Early Morning in the Library

Posted by Christine Published in General

Its 3:30 am, I have a cup of coffee, its not biting ICE COLD like years past, yes its the Semi- Annual “Library is open 24 hours during finals” time. The same people volunteer the same time every year and here we sit.

Tonight (this morning?) is the last night, so unlike the HUGE crowds on the first few days, I get the people who have waited and waited till the bitter bitter end to write thier papers. No, son, I don’t think you will be able to write your entire paper by just using that dictionary. Lets look at some databases, shall we?

Man, I am tired. Soon my replacement will arrive and I will go home and soon be sleeping.

A few days ago, babs and I were getting coffee (same coffee time – same coffee channel) when I went to go get the sugar and milk products for my coffee. I was reading the comments the Cafe gets (and the responses) and was chucking at some of them. The woman next to me was laughing as well, and we talked about “Unrealistic Expectation” of people. Example, “Only vegan smoothies, please but make them cheaper then the other ones.”

She then said she has written one herself and it might be considered unreasonable. Oh? I asked.

Yes, she has written on a comment card that it would be nice if the library was open the 24 hours *before* finals as well. Well, I wasn’t wearing my badge at the time and she didn’t know I worked for the library … so…… I said something to the extent that it would be difficult since we are all volunteers. she got a little quiet. But I went forward.

She seemed surprised and I clarified it. Yeah we dont get paid anything extra, we just help people out. Yeah its hard and everyone gets tired. No, we can have just a stupid assistant do it. Then babs stop by and add a few more comments as well. The woman got very quiet. I am betting she wont suggest that again.

So far on this shift I have not gotten the complaint that the library is closed on the 2nd and 3rd floor and that sucks. The cafe next door is giving away an obscene amount of muffins and I have drunk an obscene amount of coffee.