I just got shushed! By a patron! While I was helping someone at the public access computers! She actually went, "ssshhhhhhh...." She was supremely annoyed that I was helping the person sitting next to her. I think I glared at her.
Are you offended or surprised at being shushed when you're staff (could she not tell you were staff), or at the playing out of a stereotype expectation of libraries for quiet?
If one patron needs assistance requiring us to talk while another needs to concentrate or rest on her own work and feels quiet would help her concentrate or rest, then we're in a bit of a bind.
I wonder whether verbally acknowledging both needs might be the first step to satisfying both patrons... it would show respect for both patrons and could lead to solutions with consideration for all...?
I was helping a patron at my desk once and another patron who had been sitting at one of the public computers walked up to us and said "It's one thing when customers are loud but I never thought I would have to ask a librarian to be quiet."
My manager and I got shushed by a patron yesterday as I was catching her up after her vacation. Manager told her that we often have conversations as part of our jobs and suggested she move to the magazine corner which is as out of the way as we have.
I am constantly amused by the posts that garner the most comments. Long serious posts get no comments, and semi-serious posts on shushing and teenage boys jerkin-the-gherkin get lots of discussion. Funny.
For the record, I didn't actually glare at her. I adjusted my volume, said, "I'm sorry, I'll try to be quieter while I help this patron," and tried to keep the help session quiet - and brief.
I guess I was just surprised that the patron seemed SO PISSED about it.
7 comments:
Are you offended or surprised at being shushed when you're staff (could she not tell you were staff), or at the playing out of a stereotype expectation of libraries for quiet?
If one patron needs assistance requiring us to talk while another needs to concentrate or rest on her own work and feels quiet would help her concentrate or rest, then we're in a bit of a bind.
I wonder whether verbally acknowledging both needs might be the first step to satisfying both patrons... it would show respect for both patrons and could lead to solutions with consideration for all...?
Screw that...I would have shushed her back, but mabye I'm just a bi-yatch like that!
oh the irony!!! ;)
I was helping a patron at my desk once and another patron who had been sitting at one of the public computers walked up to us and said "It's one thing when customers are loud but I never thought I would have to ask a librarian to be quiet."
I was once shushed at the reference desk by a patron when I had been having a long conversation with another patron
My manager and I got shushed by a patron yesterday as I was catching her up after her vacation. Manager told her that we often have conversations as part of our jobs and suggested she move to the magazine corner which is as out of the way as we have.
I am constantly amused by the posts that garner the most comments. Long serious posts get no comments, and semi-serious posts on shushing and teenage boys jerkin-the-gherkin get lots of discussion. Funny.
For the record, I didn't actually glare at her. I adjusted my volume, said, "I'm sorry, I'll try to be quieter while I help this patron," and tried to keep the help session quiet - and brief.
I guess I was just surprised that the patron seemed SO PISSED about it.
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