To think the woman in the library is really lazy?

[LittleBellatrixLeBoot]

I was there to pick up a bookclub book. It was 2 minutes before closing time.

"They're upstairs now".

"What, the book club books?"

"Yes."

"So?"

"It's six o'clock now".

Then I looked at her and realised she meant "I'm too lazy to go upstairs and get them at this time".

So I said "oh dear, if I don't get it today I won't be able to read it before next week, because I can't get here before Monday".

"Oh well, maybe you wouldn't have had time to read it anyway".

The local library has 2 floors. It is not the empire state building, it is one flight of stairs. It would have taken about 1 minute. She may technically have been entitled to be that jobsworthy. But would you be that lazy, and proud of the way you did your job if you were?

Pigleto - don't you put the books back on the shelf if your child pulls them off?

unless door locks at 6pm and she bolts out to get to her childminder by 6.30 or she'll end up fined of course

She was asked to get a book two minutes before closing. I'm guessing it would've taken more than two mins to get it without issuing it etc. The librarian knew she was never getting out of there on time.

I would have got the book. Many of my colleagues would have refused on the basis that, by the time they had got the book, the library would be closed.

still not OPs fault. She should have been served.

She could have a million different reasons why she wanted to leave exactly on 6pm. Some of them good, some of them bad. They still would have nothing to do with the OP.

"Still should have served them. Not the OPs problem. And sorry but librarian really isn't the shittest most poorly paid job out there"

It's more than likely that the member of staff wasn't a qulified librarian and instead a Library Assistant being paid not much above minimum wage.

I agree Armadillo, not the OPs fault and she's well within her her rights to have that book yadda yadda yadda.

But, she's still being a massive pain in the arse

See where I worked that would be normal, not worth get annoyed at.

People demanding to be let in when the tills were cashed up, the staff were leaving and the alarms were being set = 'pain in the arse'.

People who routinely swore at you, threatened you and occasionally hit you, threw things at you or similar were the ones to get worked up about.

Agree with the POV on here that librarians aren't anything special or particularly hard done-by in the grand scheme of service sector workers. I've worked in bars and shops too and what I've learned from that is to show all people in public service settings a bit of respect and consideration.
Such as tidying up after myself or my children.

I got there as soon as I could. Picked up the kids from school, DS had guitar lesson (teacher turned up late) had dinner, ran down to the library, got there at 10 to 6.

I assumed the books would be behind the counter, otherwise I would have asked for them immediately I got to the library. But I didn't know the books were upstairs. And the woman knew I was borrowing it for a book group but it's now too late to read it. Book groups are something which libraries are supposed to be desperately promoting.

I just think it was lazy. I'm not saying she should be sent to a labour camp or anything, just that she was lazy. Which appears to be becoming so normal now.

Hold on there bella, you said 2 mins in your OP.
Timing regardless, I'd have still got you your book, but...10 mins before closing time is rather different and much less understandable on her part.

No i got there at 10 to 6, but didn't ask for the book until we were checking out DS's books. (I just assumed I'd be able to get it at the same time - didn't anticipate that there would be a problem.)

When I used to do late shifts in the library we closed at 8 and I had 10 minutes to get to the bus-stop or face a half hour wait (in the cold and dark, if it was winter) for the next one. People who came in at 1 minute to 8 were the bane of my life. I would still have got the book for you though, LBLB...because I am a Nice Person

My worst ever experience like this though was when I worked in the cookwear department of Boots (holiday job one Christmas) and a tremendously posh woman came in 2 minutes before closing time on Christmas Eve and asked for the items she had had put away in the stock room. It was a 72 piece dinner service - each piece needed wrapping in tissue paper and bubble wrap and I had to find a box and then "oh, my dear, how can I possibly carry that, you will have to find some string and tie it round to make a handle..."

She didn't even say thank you, despite me being unfailingly polite (through gritted teeth) - just moaned about how heavy it was and how hard it was going to be to find a taxi...

I don't know exactly what time it was when we checked out - but I think it was about 2 or 3 minutes to 6. It wasn't 6 exactly, there were a couple of other people behind us, and there was another member of staff in the library

Unreasonable, I think. If you'd gone in a shop at 2 minutes to closing time you wouldn't have asked for a pair of shoes in a different size to the ones available just knowing (how?) that it would only take 1/2 minute, then you'd try it on for 1/2 a minute, then your card would get through in the remaining time etc. What if your watch was wrong and it was only 1 minute to closing time etc?

BTW I don't think she was right to comment on whether or not you'd have had time to read the book. Also, since it was a bookclub book I'd have expected her to make more of an effort.

Public Library staff are only paid to work until the moment the library officially closes. The lady you spoke to is most probably a library assistant (you don't find too many qualified librarians manning the issue desk as they cost more than library assistants). I've worked in public and academic libraries and they have all had a strict closing time policy whether the individual staff on duty agree with it or not. Now I work in the commercial sector I like to leave on time - but if someone needs something urgently or there is a problem I stay to sort it out.

omg I WANT to live somewhere where people consider they have to serve you just before closing time. And where they even chat to you...

How nice it would be to live somewhere where the organisation pay their staff for the hours worked so that staff would be able to serve customers that come into a shop or library 30 seconds before closing time.

Astounded at the bibliotechnicianophobes on this thread. Librarians rock as any fule no. Everyone less than super saintly in any job gives short shrift at closing time. If you were being ultra polite and asking as a clearly acknowledged massive favour then I think she was a bit mean but I'm pretty sure that none of my partner's (very committed) colleagues would have done this for you at one minute to closing when there were two people to be served behind you.

And as for the "it's a cushy public sector job" bolleaux...