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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU in the public library?

195 replies

NatureIsAWhore · 16/05/2017 12:21

I was using the computer in the local public library, I have a membership card.

A man came in and I overheard his conversation at the desk about needing to use a computer quickly to send some funds as his van had broken down, we're in a village so no banks. He wasn't from the area and didn't have a membership of the relevant documents for getting one (local household bill etc). He offered to pay just for 5 minutes use. He seemed pretty desperate. But the lady at the desk said that he couldn't as it's for members only.
They were both polite, but I could tell that the guy was frustrated. As I would be, stuck in a village and no wifi, needing to do something which would help his situation but was unable to do so.

So I called over and offered him to use my account for 5 minutes. He was very grateful, and still offered to pay. He sorted whatever he needed to do and then said thanks lots & left.

Then the lady came over to me and told me that I had breached to t&ts of becoming a member and that she would have to forefit my account!!

I now can't use my library because I did a nice thing!

WIBU to offer? i it that bad? Or was she being a jobs worth?

OP posts:
EduCated · 16/05/2017 19:07

And perhaps this particular library doesn't have a system for guest logins. Maybe it could be suggested to them - again to those who actually have the authority to make a decision on that.

JudeeLevinson · 16/05/2017 19:08

Ah don't worry EduCated, most of these Boden mums who thinks everyone in the world is fanfuckingfabulous and everyone should be nice to everyone else: they wouldn't last two hours in a modern day public library, because the 1950's it ain't. More like a refugee, homeless, unemployed, mentally ill, paedophile support where you regularly eat shit from the babyboomers who think it is their right as a taxpayer to treat you like a servant. People regularly caught wanking in my nearest city centre library, it's all over the local news. The naïveté here is wow.

NinaMarieP · 16/05/2017 19:11

Jeez badbadbunny, I'm not in charge of a thirteen branch public library system, nor am I even a librarian. Given those two points I don't make the flipping rules. I do my best to help people out and get them online but if you don't have a single thing with your name on it then I can't really do anything for you no matter what your sob story is.

And yes people come in daily with lengthy sob stories and if I have every one of them access to computers on their say so it would entirely undermine the whole system and those without sob stories would be wondering why they had to go through the registration process.

And forgive me for not having delved into the thought process behind every library policy and the differences between our policies and Internet cafes but I've only been in the job eight months and have had a lot more important things to learn.

Elinorrigby I am in agreement with all you say (except I feel quite well paid in comparison to when I was on minimum wage in retail.) It can be a lousy job but there are rules in place and it isn't our place to decide to ignore them whenever we feel like it.

ElinorRigby · 16/05/2017 19:11

JudeeLevinson I think I know you. I mean maybe I don't really. But we work in the same sorts of place.

And actually the way you're nice to people, is by saying exactly how you can help within the boundaries of what the service is there for. And also telling them clearly when you can't help, and they'll need to find a different solution, elsewhere.

pissflaps45 · 16/05/2017 19:15

I work in a city library spread over four floors. We have IPads for people who need to access for example their bank or email. We have IT only memberships so you can use a computer and print and you don't need ID. If you wanted to have full membership you need proof of address.

Because there is an airport in the city we often get frantic visitors needing to print boarding passes etc so we have a computer set up for that and a staff member will help with this. Its 10p for black/white printing and 40p for colour.

We have a children's area were certain sites are blocked then a teenage area with an X box.

Its very rare that someone can access porn, it does happen but not often due to the security on the system.

We also have free WiFi and desks with plugs so laptop users don't run out juice. We have a university so get a lot of students.

So the man in the ops post would have been able to access a computer in minutes and staff would have helped with any issues.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 16/05/2017 19:24

pissflaps not every library is like yours. My local village one has 4 terminals with internet access and 1 printer.

pissflaps45 · 16/05/2017 20:18

I know most libraries are not like mine. I live in a city so my library is massive but some of the other, smaller ones are like yours. A few are now ran by volunteers. My council opened this new "flagship" library and are quietly closing smaller branches hoping no one notices.

TiggyMP · 16/05/2017 20:55

Set up your own library next door and take her customers. That'll show her.

hellokittymania · 16/05/2017 22:46

Glad you emailed the council. I'm sure he was grateful that you helped him.

sonjadog · 16/05/2017 23:04

People may watch porn in libraries, but I doubt very much that someone would be so desperate to watch porn that they would rush into a library and give a fake story about car problems so that they can watch 5 minutes of porn on a public computer.

callmeadoctor · 16/05/2017 23:13

And this is why libraries are being closed all over the country!!!

