Monday, July 24, 2006

The Sociology of Libraries, part 5

"Do you work here?"

This is a question I've become accustomed to while working in libraries. I guess because I am fairly young and usually wear casual clothes (jeans, docs, etc), I could easily be mistaken for a patron of the library. While shelving, both in my current library and my previous one, I have often been approached and asked if I worked there before asking me if I knew where to find a book. I always said yes (of course), but I always wanted to say something like, "nah, I'm just doing this for fun. Want to join in?".

Now, I am usually sitting behind a desk, working at a computer, and wearing (relatively) nice clothes, and people *still* ask me if I work there! Apparently I don't look authoritative at all! Today I was asked at least 3 times if I worked there, while sitting behind the desk, although people had no problem approaching me when I was out among the shelves. I was even wearing a brown cardigan!

In some ways this is a good thing - I suppose I could always say "no", and dissolve any responsibility I otherwise have. But, as it is, I fear I'll continue being asked if I work here, regardless of my locaton or attire.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

The day after I post about uncomfortable train journeys, I have the worst.journey.ever home on the train today. Ugh. Too many people.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Train etiquette, part 3

An awkward part of train travel, particularly during rush hour, is the maintenance of personal space. It's bad enough if you have a seat, as they are so close together that you inevitably brush knees, hands or arms with the person next to you. But at least you have a seat! The worst part of maintaining personal space is in the last leg of the morning journey, from Richmond and around the City Loop, where lots of people (including me) have to change trains to go around the loop. Because Connex, in their wisdom, runs half the trains direct to Flinders street, because obviously no-one from the Sandringham line needs to go around the loop in the morning.

But, I digress.

This early morning changing of trains at Richmond station leads to all sorts of mismanagement of personal space. Everyone is rushing towards the train and trying to jump in the nearest door, along with hundreds of other people. The trains get so full that people stand all the way down the aisles and pack in around the doors. People all clutch the handrails and jostle for space. Bags and coats dangle everywhere. In my opinion, the worst part is that everyone presses up against each other trying to grab an elusive piece of handrail. I try to keep as much to myself as possible, taking up as little space and ensuring my bag doesn't get bumped by anyone.

Surely train etiquette demands that we preserve a little space between us for the preservation of our own sanity? I have no problem standing up on the train, and take up very little space, so some space around me is not too much to ask. Is it?

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

I am a 1950s housewife trapped in a librarian's body

I have been baking a lot lately. I'm not sure why. Quite frankly, my prowess in the kitchen is starting to frighten me a little. I have made cookies, cakes, puddings, more cakes, not to mention roast dinners, scrumptious breakfasts and tasty snacks. Next I will start scrapbooking and making quilts, gardening and general crafts! I have always found a peverse fascination in watching people like Martha Stewart instruct in this area, mainly because I find it so tedious and pointless. Plus, Martha seems so ruthless she is never happy, even when she is trying to show some cute little thing to add as a cake decoration. I bet she is mean to her staff.

I have always enjoyed cooking in a general way but this descent towards housewife-dom is starting to scare me a little. What if I wake up one morning, with my head all full of recipes instead of the dewey decimal system? How will my analytical mind cope with the descent into...shortbread and pie crusts? Will my brain also turn into dough? Because I am greedy, I rarely share my creations. I never bring them into work, and if I bake a cake to take to a friend's house, I usually try and take the remainder home with me. Not good etiquette, perhaps, but better for me!

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Train etiquette, part 2

"Congratulations on making the smart choice - travelling Connex"

This message is occasionally flashed up on the signs at the end of train carriages, which normally display information about which station we are approaching. This notice really irritates me because it creates the illusion that I have choice about my public transport and that there are multiple companies I can choose from to fulfil my public transport needs. The truth of the matter is, of course, that Connex now owns all of the metropolitan Melbourne train lines, so if I want to catch the train into the city, I have no choice BUT to use Connex. So my choice definitely isn't a choice - and I would say isn't even a choice, since there are no alternatives.

I deem this a train etiquette issue because it shows just how much contempt Connex has for its customers - it knows there are no alternatives and that it can do whatever it likes (cancel or reroute trains, ALWAYS running late) and people still have to use it to get to work because there is no alternative.

Monday, July 03, 2006

It's easier being green

Logo and background by 1888 / Art of Mourning, html destruction by me, html restoration by 1888/Art of Mourning...

The Sociology of Libraries, part 4

Whenever I say I work at a library, the standard response I get is, "oh, that must be very interesting". I usually agree, say how I enjoy it, and so on...then there's an awkward pause, and without fail, no matter who I'm talking to, will say something like "there was this one time when I had a fine at my local/university/state library, 'cause they said they couldn't find a book, but I knew I'd returned it, and then they wouldn't believe me, but I knew I'd returned it". Or something about disputed fines, or how they couldn't find what they want, and so on. I am curious as to why people feel the need to tell me arbitrary stories about their bad experiences of libraries particularly as they're always libraries I've never heard of, or definitely have no connection with whatsoever. If someone tells me they're a doctor, I don't tell them bad stories about going to the doctor, or how they didn't tell me what I wanted to hear. Why is it that people only tell me bad stories about libraries? Are libraries really that bad? It always strikes me as an odd response to their original statement that working in libraries is interesting. Why do libraries invite such criticisms? What is it about this career that people feel the need to comment on? The main thing that irritates me is that they're such arbitrary stories. If they actually meant something, I would be more patient in listening to them, but listening to complaints about problems with libraries which have nothing to do with me, and that usually occurred at least 1 year ago, tries my patience beyond belief. Particularly as it keeps happening more and more!