Monday, August 18, 2008

Public library dissatisfaction

I'm currently filling out a "customer satisfaction survey" for the Windsor public library. Only I'm not a customer, I'm a patron, and the survey itself is dissatisfying me. A whole series of questions asks whether library staff bothered me while I was visiting the library - only they don't use the term "bother." The questions ask whether library staff met and greeted me, made me feel appreciated, offered assistance, thanked me for coming and invited me back. Basically, whether they acted like the very most pushy and annoying sales staff that ever sent me slinking in terror from a high-end department store.

Like many library patrons, and librarians, I'm a book-loving introvert. I go to the public library because I'd rather spend time looking at books than talking to people. That means I don't want library staff to meet me, greet me, or initiate contact in any way. They don't need to make me feel appreciated for deigning to borrow their books.

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