Library Witchies and New Friends

I meet some very interesting people over the Circulation Desk.  One lady is a self-proclaimed "Kitchen Witch"  basically, she's into herbs and the great things that the herbs can do for your body.  Instead of calling prayers - prayers, she calls them spells.  They both sound and read the same to me.  No flaming please. Anyway, my witchy friend has taught me quite a few things so far. I've only been talking to her for a few months, but already, I like what she has to say.

Another friend that I made over the Circulation Desk is into witchy stuff as well. However, the witchy stuff isn't what made us friends. With this woman, we found out that we liked a natural way of living and shared book titles. We also shared DVD titles and later I found out she liked D&D as well. I invited her over. As a matter of fact, she is coming over with her boyfriend for Thanksgiving.

Another new friend - my co-worker. I call her my "Roomie". She's younger than me and so much fun. She's also into fun fashion. I like her style, but I'm not brave enough when I look through my closet. Usually, when I'm getting dressed in the mornings, my hubbs will hear me say, "I wish *** was here."  to which he laughs and will reply, "But you're not dressed."  To which I reply, "I know, that's why I wish she was here." HAHAHAHAA - so she can help me put an outfit together --- not for any other kink reason... no matter what I've written about library erotica! LOL

I've also made a friend that I swear I was related to in another life. Yes, I do believe in reincarnation.  I've also learned to knit and made some knitting friends.  Awesome.

Bomb Threat at the Library

The caller made several calls in our town - including the one made to the library. I took that call.  I knew that there were several made and that nothing had happened, so when I got "the call" I was thinking, "Really? Who the heck is this?" But, then the caller hung up and my next thought was, "Fuck. Now I gotta call 911 and evacuate the building." 

That's what we did. Fortunately, they got the guy. He's up to 41 felony charges and he is only 30-something years old. What a waste.

My Pretty Little Library

My co-workers and I decided that if they ever make a movie out of this, that I get to ask Sandra Bullock to play me!  Another co-worker chose Sally Field, Lisa Kudrow, and Jim Parsons.  Might as well have some laughter amongst all the stress.

Another Poo* Issue Resolved

Remember when I wrote about the patron that pooped the WRONG way in the bathroom stall?  Well, he has been banned from the library.  If you haven't read that post, you can read it, HERE.

Finally.

Not because of his poop and pee incidents. No. He was banned because he told the Director to, "Fuck Off" and then was seen by another patron trying to take a swing at the Director when he turned to walk away.

The Pooper called the other day to speak with the Director, however, the Director wasn't in. He hasn't tried calling since.

We are all glad.

It Seems Like It's All About the Poop Lately...

Didn't I just write about a poop incident?  It seems like that's all I've been hearing about or writing about lately! Poop!  Even in town - the east side of the sidewalk had human feces on it!  Get into a fucking bathroom people and get your ass centered on the toilet seat! For cripes sake! What the fuck aren't people being taught?!

This incident is way more forgiveable than the other poop incidents. This incident involved a young child. Said child was visitng grandparents for the summer. Only, the grandparents didn't know that their grandchildren were going to have IBS-like symptoms.  The poor child was sitting on the floor playing with some of our public toys and suddenly the tummy made 'free-willy' noises and an explosion occurred.  They had no idea this was coming.  All of it... watery... and on the carpeting.

Ugh.

It was my turn to clean up.  First however, I needed to use the room air freshener throughout the main level.  Then, after gloving up and getting the necessary cleaning supplies, I was able to get down to cleaning the carpet area.

I wish you could have seen my Director's face! It was hilarious.  She looked like, "Seriously!?! WTF?! We just had one of these earlier this week."  I could see the wheels turning, she was wondering if it was the adult fixated on pooping in our library. Thank the Heavens it wasn't.

Poop Incident

We had another poop incident at the library.  We just had a poop incident April! Then, there was another  pee incident, in which the April Pooper, peed his pants while sitting at an internet computer. I got to clean that one up. Some people should drink more clear fluids! YIKES!

