work

I mentioned in my last entry that I’m working at the university library. All of my shifts begin at 7:45AM, 15 minutes before the library opens to the public, which has led to me being able to observe a few rather odd, widespread behaviors.

I’ll get in and be waiting in the hallway to enter the libary proper at around 7:30. Invariably - and I really do mean invariably - while I’m waiting, someone will come into the hallway. I’ll be standing there with my backpack on top of the book drop off thing, usually reading. They’ll look at me, walk right by me, and try to open one of the doors into the library. Locked! Imagine that. If the library was open, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to be inside, sitting down and reading, rather than standing there?

At this point, they’ll look at the doors in disgust - “how dare the library be closed when I need to get in?” They’ll turn, look at the sign which lists our hours - yes, indeed, we open at 8AM - and then, they’ll check their watches. And then, they’ll jerk on a few more of the doors as if expecting them to be magically unlocked.

Now, I know that watches can be off, but I don’t think these dozens of folks all have watches that are off by a good 15 minutes. I can come up with two explanations: one is that they either A) think that our signs are lying about our hours; the other, B) is that they think that the hours of operation don’t apply to them.

So, for clarification: No, the signs aren’t lying. We really don’t open until 8AM. And no, glaring at the doors and jerking on them won’t make the library open any faster. Alas, the rules apply to you too. That’s right, glare at me. Yes, now turn and leave the building in digust, when you’d only have to wait a few more minutes to get in. It’s dreadful, I know!

Silly people.