Lunde · 16/05/2017 23:26

You are going to have to hope that he wasn't doing anything dodgy that will come back to your account. Small anonymous library accounts are often used for criminal activity as the IP comes back to a public computer in an area with little CCTV.

I knew a case of a pedophile ring that used to operate this way - luckily one member was stupid enough to use the same terminal at the same small library at the same time each week - even though he had logged in using someone else's account

cocodidit1 · 16/05/2017 23:31

Oh jesus don't get me started on librarians, my local library seemed to have employed the slots from Zootropolis. You wait and you wait and they don't trust the system so they beep it twice to make sure. and they type with one finger slowly brought up from under the table.....

MyKingdomForBrie · 16/05/2017 23:39

Oh God yes Lunde of course he was a pedophile. I mean that happened once so definitely this guy was a pedophile too.

5OBalesofHay · 16/05/2017 23:43

Cybersecurity and traceability?

ElinorRigby · 17/05/2017 08:17

Libraries are being closed all over the country because of savage cuts to local government funding, and because the cuts to hours, to the money available to buy books and put on activity sessions, mean that their services become less readily accessible to some people

They are not closed because a single library assistant somewhere upheld library policy in a way that another user didn't agree with. It's equivalent to saying the NHS is in crisis because the nurse at the local health centre refused to treat your verucca and suggested you went to a chiropodist or chemist instead.

NB. Many libraries , like the one where I worked till recently, are in High Streets. We have wifi. People like the man, without a card or necesssary ID but 'with an urgent need to transfer money' were courteously directed to a couple of nearby places that have paid-for internet access. A few, however, would always want to argue that they should be able to walk in off the street and gain instant access to our PCs.

halcyondays · 17/05/2017 08:22

Why didn't he call the AA? It wouldn't have occurred to me to let him use my account.

claraschu · 17/05/2017 08:30

Being unable to gently bend rules for a good reason is one of my red flags.

People who follow the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law make the world such a sad and cold place sometimes.

People who help others and use common sense and kindness are the ones who make the world liveable and spread joy.

ElinorRigby · 17/05/2017 08:38

I had a colleague who was always kind to library users. He'd waive fines, let people who had no ID borrow books or use computers.

It caused endless problems. Because then everyone would come in without tickets or ID or not wanting to pay for overdue books because 'Dave said' (Not his real name.)

When we had customers who were aggressive, you never saw Dave. He'd never intervene to support a colleague who was being abused.

Dave was a pain in the arse and we all found him very difficult to work with.

Badbadbunny · 17/05/2017 08:42

People who follow the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law make the world such a sad and cold place sometimes.

Well said, they're called "jobsworths" but just can't see it themselves, instead they make up reasons not to help which have no basis in law nor regulation.

As seen in this thread, people are making up all kinds of "justifications" citing security, porn, criminals, etc., but havn't the faintest idea whether the library itself can ever be legally responsible for someone using their computer system - they say that's the reason, but don't actually know that's true.

I'm amazed at the time and effort that some jobsworths go to in order to justify their position, especially when their excuse is that they're too busy - most of the time it would be quicker and easy just to do the right thing and be helpful in the first place.

Badbadbunny · 17/05/2017 08:45

They are not closed because a single library assistant somewhere upheld library policy in a way that another user didn't agree with.

Maybe not, but a library facing cuts or closure may well be reprieved if there's a lot of local support/campaigns to save it. The more "customers" you alienate, the fewer you'll have, the easier it would be to justify closure and the less support you'll get from the local community. What goes around, comes around!

Ifailed · 17/05/2017 08:54

Oh dear, OP, you've emailed the council? They'd probably forgotten about your little village library, now you've drawn attention to it they'll close it. Then everyone in your village will arm themselves with pitchforks and drag you off to the wikerman.

Or maybe not.

MarcelineTheVampire · 17/05/2017 09:11

Wow, this thread is ridiculous- I highly doubt the man was that desperate for a wank that he would go to a village library Hmm.

I understand why there are rules but surely kindness and common sense should prevail....some people on here sound like mean spirited jobsworths.

OP you did a good thing- don't let this stop you continue to be kind.

grannytomine · 17/05/2017 10:03

There's nothing to stop compassionate individuals lending someone in distress their mobile phone to do a little internet banking... Some of us have phones that you can make phone calls from, quaint isn't it. Telephone banking could be done from my phone, internet banking no.

grannytomine · 17/05/2017 10:17

I think the library assistant is on dangerous ground. She knew the rules, she let the OP break the rules and when the man left asserted herself. She should either have told the OP the consequences or once she decided to turn a blind eye she should have left it at that. The OP might not be able to use the printer at the library, the member of staff could presumably be disciplined if allowing someone to use another person's account is that serious.