Ah, I’m sure there would be legal ramifications, but how wonderful would it be to have ALA Patron Awards? A National Competition…it would be quite cathartic for all of us, really…a large scale version of those conversations we have over and over again in the backroom or during lunch break. Like the Academy Awards of weirdness but also patron excellence.
Categories could be:
Kindest Patron
Loudest Kid, Ever
Most Angry Patron
Most Likely to Have 300 Cats
Strangest Interest
Patron who goes to the most public libraries to ask the same question (oh you know who I’m talking about! YOU ALL HAVE ONE!!!!)
Oh the list would be endless. Any category suggestions?
I truly do not believe in dumb questions (odd questions, terrifying questions, rude questions, yes those exist) because that’s what the business is about…people asking questions/seeking answers. Ignorant and self-absorbed of us to assume knowledge we have is what everyone has, so no dumb questions, but definitely some odd ones.
What would the award look like? A big bronzed…wait for it…………..question mark?
Something to humor ourselves with as summer reading, quiet days of summer semester, and closure of NEH grant writing season (depending on your library type) come to a close.
My Library Ideas 