That's why you can't bring food or drinks into the library, you hamster felcher!!!!

The BBQ Pit
41

I’d like to point out that it’s not only Gen-Y’ers that are self centered ijiots. half the day I’m at a large, public office w/ many computers available to the public (no, not a library). In BIG letters on the door, it says “NO FOOD NO DRINKS”. BIG letters.

As I was entering one day, an elderly man was carefully preparing his giant Smochacappicantinohalfcowdecaf to bring into the building. I pointed out to him “Sign says no food/drinks”. But it has a lid. Gosh, coulda sworn the sign says “no” , not “none w/o lids”.

42

I’ve never heard of a library that allowed people to bring in food and drink. I did used to sneak candy in with me to the library occasionally at my former school, but I didn’t brandish it in the libarians’ faces and say, “HA! IT’S ILLICIT FOOD!” I only did it because sometimes I REALLY needed a snack, but I also had a serious need to use the library.

Sodas near other people’s books? Perish the thought!!!

43

We have very strict rules about public behavior in our library system. No food, drink, cell phones, etc., and we have Special Officers to enforce those rules.

Then some genius in administration though that having Coke machines in the public areas of all the branches would be a great source of extra income. There was even a “Coke” committee. The Coca-Cola guy visited all the branches to determine the best placement for optimum income potential.

Those of us in the branches were dumbstruck. We haven’t heard anything further about it, so we are all hoping someone figured it might not be such a great idea after all.

44

Sorry, I’m just trying to get a visual image of someone trying to felch something as small as a brine shrimp.

45

This is why my mother always laughs her ass off when people say “You work in a library? It must be nice to have such a quiet, relaxing job!”

46

I’m sure the exact same thought was in the mind of the woman in the OP.

I work in a museum. Every day I have to inform people that, yes, the “Do Not Touch” applies to them, no matter how careful they feel they are. I’ve had people sound absolutely insulted and outraged when they inform me, “I’m not going to break it!”

Ironically, it’s the children who are best-behaved in the museum. The adults are the ones who think the rules only apply to others. Seems they feel that some kind of specialness seperates them from the rest of us. I spend a lot of my time every day informing them differently.

Obey the rules, please.

47

My library has a sign by the entrance that says “No food or drinks please. Thank you for your co-operation”. Then, just a litte past the area where we drop off books, there is a coffee machine where we can pop $1 in for a nasty tasting cup of coffee. :confused:

Also, there are constantly people taking in food to eat. A candy bar here, and a sandwich there. What’s really annoying about that is how their paper crinkles. And it’s not like it’s one crinkle and then it’s over. It’s more of a crinkle… crinkle … crinkle crinkle crinkle SMACK as the person with the candy bar gulps down his/her last bite and squishes the wrapper into a ball and leaves it on the table/floor/whatever.

I’d like to also point out that not only do food and drinks sort out the computers when spilled or crumbs seep into a crack. But if there were spills and crumbs lying around, it attracts all sorts of bugs and other creepy things. I don’t remember what it’s called, but there is a type of bug/worm that eats the glue that holds the books together. And after a while of this bug/worm eating it, it would fall apart and you’ve got yourself a book with a couple of missing pages and therefore useless.

Another thing, back in high school, we had two “real” librarians in our library. The rest were student volunteers. They basically helped check books in and out, reshelf things, and took people’s money for the fines. They also get special treatment from the “real” librarians. Not the kind that’s like “Let me hold this book for you before the others, just because you’re helping us out.” It was more of a contraticting special treatment.

One time during lunch, about three or four of us headed over to the library to study for an exam coming up. Two of my friends pulled out their lunches and started munching away. We were sitting down in the back room, with the group tables and all, away from the books (except our own) and the computers (which were pieces of crap anyway). The librarian comes wandering in, and tells Friend A she has to put her sandwich away immediately, even though she had about three bites left. Then, he turned towards Friend B and tell her that it’s okay that she’s eating her muffin because she works here. I was like "WTF?! :confused: " But I was just a lowly high school student and didn’t want to start a debate on how much of an asshole he was being, especially he since I wanted to get studying on my exam.

It boggled my mind, though. He’d go on and on for hours about how the sugar in the food ruins the books, and even it wasn’t spilled directly on them, the sugar would attract ants, and ruin the books, and all that. No food or drinks in the library unless it’s water seems fair to me. So then, what the hell did he think he was doing, telling one person she couldn’t have food, and then telling another that she could because she works there?! If he did indeed wanted to discourge food and drinks, it seems like a better idea would be to enforce the no drink/food on everyone, so that the volunteers would set a good example. It still pisses me off to this very day!!

Sorry about this long post. I seem to have trouble keeping things short and simple.

48

Or even better, the special Name of the Rose poison page edition.

49

Well, y’know, Wal-Mart was selling fifty-cent paperback editions of all sorts of classic novels not that far back.

I’m amazed that ANYONE in a library would allow just some joe off the street to handle a first edition of ANYTHING by Samuel Clements. I mean, what if the jerk just up and runs out the front door?