Now, late June and we've had another poop incident.  This time, the culprit used the upstairs public bathroom.  It had appeared that the patron tried to clean things up, to no avail. It just wasn't good enough.  Another patron came to the desk to inform us of the the mishap. 

After watching the security cameras, it appears that a boy was the culprit. He went back three times - was he trying to clean it up bit-by-bit? Or was he returning to see if someone else had cleaned it up for him?  Whatever the case, it didn't get thoroughly, until one of our Directors went in there are got the job done correctly.  So, sigh... now we have to keep on eye on the boy. Now that it's summer, he tends to linger around the library all day long.

This poop incident was far easier to forgive than our adult male pooper!

Smoke at the Library

We've had an interesting year... I wonder how it will all end...

Usually, where there is smoke, there is fire. Fortunately, in this instance, there really was ONLY smoke. Albeit, the smoke went throughout the entire library.  There was a machine belt in the furnace that stopped moving and smoked up the place.

It was so stinky in the building!! Very thankful for the fire crew that came out asap!

Overheard Conversations

"I always thought people came to the library to get books and information. I never thought that people would come to the library to poo all over the floor."

"I had no idea what I was getting into when I started working at the library."
"What do you mean?"
"I never considered that it would be necessary to have a psychology degree to check out books."

Help

We received a strange FAX today. All it said was, "Help".

Bossman had the police investigate.

Seems that a local business was trying out new FAX lines, transposed two numbers and we got the funny inter-office FAX, albeit in a completely different building!

We had fun making up stories on why a person would send out a FAX asking for help.

"Maybe they are stuck in a room - as a hostage - with nothing but a FAX machine."
"Why don't they use the FAX machine to call 911 and ask for help?"
"Maybe the FAX machine only sends FAX's."

"Maybe they are being held as a hostage and this was all they could do."

"Maybe..."
"Maybe..."
"Maybe it's a joke."

"Why would anyone send out a 'crank-FAX'?"
"Like a crank phone call?"
"Yeah. Why would anyone do that? That's dumb"

Maybe someone really does need help!"

Ghost Walk

We went to talk to the ghosties the other night and were pleasantly greeted with activity!

My son was by the Large Print Non-Fiction area. He was working with some crystals trying to make contact when he heard a ghostie running in the other "room".  He said it went from north to south at a pretty good "fast-walk" pace.  They quickly grabbed my attention and we went upstairs to try our hand at an EVP. We didn't capture any EVPs in that area, but when we were done, I captured a possible EVP that stated, "I'm here." Yay!

However, when I moved to the sitting area by the Teen Section, I felt a coldness spread down from my left shoulder - down my left arm and then curling around and into the palm of my left hand.  I asked if anyone could feel the temperature difference and they could - also noting that the right side of my body and the area I was sitting in was NOT cold.

Another son of mine was sitting in the 900 section of the Non-fiction books and said that he also felt a cold sensation APPROACH him. His back was to the wall and he said that he felt it move closer to him.

Interesting.

Body Odors

Sometimes there are a few patrons that smell wonderful. Sometimes there are a few patrons that don't smell so wonderful.

One "Not-so-wonderful" odor actually caused damaged and furniture needed to be shampooed.  We really don't know what to do if the patron returns and wants to relax there again --- other than have the furniture re-cleaned.  This patron is really very kind, it's just that the odor is terrible. I mean terrible too!  One of us has almost vomited - and I really have a hard time of it, myself.  What I do to help get through the several hours of strong odor is to load up on hand lotion and then keep my hands close to my face.

Afterwards, when I know for sure that the strong odoriferating patron has left the building, I spray Febreeze in the computer area. 

I have no snarky comments about the very kind, but smelly patron - I don't think this patron can help themself in that area.  I'm sad for those that can't help their odor.

Not everyone can wear Stetson or Love's Baby Soft.

Poo, P * * n and Piss

P * * n - I do not want to write out the word for inappropriate adult computer sites and pictures because I do NOT want anything nasty to attach to my site or your computer.  If anything happens I will be so upset. I am guessing that you will be able to discern the definition of the "P-word".

