Secret Shopper

I went to a local library, and had never been there before. I entered the building, which is fairly old and is a bi-level. I thought I saw people moving around upstairs so I went up the steps.

Some libraries have so much information when you walk in the door, signs all over the place, book stands, etc. that is can be overwhelming. This one was a bit more "calm." The way to the desk was clear and no other patrons were there, just three library workers. On the counter there was a flyer for some upcoming events, and some bookmarks but I didn't see anything regarding books themselves. I was met with a pleasant greeting by, let's call her Pleasant Librarian.

Me: Hi. I am looking for a book, please.

Pleasant: Oh. (At this point, the second, or Crabby Librarian, gave a weary sigh and left. I didn't see her again. The third, Neutral Librarian stayed, but hardly looked up.) Ok, um, what type of book are you looking for?

Me: Well, I like fantasy. And I sort of -

Pleasant: Have you read The Narnia Chronicles?

Me: Yes. A long time ago. I also read a book by Joe Abercrombie around Christmas, something with "Cold" in the title? Maybe like that?

Pleasant: Ok. Let me see.

(I had no idea what she's typing in her computer, nor what database or site she's looking at.)

Pleasant: Hmm. We have a couple of his titles here, do you want those? (Obviously, she was looking on their catalog, but didn't check to see if they were part of a series, which a few are and would make me nuts if I got them out of order.)

Me: He's kind of bloody, is there anything less descriptive with the battles and whatnot?

Pleasant: Let me look again. (I was almost lying over the counter to see, she was now looking up amazon.com. Neutral was furiously typing something and then she got involved.)

Neutral to Pleasant: Here, try these (pointing to her computer).

Pleasant: Here's a couple (and proceeded to write them down), The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and The Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan.

Me: Oh, ok, um, looks good, I guess. Thanks. How'd you find those books? (to Neutral, who didn't answer me)

Pleasant: She found them on Goodreads. Fiction is over there (pointing to her left and smiling), if you need help let me know! And we have lots of helpful information on our website, too!

After she pointed in the direction of fiction, she went to work on something and I was dismissed. No one walked me over there to check if the two titles were even in, or the catalog to see if they were in the collection. At least I didn't think they did, I couldn't see their screens without laying on top of the counter. The two titles I had read, so they are less descriptive - a bit - but it was annoying how the one left with a sigh (uh, hello? maybe your job?), then the other, Neutral, didn't even make eye contact with me or deign to speak to me. I would consider it a success in that those were both decent suggestions, but I couldn't tell if it was just picking two off of a list by luck, or Neutral may have been familiar with the genre, or anything. I was hyper aware I was in Secret Shopper Mode, so I am not sure if I was being normal, or stiff, and the whole experience was "off" because I was looking for specific things. I did go in with a positive attitude because a relative of mine is a patron and always tells me how fabulous they all are with her. However, if I were a patron at that library, and it was my first venture there, I would be irked (I am now) because Crabby left and Neutral didn't look up once. Pleasant was nice enough, so the whole visit wasn't awful, but she didn't give me any library literature that had, for example, the library's website address to find "helpful information." Nor did anyone ask if I was a new patron, did I need a card? Anything of that nature. I am hoping for the other patron's sake, and prospective patrons, Crabby and Neutral were having a bad day.