Public Behavior

Image via WikipediaI work where I come in contact with a lot of people. It never ceases to amaze me some of their behaviors. Having worked in the security field for five years, I would think that I would have seen everything. As I have previously said I work for a public library. Last year, we had someone who apparently was either mad at us or just was darn lazy! They used a $200 reference book as a napkin. They had eaten a shrimp dinner and then wiped their hands on the pages of that book. They also hid the dinner container on the very top shelves where we didn't find it for several days. We could smell it but couldn't locate it.

We hand out visitor tickets to people who want to use the Internet that do not have a library card. I always ask, "Have you used the Internet here before?" So often they will reply in a I know how you stupid, " Yes, I know how to sign up." They will take the ticket and then wander the floor looking for an unoccupied computer. Depending on my mood or how busy we are, I will track after them trying to get them to go to the sign up station.

Many of the folks we come in contact on a regular basis have mental issues. We probably are not the most compassionate towards them as we should. We usually nickname them until we find out their real names. One such gentleman is the 666 man. The Internet sign up station has a big display board on the wall to announce who's turn is up. For at least a year, he would come up to the reference desk in a loud voice asking, "What would happen if it goes to 666?". The display board starts with number 100 and then continues adding as people sign up. He continued that until one day we did get past 666. It took us several times to explain to him that nothing happened.

Another character that we have nicknamed "Twirler". This gentleman wears a Tina Turner wig and skirt. As he approaches people, he will twirl in front of them to try to get them to notice him. Such is life in a public library.