Grand Final Day @ the Library

Last Saturday I enjoyed a quiet day working at my library. It was quite unusual to have time to shelve books, complete online ordering and rip through the outstanding Inter-Library Loan work. The other staff were quietly shelf-reading, returning collections and doing other necessary work. The customers were quiet with only an occasional remark on  the progress of the AFL Grand Final. When I got home there was a short period of rowdiness (from my menfolk!) before all hell broke out following the last minute goal resulting in a drawn game.

Of course it was the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who jinxed the game. Not only is she presiding over a hung parliament but she also expressly mentioned a drawn game earlier in the day.

So this Saturday am I looking forward to another quiet day at the library? Yes, I am working, but at a different place. The Grand Final Replay will be shown on the large screen TV set hanging from the ceiling. Something placed only in the last couple of years. Now our customers can stand/sit in the library and follow the game (quietly or not so quietly in some cases) and the staff can "enjoy" this as well. This library is buzzing on a Saturday. Queues are long, borrowing is brisk and tidying-up several times a day in the children's section a necessity as books get left lying around.

This library is not going to disappear in the next few years as RFID, eBooks and downloadable information make further inroads to traditional library services. This library serves as a community hub, a place of lively discussion and use by adults, teens, elderlies and children.

May it remain this vibrant. I for one will need the work for a fair few years yet!!