50

Damn, and here I was getting all pissed today when I was attempting to study in the library and forced to listen to this screaming kid (literally, screaming) actually running up and down the isles with her father in tow, following slowly behind, with a bemused smile on his face.

The fuck?

But after reading this, I’d say it was a day in the park.

[sub]My library doesn’t allow any food or drinks, not even water, I think they should add an “yes, that means you motherfucker” below the “no food or drink” sign.[/sub]

51

Wow, that kid must’ve gotten to me more than I thought, my coding is all shot to hell…

52

Frankly, I’m not buying the story in the OP.

Libraries just don’t let people use $50,000 worth of books in an uncontrolled environment.

Heck, it would be pretty odd for a public library to have those books unless it was one of the larger city systems (and then I could guarantee that they’re rare books collection would be properly protected).

A library’s server would not be out in the public areas of the library, especially not behind the public consoles that receive all kinds of abuse.

The library’s server would not be without some form of surge protection that would prevent the blackout mentioned.

If it did all happen as described, the bill would be much larger than $7,800 (which probably wouldn’t cover the server, let alone the books).

The poster would not know what the bill would be unless they worked for the library, and then the poster would know that the behavior that needs ridicule is not the patrons, but the library’s.

Either the OP is complete exaggerated bunk, or we have an example of the richest, yet stupidest, small public library in the country.

But it was creatively written.

53

Couple of things:

  1. I’m a guy.

  2. The Hamster/Ferret/Brine Shrimp Felcher is also a guy.

  3. I can’t prove that they were first editions, as they seemed to be in 1/2 decent shape before the accident, but I do know that the library does have a fairly substantial collection of 1st editions.

  4. You didn’t need to go in a special room or wear gloves to handle any of the first editions, though that policy will likely change.:wink:

54

I know I can’t be the only person to have noted that two different Dopers have chimed in without a shred of irony to say “Mr. Big Gulp is a fuckwit. Let me share with you my story of how I do the same fucking thing. Boy, it’s a good thing I’m not a fuckwit.”

55

There IS a bit of difference from scarfing a few illicit M&Ms to dumping a whole soda on a monitor and some valuable old books. I never said I wasn’t breaking the rules anyway.

56

Shouldn’t be a problem if the guy’s dick is as minuscule as his brain. :stuck_out_tongue:

57

Amanita Our rule only applies to the computer areas and certain restricted areas of the library (like the documents area which contains stuff on geneology and history, I haven’t actually been in there so I don’t know what else). In fact we even have a Second Cup in our main downtown library. The only library I’ve been in recently that doesn’t allow food or drink at all was my former schools library, mainly because there were computers everywhere and there was a food court immediately downstairs where we could eat our lunch.

We also have garbage bins scattered around the library to throw things out, and I have never noticed any problems with garbage being left behind (but maybe I don’t see it before it gets grabbed by the cleaning crew?)

I do know that recently our downtown library changed all it’s seats from cushioned to non because they had a problem with a few people… ahem… unable to control their bladders making messes on them. Easier to wipe clean seats than to pay constantly to clean the cushions. We also have security patrolling the downtown branch as it is a popular hang out for the homeless. (Not that I begrudge them the right to read, or use the internet, but some of them sleep on the seats and can be downright disturbing to other patrons. Those ones get nudged awake and told to leave, and I’ve seen at least one person banned from the branch because he was being a real asshole.)

58

I worked in a library. The only thing I’ll put in my mouth there is gum, and since I don’t spit my gum out unless it’s into a trash can (if there isn’t one available, I swallow it), that isn’t a problem.

There’s really no reason to have food in a library, except in the break room. When we worked, we had drinks in the back–away from the books, and they could NOT sit anywhere but in their designated spot. If you’re that thirsty, get a drink of water or go out for a short break. 'S that simple.

59

Just as an FYI Muldoon’s, we can settle the question of first edition fairly easily. Tom Sawyer has a green or blue cover with the title in gold and gold stars on the front. Later editions would be formatted differently. Huck Finn is very similar looking, with a portrait of Huck in gold against a blue or green cover.

As to the $7800 price tag that is about right for the books together. It all depends on the condition and the ‘points’ designating which printing of the first edition were damaged. The Hucks and Toms I have sold have been in the thousand dollar range each, but they were only in fair condition.

I do find it hard to imagine librarians giving access to books like Huck and Tom that are accesible in cheap accurate later editions. People usually only need the original editions when no others are available.

This is a problem I am having a problem dealing with. I would like to open a rare book shop open to the general public someday. The public, unfortunately, is peopled with a fair number of assholes. I have seen books detriorate from improper handling in a matter of a month. The only way to prevent that is to lock everything down, which is kind of depressing.

60

If this by chance is directed at me, let me clarify my position.

I hold that one should be responsible for oneself and any damage one causes. I also believe that policies like this are usually aimed at the lowest common denominator of the target group and would work better in a world of only black & white.

I on the other hand am cursed/blessed with the ability to see in shades of grey, and can see the difference between perching a large uncovered glass of liquid on an electric device above a valuable and fragile set of books and carrying a capped nalgene bottle in a backpack.