http://impagination.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/%e2%80%98problem-patron%e2%80%99-is-a-librarian%e2%80%99s-category-and-a-negative-classification/ Exploring points of intersection between librarianship, democracy and the public sphere Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:33:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://impagination.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/%e2%80%98problem-patron%e2%80%99-is-a-librarian%e2%80%99s-category-and-a-negative-classification/#comment-289 Michelle Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:33:31 +0000 http://impagination.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-289 In many libraries, it isn't "homelessness" that makes one a "problem patron," but harassing other patrons, yelling at staff, trying to hack the computer system, etc. I try to be compassionate in dealing with the homeless, and because I have worked with, and befriended them in the past-- I do understand the issues. However, I think there is nothing wrong with identifying a patron as a "problem" if they are threatening to "meet me after work" because I won't type out a resume for them or exhibiting dangerous or irrational behavior. The "problem" patrons may be in the minority, but the largess of their disruptive behavior draws negative attention on the larger homeless community-- in the eyes of staff and the public. I don't condone that narrow view, but I do recognize it's prevalence in the communities whereI have served. In many libraries, it isn’t “homelessness” that makes one a “problem patron,” but harassing other patrons, yelling at staff, trying to hack the computer system, etc. I try to be compassionate in dealing with the homeless, and because I have worked with, and befriended them in the past– I do understand the issues. However, I think there is nothing wrong with identifying a patron as a “problem” if they are threatening to “meet me after work” because I won’t type out a resume for them or exhibiting dangerous or irrational behavior. The “problem” patrons may be in the minority, but the largess of their disruptive behavior draws negative attention on the larger homeless community– in the eyes of staff and the public. I don’t condone that narrow view, but I do recognize it’s prevalence in the communities whereI have served.

]]> http://impagination.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/%e2%80%98problem-patron%e2%80%99-is-a-librarian%e2%80%99s-category-and-a-negative-classification/#comment-280 ipaytaxes Sun, 03 May 2009 21:20:51 +0000 http://impagination.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-280 why should anyone have to pay for others when the people they are trying to help will not help themselves. They may not be able to get a job that they want, but any job provides income. Not only would that job give them income, but they could then pay taxes. why should anyone have to pay for others when the people they are trying to help will not help themselves. They may not be able to get a job that they want, but any job provides income. Not only would that job give them income, but they could then pay taxes.

]]> http://impagination.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/%e2%80%98problem-patron%e2%80%99-is-a-librarian%e2%80%99s-category-and-a-negative-classification/#comment-254 Kevin Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:06:02 +0000 http://impagination.wordpress.com/?p=27#comment-254 Wonderful. Thank you for bringing some reality into the picture, and the library. Wonderful. Thank you for bringing some reality into the picture, and the library.

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