Library
NJ, USA
(I work at a library that is staffed entirely by volunteers. I am a high school student, and clearly the youngest employee, so much so that most people don’t actually believe that I’m on staff. We have computers that we turn off 15 minutes before closing. It’s is 25 minutes before closing when a woman walks in and heads directly for one of the computers.)
Coworker: Miss, you can’t do that.
Woman: I just need to print something out!
Coworker: You need to sign in first.
Woman: But I just need to print!
Coworker: I understand that, but you need to sign in so that we know who’s used the computers. Are you a [my town] resident?
Woman: No!
Coworker: Well, I’m sorry, but you can’t use our computers.
Woman: I just need to print something!
(She continues trying to use the computer, ignoring my coworker’s attempts to give her other printing options in other nearby buildings. I was standing in the back while this was going on, but when I see that my 83-year-old coworker is getting upset, I step in.)
Me: Ma’am, please. You can’t do that.
Woman: Why the hell not?!
Me: This is a very small library, and it’s the policy that you have to be an in-town resident in order to use the computers for security reasons. If you don’t stop trying to use the computer, I’m going to have to turn it off.
Woman: Who the hell do you think you are?!
Me: …I work here.
Woman: Then you can let me use the computer!
Me: No, I can’t. No one here is a supervisor, and they are the only ones who can give permission to go around library policy.
(The woman proceeds to flip me off and back away from the computer.)
Me: Ma’am please don’t do that. There are children in the library.
Woman: You can’t tell me what to do!
(Thankfully she leaves, but not before yelling once more that she only had to print something out- I have no idea what would’ve happened if she’d have printed something out and then found out that she had to pay for it.)
