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March 12, 2004The librarians pity and fear me...
I've taken to borrowing DVDs and VHS tapes from the main branch of the Riverside library. Their selection is inconsistent at best, but I try not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
At some point early in my VHS/DVD borrowing career, I made the fatal error of returning a VHS tape in the first-floor book drop--more of a slide than a drop, I should hasten to point out--instead of returning it to the AV desk upstairs.
As I've come so keenly to learn, once is all it takes.
Ever since then, the checking-out process goes a little something like this.
I head over to the AV desk with my choices. They scan my library card, at which point I can see the red-flagged text pop up on their monitor. Whoever's helping me checks out the VHS or DVD, the very picture of helpfulness. They hand me my choices, along with my receipt telling when they're due. Then, just as I think I'm free, just as I think I'm off the hook, they smile sweetly and say, "Don't forget to return these here, sir, instead of the book drop downstairs."
Insert mental gnashing of teeth.
I'm branded--forever, as near as I can tell. Months after the incident, I once asked the person helping me how long those notes stayed on one's record, and if they could possibly remove it then as I had learned my lesson. They grunted at me and made no move to delete it. I felt like a sex offender, making a lame attempt to explain to their parole officer why they shouldn't have to notify their new neighbors every time they move in next door.
"Sure, Seitz. You're reformed. Tell it to the head librarian."
Posted by patrick at March 12, 2004 08:24 AM
CommentsOh wow!! So the Riverside Library and the Cerritos Library are in cahouts! They like to remind you of your sins, too. But luckily, we have this wonderful thing called SELF-CHECK OUT now, so even if you have some fines (which I almost always have) you can avoid the brow-beating by using the computer scanners throughout the library. The only problem is YOU CAN'T USE IT WITH DVD's. So, if you can stick to VHS, you can get away for a while, but once you hit $10 or more in fines, they won't let you. Not that I would know...
Posted by: Sam at March 14, 2004 05:07 PM
Try getting caught while taking a book with you into the bathroom. That won't wash off my profile for at least a decade or so.
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James
Posted by: James at March 14, 2004 10:08 PM
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