Recently At the Library:

Spring fever has set in, or perhaps it's the change to Daylight Saving Time. The kids have been nuttier than fruitcakes. Not mine at home (they're always nutty!)--the ones at story hour.

I've got  several kids who just turned two who really should still be at the one year old program and just don't get what I'm doing. I've got bigger two year olds who are usually good listeners but this week have run amok.  And the kids who usually give me problems have been doing more of what they do than usual --things like rolling on the floor, bugging other kids and  pulling the decorations off the story room walls. I'mvery grateful that next week is school break and I'm not doing programs!

Monday afternoon  we had a patron who'd been sent over from another branch for a book the library doesn't even own. (!)

The lady who did this is way, wayyy past the normal retirement age and I am beginning to wonder if she isn't finally slipping a bit as this just isn't like her at all!

Meanwhile the book the patron needed turns out to be a science fiction novel from 1957 that is obscure, out of print and not available in any local public library. The teacher who assigned it teaches 9th grade at a well known private school.  Boy, they're really using all that tuition they charge to pay for some really great teachers, nu?

I sent the mom out with an apology for the mix up and a letter to the teacher stating the problem and suggesting that he find something that was more current and therefore more widely available. And I gave her an extra copy of the letter. If the teacher won't budge, she may have to take this higher up in the school. Grrrr............

On the good side:

A favorite patron told me how much her little girl loves it when we sing "Down on Grandpa's Farm" (sort of like Old MacDonald, without the e-i-o bit) with puppets at the program. In the course of the conversation I mentioned I was going to have to look for a goat hand puppet to add to my collection.  And that weekend, she came in and left a nice little goat hand puppet for me!

A mom who came in last week feeling frazzled beyond belief about her little boy came back in to tell me that the parenting book I gave her was immensely helpful  and that she is now recommending it to all her friends. The title, BTW, is How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will Too.  by Sal Severe.  And I am ordering another copy immediately1

Speaking of parents behaving, we had a mom in last week whose little girl had a meltdown in the children's room.  Mom reacted by telling the child they had to leave, and refusing to check out a video she wanted. The child continued to fuss, but mom held firm.  I went out and pushed the stroller with her baby so that she could deal with her child, and let her know that we really appreciated her dealing with her child in such an appropriate manner.

While I was out of the office Monday morning she left me a postcard with her child's "art" on the front and a "translation" on the back:

Dear Ms Librarian,

I am sorry for pushing, yelling and making a lot of noise. A library is a special thing and people should be quiet. Thank you for helping us by pushing the stroller outside. When I come back to the library I will act nicely and listen.

It's stuff like this that reminds me what a great job I have.

That and I get to read all the cool new books first!

But I'm still looking forward to that break next week.......

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