Behaving Badly in the Library

The past two times that I've volunteered in Springfield at the Central Library it's been on a Friday when the library is closed. "The library is closed and there are people working?" Yes, there's plenty to do when the library is closed. Since the library is closed it's an opportunity to behave in ways that you normally wouldn't when it's open. Everyone is still professional but since the public won't see us it's time for a more casual wardrobe so out come the cat t-shirts and tie-dye (in my case) and sandals (it is summer after all).

It's also an opportunity to talk loudly and to shout! Libraries aren't as quiet as they used to be but in general we refrain from shouting from the main floor of Rice Hall up to the mezzanine when you're looking for someone. Although, I've seen patrons do this but not librarians. This is what Matthew did yesterday when he was looking for me. I thought it was kind of funny and if he reads this I hope he sees the humor in it too. I was searching the stacks for missing books in the 640s (that's Dewey for cookbooks) when Matthew walked into Rice Hall - a room so large you could fit 2 of my houses in it - and said, "Nancy?" I was a little surprised that he did that. I mean, just walked into the huge room and called my name. But there was NO ONE there and he knew it was okay. Except for the janitor. I knew he couldn't see me so this was my opportunity to seize the silly moment. So I called back as though I was on a mountain top, "I'm up here."

I thought Matthew was just going to tell me that he was going to lunch but then we proceeded to have a somewhat lengthy conversation about the WorldCat.org Facebook application and it's uselessness with him standing on the main floor of Rice Hall and me on the mezzanine sort like the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet but not. In the middle of our conversation the janitor started vacuuming but this did not stop our conversation. After about 5 minutes, we wrapped it up and he left for lunch and I went back to the 640s to finish up my hour of searching the stacks for missing books. I actually found quite a few. By the way, Springfield has a lot of cookbooks in their collection.