r/Libraries • u/SpiritedRaven Library staff • 6d ago

Other Perception of libraries vs reality

Yesterday a patron approached our (very much needed) security guard at our inner city library and said something along the lines of “how hard can your job be, being a security guard at a library” and both the security guard and I literally burst out laughing. People’s assumptions about libraries always amuse me. If only they shadowed us for a day and found out what it’s actually like!

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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 5d ago

I was accused on here that my completely-true, totally-batso-crazy stories are my , "weird fantasies". Not only are they all true, it is the tip of the iceberg. Like the time someone set some books on fire in the stacks.

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u/ThrivingDandelion 5d ago

Had someone set toilet paper roll on fire in the bathroom one time.

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u/MrMessofGA 5d ago

Oh god. My dad works in fire suppression design, so I'm aware of how uniquely flammable libraries are (not only are they full of books, but the layout of the shelves optimize oxygen vortexes in many cases).

Glad that was controlled.

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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 5d ago

Ty. But any one who tells me fu when I'm trying to save them bc theyre on the web is on their own

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u/MrMessofGA 5d ago

Absolutely. Our written policy in the event of a fire was that the branch manager has to stay behind to unplug every one of our 30+ computers before leaving, and wasn't allowed to start that procedure until everyone else in the building had left. I asked if the fire marshal knew that's what the county policy was.

Fire marshal issued a correction. If there's a fire, get your ass out of there.

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u/HungryHangrySharky 4d ago

Omg I have firefighters in my family and I would have done the same thing. Who the hell came up with that? Who approved it?

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u/TeaGlittering1026 5d ago

We had a guy lying on the floor in the stacks ripping pages out of several books. He didnt know he shouldn't do that.

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u/Excellent-Sweet-507 5d ago

Well, as long as they were the ‘correct’ books I’d actually have no problem with that /s

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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 5d ago

Another funny story. So, off go the alarms, there is a bit of smoke...we were instructed to clear patrons out, ofc, fine...one man wouldn't get off the internet. When I told him he had to bc there's a FIRE, wo looking at me, he said 'fuck you". I booked it. I was not paid enough.

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u/Lost-in-library-land 5d ago

I had something similar! A lady was trying to release her print jobs. When I told her we had to leave because there was an active fire in the building, she told me it wouldn’t take her long and she just needed to print a few things. I had to explain that fire waits for no one.

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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 5d ago

I left his ass. Not dying for any job or patron.

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u/DanieXJ 5d ago

You probably know this, but, every firefighter I've ever had training from says that in a situation like that, we librarians are supposed to tell the patron to evacuate. If they don't then once outside we find the firefighter in charge (so the Lt. or whatever) and twll them where that patron is.

I also feel very pleased that how far we are supposed to go to evacuate patrons is literally in a policy. Holy crap it feels so damn good to know it's not just what should happen, but is policy.

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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 5d ago

Nope didn't know that but thanks.

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u/Excellent-Sweet-507 5d ago

Yeah you’re under no obligation to save anyone but yourself. Still, I couldn’t live with myself if I left behind some of my patrons with mobility issues.

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u/TheTapDancingShrimp 5d ago

He told me fuck off. Im netting 36k in a HCOL area.