Difficult Patrons, stood at a respectful distance and spoke in a tone of unyielding politeness.
âYou are right,â she admitted. âNo set limit exists to the number of books you may consult on a given visit. But I am asking you to demonstrate moderation. These books on the floor constitute a safety hazard. I am politely asking you to refrain from taking anything more off the shelves until youâve carried these items youâve chosen to a table and looked through them.â
Her appeal failed. He continued with his mission.
âSir,â she warned, âif you refuse to stop stacking books on the floor, I must ask you to leave the library. What you are doing jeopardizes the safety of others, and obstructs the smooth functioning of the library.â
He paused in his labours, and in a tone of mocking authority he warned her, âThe disruption Iâve caused so far has been pretty small. But if you refuse to follow the Rules and Regulations, which clearly state that no limit exists to the number of books I can consult on a given visit, then Iâll go get a few friends and come back and show you a real disruption.â
Irene, unperturbed by his threat, stated that, as of the present moment, he was evicted from the library for the duration of three weeks and must not reenter until granted permission to do so. Without further comment he left.
On the following day he returned. I was alone at the desk. It was Ireneâs day off. Sheâd reminded me that, should he reappear, I was within my rights to callthe police and have him escorted out. Sheâd prepared a letter of eviction. I could give it to him, or, if I preferred to avoid a confrontation, I could let him come in but keep a close eye on his behaviour.
âHow may I help you?â I asked.
Bitter with injury, he stood at the desk and told me of his unjust and wrongful eviction. He spoke with such force his face became flushed, and he threatened, as before, to gather together some friends whoâd eagerly bring true havoc to the library. I listened. I did not possess Ireneâs courage and calm authority. I nodded and made sounds of sympathy. He asked me where he might find a book on how to play the piano. Together we walked to the shelves and located the book he was after. Until closing time he sat, reading the slender volume of musical instruction.
INCIDENT REPORT 29
At 7:00 this evening, a group of men and women, all speaking a language I did not understand, entered the library together. They were approximately thirty in number and apparently looking for a Tenantsâ Association meeting. As we were very busy at the desk, a Pageâa university student hired to shelve booksâleft her regular duties and came to their assistance. She suggested they try the story room and pointed the way.
Inside the story room, a policeman sat on a folding chair behind a folding table. He greeted them cordially. A few minutes later the group reemerged and asked the Page if she could show them the way to a different room.
The policeman came out and explained that his sole purpose in visiting the library was to help innocent citizens wishing to report an incident of police brutality or other police misconduct. He could be of no help, regrettably, with complaints concerning landlords. His was a specific and one-time offer, part of a special programme taking place, on this particular day, in libraries across the city.
The Page, having glanced at the desk and observed that we were even busier than before, proposed to thelost tenants that they try the upstairs programming room, and she pointed the way. She then promptly returned to her shelving, which she carried out in an accurate and timely fashion.
On the second floor, the thirty or more lost tenants entered a room full of people all passionately singing and clapping. A vigorous, white-haired man waved them in, delighted to see his congregation grow twofold so unexpectedly. He