tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post4736060478003683367..comments2024-03-27T05:00:00.090-04:00Comments on Letters to a Young Librarian: Dealing With Difficult PatronsJessica Olinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-71129532596985598842012-01-26T16:52:20.589-05:002012-01-26T16:52:20.589-05:00Exactly, Jill. Thanks for reminding us of that.Exactly, Jill. Thanks for reminding us of that.Jessica Olinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-72188362558355550772012-01-26T12:54:58.230-05:002012-01-26T12:54:58.230-05:00And remember that sometimes "bad" behavi...And remember that sometimes "bad" behavior comes from good intentions. I remember one time as a patron, I joined another patron's conversation with the librarian, thinking to save the librarian from having to answer the same question twice. In the process of the interaction, I ended up coming across as impertinent and, I guess from the librarian's point of view, questioning her authority or professionalism. I didn't mean it that way and felt terrible when I realized how I had come across, but it was too late to correct things without making the situation worse. Sometimes people mean well, but it comes out the wrong way.<br /><br />-Jill<br />http://learninglibrarian.weebly.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-83612208682131336312012-01-25T21:23:38.215-05:002012-01-25T21:23:38.215-05:00Olivia, I've passed patrons off to other libra...Olivia, I've passed patrons off to other librarians when I'm not on the reference desk and need to get work done.Jessica Olinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-11057592488890029652012-01-25T10:30:49.493-05:002012-01-25T10:30:49.493-05:00When all else fails, call for back-up & take 5...When all else fails, call for back-up & take 5 if you can. Obviously this won't work for solo librarians, but a fresh person often diffuses the situation.Olivia Nellumshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07918058119014110480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-15332422961497488082012-01-24T13:21:56.305-05:002012-01-24T13:21:56.305-05:00I learned these techniques working at a school at ...I learned these techniques working at a school at which all the students have a diagnosed learning disability &/or AD/HD. There, you learn not to take things personally or you don't survive.Jessica Olinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-83585314723441667522012-01-24T13:11:19.101-05:002012-01-24T13:11:19.101-05:00Here's a trick that worked for me. I worked i...Here's a trick that worked for me. I worked in a public library in New York City for 3 years. I had a very hard time dealing with the extremely demanding and difficult patrons there, but after working there for 3 years, I can handle anything. Nobody bothers me after that and it hasn't worn off after over a decade away from that job.<br /><br />So, my not-so-practical recommendation is, go work with the most horrible people you can find for a few years and, if you survive that (which I admit I almost didn't) the rest of your career will be a breeze. :-)Rob Sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05788956770764271509noreply@blogger.com