.