Obnoxious Librarian from Hades by Dennie Heye Read Free Book Online Page B

multimedia, cross-platform, fully interactive learning experience - heck, I'll even volunteer to take the lead and set up a program of regular sessions. I am sure that our board would be impressed when IT takes the lead to enhance skills and offer social networking.”
    “Mmmm, are you sure you can do it for 9k? If it’s below 10k, I can put that on the training budget which comes from the learning group – so indirectly they pay for it and we get the credit.”
    Of course I did my homework regarding the costs. I already contacted my buddy in meeting services. He made a good deal with the plasma TV vendor who is eager to get his foot in the door with a multinational like Hades. So for a steal we will get two 52” plasma high-definition TV’s, a professional state of the art projector, a multimedia centre, a surround sound set and two social interactive experience facilitation computers (read: an XboX360 and a Nintendo Wii).
    So pretty soon the library will open the new multimedia room with an exciting line up of sessions:
    Monday: developing leadership skills and overcoming obstacles
    (Illustrated by the showing the complete “Lord of the Rings” trilogy)
    Tuesday: the future of information technology and virtual worlds
    (Illustrated by the showing of the “Matrix” trilogy)
    Wednesday: developments in leading edge computer graphics
    (Illustrated by playing the latest video games)
    Thursday: information management: protecting the assets
    (Illustrated by the showing of “The librarian” and “The librarian II”)
    Friday: the power of improvisation to survive in a changing world
    (Illustrated by showing a series of Roadrunner cartoons)

The one where I blow off steam
    It is Tuesday afternoon in the library and I am catching up on library gossip on twitter whilst listening to the polka version of Van Halen greatest hits.
    Suddenly my l-user (library user) radar goes of. Sheesh. There is a real flesh and blood customer at the library counter. So you build them a virtual library with online databases, web 2.0 interfaces, step-by-step wizards for every information request possible and they come to the library. What is it with these people? Don't they realize I need peace and solitude for my world domination plans?
    So first I try to ignore him by staring at my computer screen. But it's not my day, the customer still is there and shuffles his feet. I pretend my phone vibrates and act having a dull conversation that could go on a long time. But the customer does not flinch and now starts to scrape his throat and looks at me with growing impatience.
    Well, we better get this over with then. I put down the phone and walk over to the counter.
    ”Hey – next time feel free to send us an e-mail – my time is precious, but since you are here now… “
    “Well, I just wanted to loan this book, so could you do that for me please.”
    “Hmmm. Why?”
    “Why I want to loan this book? I need it for my project.”

    “How do you know whether this is the right book? Did you check all the available books in the world against a set of weighed criteria and now you are SURE this book is THE book with the right information?”
    “Well, no, but judging from the title and the back cover, this seems relevant for my project.”
    “Excuse me mister hot shot – if we all just went around loaning books just because it SEEMS relevant based on the title and the back cover, I may as well loan out ALL books instead of keeping them safe & sound here in the library”
    “But you're a librarian – you should loan out books… ”
    “And that is where you are wrong – I personally hand picked this whole collection of books over the years, carefully catalogued them according to the highest standards, lovingly placed them on the right shelf right next to their book peers, I dust them with tender care every week and make sure the room is exactly the right temperature and humidity. When I loan out a book, you touch it without gloves, make