"In vacant or in pensive mood..." I am: Bekah; 24; Law Student / Favorite Things: Carbs (so there!), Johnny Damon, Smiling at babies, Grilled cheese, Comfortable silence / Favorite Supreme Court Justice: Brennan / Favorite Wilson: Owen by an inch / Today's Special: Song: Elliott Smith, "Bled White"; Quote: "You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff." Please love me: mmbekah@yahoo.com


February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 September 2005

 
Have you ever attempted to obtain assistance from a student worker in a law library? If you have done so and have been successful, please email me your magical secrets immediately. Because frankly, in all of my dealings with student workers, no student has proved to be any more helpful, knowledgeable, or aware of his surroundings than a tree stump. What is the function of having a body at the circulation desk if that person is unable to perform even the most mundane tasks? Here are two recent conversations that come to mind:

Me: Excuse me, can I please get a "Do Not Reshelve" sign for my table?
Worker: (Removes headphones playing scary euro-techno) What?
Me: A "Do Not Reshelve" sign? Can I get one?
Worker: What is this?
Me: A sign. That you put on your table. To make people not put away your books.
Worker: Oh, wait one moment. (disappears to the back office).
Me: (waits patiently)
Worker: (returns, walking at a leisurely pace) We don't have.
Me: Yes, you do. I've seen them before.
Worker: (looks on the table behind him) Oh, here. (replaces headphones with an indifferent sigh).
Me: Yeah. Thanks.

Me: Excuse me, can I please get a copy card?
Worker: (surprised to be spoken to, or to have any sort of task he's expected to perform. It's not like this is his job or anything) What?
Me: A copy card?
Worker: I don't understand.
Me: When you're on a journal, you get access to copy cards. The library gives them to you. You get them from the circulation desk.
Worker: (opens mysterious drawer) There are no cards.
Me: No cards?
Worker: Come back tomorrow. The librarian will be back tomorrow.
Me: No, I don't think you understand. This is an assignment I have to do now. I have about 50 reporters to copy, and I don't have time to do that tomorrow. Is there anyone you can call who might know what to do about this?
Worker: Call?
Me: A reference librarian? Anyone?
Worker: (digs around for a number, finds it, dials) Yes, hello? There is student who needs copy card. Yes. Yes. Mmmhmm. Yes. I see. (To me) There's nothing she can do.
Me: Um. I don't believe that.
(Reference librarian appears, and hands me a copy card.)
Worker: Ok, there it is.
Me: Yes. Thank you.

posted by Bekah at 9:08 AM :: |