very minor work beefs

[iftsiga]

Dear other library staff,

I am not the token disciplinarian. If you see a patron breaking some fiddlin' rule, please feel free to correct him/her/them yourself. Do not attempt to "sic" me on them. If they won't listen to you, you are either wasting your energy on nonsense ("they're sitting two to a computer!" "he's fiddling with his cell phone!") or aren't being firm enough or even sticking around to get an answer. You have the same authority as I to enforce the rules; don't try to pass the buck.

Dear patrons,

Do not crook your finger at me and motion me to come over to where you are standing, especially when I am waiting on someone else. Likewise, do not follow me around the library when I am assisting someone, and there is obviously someone free to help you at the circulation desk, insisting that I and only I come away and help you instead of what I am busy doing. If I tell you "I am currently busy helping someone else, please go talk to X" do not get offended.

Comments

[xauenmurph.livejournal.com]

Heh. If I dressed up I'd get pestered by more lonely middle-aged male patrons, and also children who think my name is "teacher."

I think the solution is to follow other staff's example and stop making eye contact with patrons, or get into the non-human-handling parts of my field.