What's Your Definition of "Help"?

  by  Dimitri N. 
HELP: verb: Make it easier for (someone) to do something by offering aid. ; assist; aid; support
The other day, I was was approached by a patron to help her find a book at the public library I work at. I tend to hate sitting at the reference desk so I usually get up and walk people around the library to show there how to find things. I know, that's not very mind-blowing but you would be surprised at how many people just point to a location and consider that helping. Anyway, so this college-aged student comes up to me and has a call number, so I walk her around the library. I take her to the parent collection, go down on my rickety knees and try to find the book she is looking for.
It's not there.
I walk with her over to the picture books and start going through the books to see if the book is there. Nope. No book. Mind you, it's a picture book. They are thin. We have lots of kids coming through checking books out, putting them on the shelf and there are lots of them.
So, I go to the computer to see when it last had any activity. Feb 2012. Ok, so it has to be somewhere.
I walk her over to the resorting shelves and look there. Nothing.
I say, "Well, we have looked everywhere and the only thing we can do is put a search for it."
Lady: "What do you mean? It says it's here on the computer."
Me: "Well, we walked all over the children's library and looked in all the possible locations and haven't found it."
Lady: "I need it for Wednesday."
Me: "Well, we looked everywhere and it's not here."
Lady:"YOU DIDN'T HELP ME."
Me: shocked "What? I walked with you through the stacks and looked on the shelves WITH you. You are actually saying I didn't HELP you?"
I then asked "When did you get this assignment?"
Lady: Long pause. "That's not important."

Uh, actually, it IS important. This is what happens when you procrastinate.

I couldn't believe it. When did "helping" equal only actually finding the item? Seriously, I could not believe the nerve of that girl. Luckily, my manager supported me because, you know, we aren't magicians, we're librarians.

Rent a book and a Textbook...bookswim.com

Have you seen Bookswim.com? Someone on LM-Net posted the link to it and was very enthusiastic about it. I guess, my question is, why not just support your public library? You can put books on hold, you can ILL (interlibrary loan) books (sometimes textbooks too) and yes, there are fees to put things on hold or ILL but it really is not that much and you are supporting your public library.

They do have a value section that asks "Why Not just go to the Library?" And there are some valid things like late fees and long holds and limited hours but still wouldn't you rather have your money go to an institution that helps the community?

I think it's also funny that there is a really tiny disclaimer that says the following:

"* That said, BookSwim is a terrific suppliment for avid library users, as BookSwim encourages members to use the library if/when possible.""

That's right..go use your library if you can...

Hello, libraries are being shut down and funding is being slashed. Libraries are being closed all over the place...I would rather give what little money I have to paying a small late fee and keeping my public library open then doing this. But that's just me.

By the way, if you didn't know, there are some libraries out there that does send books to patrons. It might not be publicized very well but there are libraries that do this too. You just need to call and ask.

Though, I guess, as a student, I would have rather rented a textbook than bought it but that's why I used interlibrary loans. :)