What do you do with mobile phone users once they enter the hallowed portals? I have noticed four general tactics when I have visited libraries:
1) the patented Dorothea stare - this usually works, but takes years of practice to hone. I can nail a mosquito at 30 yards.
2) uncomfortable shuffling and surreptious looks followed by member of staff sidling over and asking in an embarrassed sort of way if they would mind, you know, er, turning it off, it is, you know, a library, right?
3) the stroppiest member of staff being sent over to tell them in no uncertain terms to switch it off before it gets flushed down the toilet.
4) studiously ignoring them in the hope that they will see sense and retreat - this never works.
Or do you have a tolerance zone, a chill out area, where people can bleep and chirrup and tweet in freedom? I bet you can guess what Dorothea thinks of that.
Speech on ending the Right to Buy, 17.1.2023
3 months ago
Just heard that the book fund has already run out - no orders, no inter library lending. What an appalling service to offer to our borrowers - I wouldn't mind betting we are the only authority in the country to do this. Already had several really cross borrowers who are utterly incredulous at the situation - and we are barely half way through the financial year!
ReplyDeleteMobile-phone users in libraries??? Standing right in front of a notice that asks them, very politely, to switch off while in my sacred space??? I long for the day we can be armed with stun-guns, or better still Walther PPK pistols, and just shoot them. End of problem!!!
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