Library Loot: Lootless And Disgraced For One Day
Believe it or not, I got suspended from using my library for one whole day. Punishment for being one day late with the Huey Long biography. I couldn't believe it -- the self-checkout machine, who is usually so sweet and tender and speaks to me in such dulcet computerized tones didn't speak to me at all! When I scanned my card, it flashed an angry red rectangular light twice and a terse message came up: Card suspended. You cannot check out here. I didn't say anything. Pouting, I put the book back on the shelf and slunk away, lootless and in disgrace.
Coming back the next day after class, I decided that if I was still on their blacklist, I'd try to sort things out with the library staff, even though they send out oh-foreigner-please-don't-ask-me-anything vibes when I get within 20 feet of the desk. I'm sure they wish they could take the self-checkout machine out for a drink once a week for saving their bacon.
Anyway, surprise! I didn't have to engage the staff; I was back to good. Upon reflection, I've decided that I was wrong to pout, even for a moment. A month is a reasonable amount of time to read a book, especially a YA biography. I've resolved to clean up my slightly dingy act and keep track of my return dates.
Here's the book that I (slightly sweaty with relief) went home with:
Discovering The Maltese Falcon And Sam Spade, edited by Richard Layman. It's everything you ever wanted to know about Dashiell Hammett and his masterpiece.
12 comments:
Given the title of your last checkout, do you think having access to this library has led you to read strange things that wouldn't have crossed your path elsewhere?
rubycanary,
Yes, I love the randomness and offbeatness of it all.
One day late and it got you suspended? Albeit very briefly. I've only ever gotten suspended for fines- and that lasted until I could pay them. (I didn't let my card rack up fines agian!)
That's hilarious! At our library, your account gets suspended when you go over $5 in fines, but since fines are 10 cents a day, that would take awhile. I'm glad you have it back now!
The last time I got $5 in fines, they politely sent me a bill for the book, but they were still allowing me to check things out!
I think that really stinks of your library-suspending your account for a day! I'm pretty sure that my library only suspends the account after a certain period of time. You can definitely still check things out even with a fine.
I'm so frightened of self-checkout machines at libraries! I never know what they're going to say to me. If I had a self-checkout machine at a library fuss at me, I would have a nervous breakdown.
Hilarious story! I would be a little intimidated by those machines. Haven't seen them where I live.
I still have yet to read The Maltese Falcon. sigh
You are such a naughty girl. One day late? Talk about over- reacting, At our library we would have been fined 5p - a bit of a difference, wouldn't you say?
He wrote The Maltese Falcon in a bar named Joe's (I think it's Joe's) in San Francisco. I keep meaning to go there for lunch or something.
And the horror!!! Suspended? BANNED? Felon. ;)
ROTFL
Our library needs a feature like this! Actually, come to think of it, I'd rather that policy was applied to cell phone users...
That's one strict check out machine!
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