- I can’t log on to the computer. Is something wrong?
As it turns out, if you officially change your address a hold gets put on your library account until you report the change of address to the library. Ellen showed me how to get the borrower back on good terms.
- Do you have this book featured in People magazine?
It turned out to be Alexander McCall Smith’s new book, so it had 238 holds on it. It turned out the patron hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series, so I hooked her up with the number one #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
- Do you have any books about how to teach children to read?
Pamela took this question and I observed how she showed the patron the Easy Readers section where the phonics books are. There are also curriculum books in the 370s, but most of them are at the downtown library.
- Can I tell if a book is a paperback or hardcover in the library catalog?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you can. So I showed the patron how to copy the ISBN number and check on Amazon, which always lets you know what you’re dealing with.
- We’re doing a school project about the Ballard Library building. Do you have info on that?
The library has handouts about the very cool and green building it occupies. There are also some diagrams and explanations in the lobby. Pamela also encouraged the kids to contact the architects, who are local.
- Can you recommend a good movie?
We started throwing things out. The patron didn’t take any particular suggestions, but our suggestions led him to something he liked.
- Do you have voter registration forms?
We surely do. They’re on the side of one of the reference shelves.
- [Over the phone] I can see you have this book in. Can you grab it off the shelf for me and put it on hold? I’m going to come pick it up later today.
We can do that. I just changed the status of the book, put a slip in it with part of the patron’s name on it, and stuck it on the holds shelf.
- I’m looking for a book that’s got picture of people on the subway in it. It’s like a photography book.
Oh, I love a good book hunt. I used Amazon to search and we eventually found what she thought might be it, so we put a hold on it for her.
