I went to the library today to check out 2 books and Season 1 discs 3 & 4 of Little House on the Prairie. I accidentally placed a hold on the 2 books with my husband's library card number, so the librarian told me that I couldn't check them out unless I had his card with me because that is their policy. I think that policy is absurd. I looked at her and told her that I goofed and accidentally used the wrong library card number when I placed the hold. It think it probably helped when she saw that the held books were 2 Shel Silverstein poetry books. She probably assumed, or at least hoped, that I was wanting them for my children and exercised librarianesque compassion. She sighed and told me that she really wasn't supposed to allow me, but that she would do it anyway. Then her compassion returned to annoyance when it was taking a long time to find my husband's library card number in the computer system because he has a very common name.
I just don't get it. Why can't a spouse check out a book that his or her spouse placed on hold? Isn't that what marriage is all about? Doing kind favors for one another? I will never be able to come home and surprise my husband with his held library books. However, this is the third time that I've convinced them to let me get the books without the library card, which makes me think that even the librarians think it's a ridiculous policy.
Often policies are a result of prior incidents and all I can think of is that they are trying to protect divorcees from library fraud. I suppose there may have been a string of crimes where evil ex husbands or wives check out library books that their exes have placed on hold and never return them, racking up exuberant library fines. The evilness of those people! Their evil revenge tactics are ruining it for the rest of us happily married people. I think I might need to write my public library and lobby for spousal permission to check out books without the card. Golly!
Now here is a video of Jason spending a whole minute getting on his shorts. I think his diaper is getting a little too big for his britches:
My favorite part of today was listening to Emily la la la-ing the theme song from Little House on the Prairie while she took a shower.
A blogumentary of my family of ten. There's me, my husband, and our eight kids. No pets, just kids. Join us on our jolly joyful journey because alliteration makes me happy.
My library card in San Antonio came with a little key-ring card that I could also use. Does your library do that? Because then you can swap key-ring cards and you'd always have both persons' library cards on you.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if one of those looks Jason gave the camera was, "You're sitting there recording this instead of helping me? Mommy, I can't undo the buttons, help!" ;)
That library policy seems crazy to me; I send Rich to the library with my card all the time to pick up my holds. I couldn't imagine if I had to truck it to the library every time I had something on hold; it is soooooooooo much easier to have him do it on the way home from work.
ReplyDeleteChera - The keychain library card is brilliant, but unfortunatley our library system does not have those, I might have to suggest it. And in my defense, Jason refused any help getting dressed. He is being Mr. Independent these days.
ReplyDeleteCarrie - I could check out a book with his card, but I never think to bring it with me. And since I never know when I will ever get a chance to go to the library, I never know whose card to place the hold on.
i'm probably one of the reasons for the rule. i always blame "my husband" for never returning the books. or "my husband must have checked that out, i never did." what are husbands for anyway? taking the blame for all things stupid, righ?
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