I Don't Know Nothing About Computers

Marta was a hispanic early 40's woman who knew very little about computers but a helluva lot about wheedling and manipulating. She would come into the library with the sole purpose of getting as much bang for her buck (yeah, the concept of free public library did escape her).

Her greatest flaw (her greatest strength was her ability to annoy): Not Listening! For example, Marta was told by staff, and signed the release form, that no outside disks were allowed. At the time, we sold disks to patrons & could store them at the desk. "Oh, okay. So I can bring my own disk in, yes?"

::sigh::

Finally she finagled us that if she brought in a brand new, unopened box of floppies, she could store them here and use them at her leisure, yes? Marta then continued to pester the staff about using the computer. Once she came in, threw a sheet of paper at me covered in scribble and said "I need you to find this for me." After we explained that the computers are self served, she asked, "Okay. So you can find these, yes?"

"Welcome to the library!"

Peter was well known at the library: he was very friendly, played the piano beautifully, and was highly medicated. His handshake alone was enough to creep me out -- like sliding a clammy dead fish between your hands.

He walked to the library because he didn't live far away (and because his mother often wouldn't bring him). Peter was close to mid-forties when I knew him, and fairly often asked staff members to take him home. One of the two times I did he asked me out for dinner. Sorry, I'm not that lonely!

You could tell when his medication was and wasn't working by the way he approached other patrons and played the piano. Once he so frightened another patron by simply sitting at her table (his head collapsed into his hands, mouth agape, prepared to start moaning) that she asked if she should be worried. His favorite pastimes at the library were to sit and stare at you while you worked, ranting condemnation of mankind for straying from the Bible, and welcoming everybody -- staff and patron alike -- with "Hi! Welcome to the library!"