Oddbean

Just checked out a State Parks pass to longtime town residents who haven't used their library card in so long it's not in our current system. I cajoled them into signing up for a new one feeling all smart because it's Library Card Sign Up Month. Checked out the pass to them, said "Have a good time" They said they are going to a funeral there. 😬

Printed out some Borges short stories from the New Yorker from 1967 for a patron. It's always SO COOL to see someone experiencing Borges for the first time. Does our library have a single thing by Borges? It does not.

The woman who gave me Covid (at the library, a few weeks back) stopped in. She's masked up, and had a fairly rough time of it. My time was not as rough, though no picnic. She did the right thing, called the library when she found out she tested positive which allowed me to stay home and not infect other people while I waited to see if I tested positive. She has asthma and is always coughing this time of year so didn't know she was symptomatic. I think it made her feel better to know I was ok.

@8b189dd1 When I got sick I felt horrible for the people I had close contact with. I had no symptoms until I lost my sense of smell. The day before I tested positive I was in closed door meetings all day long shoulder to shoulder with people.

Pretty sure this lady is here because it's Agatha Christie and it's her birthday but I'm still gonna take it personally on my library computer anyhow. https://cdn.masto.host/glammrus/media_attachments/files/111/071/146/963/756/354/original/8768c5cbb407fddd.png

Would have wrapped up these "Day at Work" toots sooner but a woman came in at 4:55 needing to scan and email some documents. I had already shut the pubic computers down (and I don't actually know how the library scanner works that well) but we muddled through it. Such a fine line, right? Do you say "Sorry we're closing" or are you open until 4:59:59?" Anyhow, I cleaned this thing. I am pretty sure it's never been cleaned as long as I've been subbing at the library (15-ish years) https://cdn.masto.host/glammrus/media_attachments/files/111/071/875/493/788/689/original/192c345156d5139c.jpeg

Subbing sometimes means finding your own jobs to do. I was having no luck with normal cleaning but then I thought "It's GOT to come apart, right?" Right! This was one of the most satisfying things I've maybe ever cleaned that was not a thing I owned personally. There was a brief period where I was afraid I would either break it or be unable to reassemble it but neither were true. Look how nice! I mean reference work is great but have you ever really cleaned out a rolltop sliding thingie? https://cdn.masto.host/glammrus/media_attachments/files/111/071/879/149/591/051/original/37710668d70b4ff8.jpeg https://cdn.masto.host/glammrus/media_attachments/files/111/071/879/666/784/415/original/63c759cea935f1f3.jpeg https://cdn.masto.host/glammrus/media_attachments/files/111/071/880/006/811/608/original/cd30f5389195d734.jpeg https://cdn.masto.host/glammrus/media_attachments/files/111/071/891/834/697/357/original/60f233b3bbba3ba1.jpeg

@8b189dd1 Worth noting that the translations printed in the New Yorker – mostly done by Norman Thomas di Giovanni with Borges – are actually better than the versions in print in book form, which were done after he was dead. Publishing!

@e5ab6fae I've definitely seen some libraries that seem to collect much more towards their patrons specific interests. My library definitely gets a lot more local titles and some fairly specific mystery stuff than just the best sellers but I think in the suburbs especially your point is valid.