Hooray!! We are now officially in the throes of homework phone season at the library. It is almost better than face to face homework help, because you are free to roll you eyes, mute the phone and sigh, and generally wonder about the calibre of today's students and teachers.
This evening's winning transaction:
S: "Do you have information for me about the marine beem?"
M: "The marine ...um...?"
S: "Marine beemo?"
M: "I'm having trouble hearing that second word. (ref-speak for what ???) Can you spell it, please?"
S: "b-i-o-m-e"
M: "Ah! Biome!" "You need to know something about the marine biome!"
S:"Yes, I have a list of things."
M: "Go ahead and ask." (famous last words- right up there with 'hey, y'all,watch this!')
S: "I need the annual rainfall, the types of soil, the growing season, and the types of seasons."
M:"For the marine biome?"
S: (patiently) "Yes."
M: (supressing a deep sigh)"Well, according to Biomes of the World (handy dandy desk reference set), the marine biome is the oceans all over the world."
S: "And?"
M: "Well it will be hard to generalize and this is more than we can do on the phone. Can you come in to a library branch?"
S: "No, just read it to me."
M: "This is too long to read over the phone."
S:"Well, OK, just name some countries then, and I'll pick one of them."
M:(names about 25)
S: "Ok, I'll take Canada. Ontario Canada."
M: "I don't think it is in the marine biome."
S: "That's OK."
I am still trying to figure out what went on. I didn't mention the times I was asked to hold on so that a screaming conversation with someone in the background could be carried on.
I think that everyone should have the opportunity to sit at a desk with nothing but a counter top between you and the general public (ref-speak for every nut case on the block) and have the priviledge of hearing what they feel free to ask. Everyone should have to try to find an answer in a timely fashion, (not wasting the time of the customer.) It would give a new perspective on our fellow man.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
redistribution of wealth
In theory, I think it's a plausible idea. In practice, I think it ought to be voluntary. Maybe if more folks would voluntarily share more of what they have, fewer folks would feel compelled to take what is not theirs, in a feeble attempt to correct the balance. Do I sound like a bitter victim? I hope not, although I ought to at least sound like a non-bitter victim.
Last year, in an attempt at fiscal responsibility, I added up what we had given to charities. It turned out to be close to 20% of the annual household income. Now we're not saints, nor are we stupid. Almost all of this falls into the category "planned giving". We just have a lot of interests, and not many expensive habits. When I think back to when I was on the stewardship committee of a mainstream church, and how much whining I got to hear about the suggestion of a tithe (10% giving), it makes me pretty sure that disassociating myself from that group was a healthy thing to do. The stingies definitely outnumbered the generous. It just makes sense to me to support what you perceive as worthy.
I don't expect recognition or acknowledgement (no wait, I do enjoy seeing my name on a donor list!) What I didn't expect to be was robbed. One of the charming customers of the fine public establishent for which I work felt it was appropriate to liberate my Palm PDA from my reference desk last week. We were busy and distracted with customers and I stupidly left it in view- although not in easy reach. Now I am adrift in time.
That's the true nature of this particular episode. I had entrusted every phone number, every business contact, every appointment, etc. to the device. Now it's gone and I haven't a clue where I am supposed to be or when. Interestingly enough, the thief called my home while I was at work, and offered to return it, but that was Sunday (yes, we are open on Sundays) and this is Tuesday. I'm not holding my breath.
At first it was liberating. A colleague suggested that the thief ought to have to attend every meeting on the calendar, since now they knew when and where to be. I've got a great excuse for not showing up! But now projects are starting to slip, and I can't make the calls I need to make. It's having an impact on my professional life, and I'm bummed! I'm entirely over the seperation from relatively expensive equipment. I am not over the seperation from information that allows me to function usefully.
Rats.
Some situations do not require technology assisted information for full functioning. Ths summer I am taking leave from my day job and going a remote area in the Himalayas to help the women there start a pre-primary school. They want to do this for their children, and I know how, so I am going to get them started. This place is a technology-free zone. I won't need to keep track of phone numbers, email, or multiple appointments. There aren't any there. From what I understand, there isn't much of anything there, except some particularly lovely, joyful people who have a project they'd like assistnace with.
I am in training to make the strenuous trip. It's going pretty well.
Last year, in an attempt at fiscal responsibility, I added up what we had given to charities. It turned out to be close to 20% of the annual household income. Now we're not saints, nor are we stupid. Almost all of this falls into the category "planned giving". We just have a lot of interests, and not many expensive habits. When I think back to when I was on the stewardship committee of a mainstream church, and how much whining I got to hear about the suggestion of a tithe (10% giving), it makes me pretty sure that disassociating myself from that group was a healthy thing to do. The stingies definitely outnumbered the generous. It just makes sense to me to support what you perceive as worthy.
I don't expect recognition or acknowledgement (no wait, I do enjoy seeing my name on a donor list!) What I didn't expect to be was robbed. One of the charming customers of the fine public establishent for which I work felt it was appropriate to liberate my Palm PDA from my reference desk last week. We were busy and distracted with customers and I stupidly left it in view- although not in easy reach. Now I am adrift in time.
That's the true nature of this particular episode. I had entrusted every phone number, every business contact, every appointment, etc. to the device. Now it's gone and I haven't a clue where I am supposed to be or when. Interestingly enough, the thief called my home while I was at work, and offered to return it, but that was Sunday (yes, we are open on Sundays) and this is Tuesday. I'm not holding my breath.
At first it was liberating. A colleague suggested that the thief ought to have to attend every meeting on the calendar, since now they knew when and where to be. I've got a great excuse for not showing up! But now projects are starting to slip, and I can't make the calls I need to make. It's having an impact on my professional life, and I'm bummed! I'm entirely over the seperation from relatively expensive equipment. I am not over the seperation from information that allows me to function usefully.
Rats.
Some situations do not require technology assisted information for full functioning. Ths summer I am taking leave from my day job and going a remote area in the Himalayas to help the women there start a pre-primary school. They want to do this for their children, and I know how, so I am going to get them started. This place is a technology-free zone. I won't need to keep track of phone numbers, email, or multiple appointments. There aren't any there. From what I understand, there isn't much of anything there, except some particularly lovely, joyful people who have a project they'd like assistnace with.
I am in training to make the strenuous trip. It's going pretty well.
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