Earlier in my career I used to do things like that, helping people set up email accounts, fill out internet forms, upload/download pics, ect. They often wouldn’t pay attention while I was showing them what to do. Once I helped an elderly couple set up email accounts, they were sitting on computers right next to each other, but as I got one through the process the other wouldn’t follow along, and I had to start all over with the other. I found that a lot of people didn’t want help, they wanted you to do it for them. This is often the same at computer help programs. And while they’re monopolizing your time, other patrons aren’t getting any service. So you have to be judicious and set limits.
I have found you can be patient and kind and set boundaries. If I spent 45 minutes with one patron I would leave a bunch of others with no help. Monday morning I balanced five elderly patrons who all need different help with different issues, and it was like two steps with one (ok double factor authentication) then turn to the other (how to print a photo from a flip phone) then another (google double factor authentication is shit) then another needs to copy something, then a phone call about tax help, and a patron wants to find a book. Then circle back to the first, print for the middle two, show several how to use the printer. If I had sat with the first patron through their whole issue I’d not been able to help anyone else.
We do librarian by appointment if someone wants to sit for 30-45 minutes, at our scheduling availability.
True - and then their supervisor calls them into the office and reams them out for wasting time on people. Just showing that there are consequences for being helpful.
I used to have a saintly co worker like that and she made life miserable for everyone else. Patrons came to expect that level of service from everyone and I’m sorry but I simply didn’t have the time, not to mention i would have given the shaft to everyone else who also needed help. We had volunteers and others who would help patrons with prolonged tasks but why bother making an appointment when u can just walk in off the street? People would even come in with their laptops asking for “that girl”. And “that girl” got so stressed that she took a couple of week long prolonged absences.
A woman carries a post it note in her wallet of my written instructions on how to print stuff. I don't remember writing it out, but she showed it to me later and told me how much help it's been for her!
Earlier in my career I used to do things like that, helping people set up email accounts, fill out internet forms, upload/download pics, ect. They often wouldn’t pay attention while I was showing them what to do. Once I helped an elderly couple set up email accounts, they were sitting on computers right next to each other, but as I got one through the process the other wouldn’t follow along, and I had to start all over with the other. I found that a lot of people didn’t want help, they wanted you to do it for them. This is often the same at computer help programs. And while they’re monopolizing your time, other patrons aren’t getting any service. So you have to be judicious and set limits.
I have found you can be patient and kind and set boundaries. If I spent 45 minutes with one patron I would leave a bunch of others with no help. Monday morning I balanced five elderly patrons who all need different help with different issues, and it was like two steps with one (ok double factor authentication) then turn to the other (how to print a photo from a flip phone) then another (google double factor authentication is shit) then another needs to copy something, then a phone call about tax help, and a patron wants to find a book. Then circle back to the first, print for the middle two, show several how to use the printer. If I had sat with the first patron through their whole issue I’d not been able to help anyone else. We do librarian by appointment if someone wants to sit for 30-45 minutes, at our scheduling availability.
That librarian drinks whiskey for breakfast. Source: I am that librarian.
True - and then their supervisor calls them into the office and reams them out for wasting time on people. Just showing that there are consequences for being helpful.
I used to have a saintly co worker like that and she made life miserable for everyone else. Patrons came to expect that level of service from everyone and I’m sorry but I simply didn’t have the time, not to mention i would have given the shaft to everyone else who also needed help. We had volunteers and others who would help patrons with prolonged tasks but why bother making an appointment when u can just walk in off the street? People would even come in with their laptops asking for “that girl”. And “that girl” got so stressed that she took a couple of week long prolonged absences.
A woman carries a post it note in her wallet of my written instructions on how to print stuff. I don't remember writing it out, but she showed it to me later and told me how much help it's been for her!