If you don't want help, don't bother Miss Information.
A woman needs help with eBooks because everyone needs help with eBooks. Miss Information has had an eReader for two years. She had it set up and downloading books in about 30 minutes--about 15 minutes longer than necessary because her library card had too many overdues and she had to renew some things. Clearly she is a technology star. A couple of weeks ago a patron came in with a Blackberry Playbook that was giving him grief. Miss Information got him up and running in about 20 minutes despite never having laid eyes on that device before. So, uh-huh. Miss Information can probably help you with your little issue.The woman's little issue was that Overdrive app wasn't remembering her library card number even though she clicked the "remember my library card number" box. Miss Information has never seen this problem before. When she uses the app she types her card in every time because it's not actually that big a deal, but this woman is far too busy and important to do that. And this is fine. Of course it is. The app says it will remember your number, it should do it. Miss Information suspects that there may be something tricky the patron hasn't done. She does an internet search for "overdrive won't remember library card" and finds the answer in a nice .pdf with pictures and prints it for the patron.
It seems that the customer needs to adjust a setting in Safari. The woman becomes argumentative. She does not need to change her settings. Oh, has she already tried that, then? No but she knows that isn't going to work. Oh. Does she have her iPad here? They could look at the setting together and see if changing it works. Nope, the woman did not bring it. It's really important that the system saves her card number and changing the settings is simply not worth the effort because it's not going to work. In fact she's pretty sure it's because her library card expired recently. Obviously it's the library's fault and Miss Information is just messing with her head. Adjust the settings! Pfff.
Miss Information senses a standoff so she suggests the patron go home and try that stupid old settings thing. After that she can call the library and complain about it. The woman leaves muttering to herself.
Miss Information is baffled by the number of people who just seem to come in for an argument.
7 Comments:
Oh, I'm sorry. Is this the five minute argument, or the full half hour?
Sometimes I think you are living my life. I have this kind of interaction several times a week.
Several times a week? Well aren't you lucky.
I feel and live your pain. And we have a full moon this week which just compounds the arguments. I enjoy reading your blog. You should post more often. :)
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Sorry, I meant: "Just several times a week" instead of several times a day, like I get.
We upgraded our system over the weekend- and lucky us, we have so many (dis)satisfied patrons.
"I had to retype my card number! This update is ridiculous." stated a patron. I replied sweetly that that is actually something that he needs to change on his actual computer settings, not the library's fault. Needless to say, he did not believe me.
Yes. I am a librarian, and a liar. How do you think I got this job?
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