Uncategorized

Walking in the Stacks

From the Stacks
From the Stacks

One thing I like about working in a library is walking in the stacks. But when you do that, you see things you cannot unsee. It’s a large library (ten floors!), and keeping everything in order is impossible. Students put books back on the shelves any which way.

Oversized books should usually be shelved with the spine down, to protect the spine and keep the fore edge of the covers from splaying out. And I don’t even know how people can shove a book back on the shelf so the bookend is inside the book. But I see it frequently.

Photography

A Note

Desk with Note
Desk with Note

I saw this while walking in the stacks earlier in the week. The funny thing is that the desk is new to that spot. There’s usually a book truck there. I have no idea where the desk came from, but it has not been sitting there for four weeks, much less four years.

My best guess is that either someone is screwing with everyone’s heads with that note, or the note is legit and someone is being an ass and moved the desk to where it’s now sitting.

Photography

Snacks

Snacks

Outside of the occasional coffee, I haven’t had any refined sugar since Halloween. It took a while to stop craving chocolate, especially in the afternoons at work. Instead of spending money in the vending machine, I’ve been packing fruit and veggie snacks.

Photography

Look Up

Photo of library bookstacks, looking up at the ceiling, showing the books towering above the viewer

We have hybrid schedules, since going back to working on-site.  I love working remotely, but on my remote days I miss walking in the stacks.  This was taken on the 10th floor, where the photography books are kept.  Like art books (those are on the 9th floor), photography books are often oversized.  Only unlike the 9th floor, which has recently been remodeled to accommodate large art books, the 10th floor stacks aren’t set up for the size or volume of books it houses.  The stacks are too close together, and when there are books hanging half off the shelves, because they don’t fit, you feel a bit like they’re going to cave in on you from above.

And no, I’m sure a lot of our stacks aren’t ADA compliant.  The building opened in 1970, I think, and the stacks floors are largely unrenovated.  You could not fit a wheelchair or scooter between the stacks.  I’m not sure you could even fit a walker between them.  And people, including staff, leave step stools between the stacks.  Every time I walk, I move the step stools out of the way, because the stacks shouldn’t be an obstacle course.