At any rate, we've had less and less of the adult "P-word" incidents since it was suggested to rearrange a couple of the internet computers. No more hiding in the corner to do "the nasty" with a computer screen. I can't understand how someone becomes so desperate for that type of gratification - that they will go to a public place - in broad daylight and "get off" in front of strangers and children. It's just gross.

The poo incidents... we've had several over the years. Many we now chuckle at!  

There was the incident where the pooper would take a step - shake a leg - and shake a turd out of the pant leg - take a few more steps - shake a leg - and shake another turd out of the same pant leg.  I believe three turds in all were shook out of the pant leg and onto the carpet.

Another time a young pooper - about 12 years old - went to the bathroom and either missed the toilet bowl or played catch.  We really aren't sure. At anyrate, the 12 year old pooper smeared poo all over the seat, stall walls, toilet paper dispenser, sink, countertop and soap dispenser. Unfortunately, by the time we found the mess, it was dried.  Did you know that some poo, when dried and smeared on flat surfaces, resembles thick tar?!?!  We really didn't want to believe it was poo, so we just couldn't imagine what it was. It wasn't until the disposable moistened cleaning supplies hit the "tar-like" substance that we knew, without a doubt, that it was, indeed, poo. We could tell because the smell came out.  "To refreshen scent, just add moisture." BLECH!!!

Recently, there was the adult pooper that went to the bathroom, didn't arrive in time, poo'd facing the WRONG WAY, stepped in it, turned around, tried to get it into the toilet, missed and tried again. Finally, upon complete elimination, decided to rinse out socks and unmentionables in the toilet - we are guessing the toilet was flushed first.... and then proceeded to walk back thru the library - stocking footed and continued to use the internet computers.  THEN,  a different patron came to tell us of the mess in the bathroom. We figured out who it was, approached the person and actually made the pooper clean it up. This was an awful episode of poopdom.  Shit was EVERYWHERE!! The walls, the floor, BEHIND the toilet.... and the stench! Good Lord! What do people EAT????!!!  After the pooper cleaned up as best a messy pooper could, the Asst. Director cleaned up again. THREE times actually.  Yes, action against said pooper was taken and the police were also involved later.

Piss is a nasty word and my Grandmother did NOT like ladies saying it. However, piss is piss and the smell is what it is.  Three cushioned chairs had to be replaced due to peeing patrons, We now have hard plastic chairs for the computer areas.  One day a patron came to tell us that there was pee sprayed all over the walls and stalls in the mens room.  We made a sign: Please urinate in the urinals, not on the floors or the walls.  We found the sign - pissed on - in the bottom of the urinal.  So, sassy me - I made another sign... we found it a day or so later in the garbage of the mens room. WTF ever! However, the wall urinating seemed to stop... for now.

The three P's.... what the hell are people thinking?! What would their Mothers or Grandmothers think? What horrendous manners. What is WITH people?!!!

Knock-Knock, Is There Anyone There?

A recent ghostie hunt had us hearing knocking and one possible EVP!  We were so excited!

When we were sitting in the 900 area of the Non-fiction section, three of us thought we saw a shadow moving away from us and around a bookstack.  We tried to recreate the moving of a shadow, but we couldn't.

As we were leaving that area, I was recording and captured a possible EVP telling us, "Don't forget your stuff."  Appropriate, since we were leaving that area for another.  You can view it at Youtube by clicking here.

That same night we captured knocks in response to our question, "Is there anyone here?"  The knocks kept getting closer to us as we kept asking for more confirmation.  Click the youtube link here.

It was all very exciting!

The Everyday Lady

There is a lady that comes to our library everyday.

Everyday she uses a public internet computer and prints off 3-6 pages.

We charge $.10 per page - B&W only.

Everyday she digs into her purse, breathlessly searching for coins.

Everyday she finds her coins in the same, beat-up bank money envelope.

It usually seems that she digs in the same area of her purse.

Everyday she seems to panic because she can't find her bank money envelope, but she always finds it and it seems to be in the same area of her purse.

Everyday she will complain about something with the computer system

Everyday she will actually shut down the computer she is on because she says that it "locked-up" on her and that she couldn't do anything with it.

Everyday.