What a day. I’ve worked in libraries for almost 8 years now, but never in the direct service of patrons. All my time has been spent behind the scenes, processing books, handling discrepancies in shipments, helping out with network problems, contacting vendors and agents and publishers and generally trying to make it appear as though nothing unusual is happening when I know full well that everything unusual is happening. That’s what I love about technical services.

But at this little library at this little college … well, I’m only one of three other employees. We have been without a Public Services Librarian since before I was hired. The Public Services Librarian is the person responsible for running the circulation desk, answering patrons’ questions, finding books for people, basically teaching non-users how to use. But since we are operating without a PSL, each of the four of us must take turns helming the front desk — performing all these duties in addition to our normal responsibilities.

For some brilliant reason that I have yet to identify, the administration of this little college has found it appropriate to require two of our staff members to attend a “Strategic Planning Workshop” this week. This is half of our entire work force.

Next week is finals week. This is a college. All those students who swore they’d never set foot in the library are swarming. All those students who use the library on a daily basis are using it on an hourly basis. Everyone needs help. No one can find anything. And they all have class in 10 minutes.

What genius thought it was a good idea to cut us in half during the single busiest time of the semester? If analysis of the Strategic Plan has been put off since June, what’s a couple of weeks going to hurt?

I’m getting very tired of this job. I was hired to implement the automation of this ancient library, and instead I’ve become a circulation librarian.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrowl.

Oh geez, am I turning into a cranky curmudgeon librarian?

Guess I should start perfecting my Sshhhhhhhhhhhhh!