This kid came in today. He looked about 15 (I think the high school had the day off today). He wanted books about 2012. I said I had heard of the movie but had no idea what it was about, so I asked for a little more info. He muttered “you know, about the Mayans and stuff.” I was approaching the end of a tiring three-hour stint on the reference desk, hadn’t had lunch yet, and I felt annoyed at his lack of helpful info. So I quickly looked up the Dewey number where books about the Mayans would be – not even bothering to check if we had anything available at the moment – and sent him on his way.
Then I started to feel bad. This kid might very well end up leaving the library empty-handed and frustrated. I didn’t want this teenager to leave with a bad impression of the library, so I started researching the whole 2012 thing. I came up with a list of eight books about Mayan prophecies, several of which specifically had to do with 2012. Unfortunately, none of them were at my library, but at least there were books elsewhere in the county. I tracked the kid down, sitting at a catalog computer, and showed him the list. He didn’t know how to put stuff on hold, so I helped him request several of the books from the other libraries in the county and then I helped him find Whitley Strieber’s fiction book 2012: The War for Souls, which the kid had found in the catalog. At least he had something to take home with him today.
When all was said and done I was happy with how it turned out. I hope the kid left with a favorable impression of libraries (and librarians!).
Posted by Cheryl
Posted by Cheryl 
Posted by Cheryl 





















