The Library(Kristin Dockar) The Library
By Kristin Dockar

People say it must be boring working in a library. But me and Maud don’t think so. No two days are the same. You would be surprised what goes on in here. But when I look around today, I do feel a bit sad.
Our library used to be full of books, all in the correct sections, but those days have long gone. Now I see lots of empty space. Books have been replaced by computers and racks of DVDs. On the plus side it has become a bit of a meeting place. We didn’t fight that. We just grouped comfy chairs together to make it look more friendly. Maud and I think it would be a good idea to have a café, but the boss doesn’t agree.
We quite fancy doing morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea. We reckon it would make money. But there you are, what do we know?
There’s quite a few people in today, sitting at computers, and they are always interesting. Lots of foreigners. I said to Maud the other day ‘Where do they all come from? They don’t look that happy for being here’.
And Maud said to me ‘Tell you what Julie, they don’t look happy. They thought they were coming to the land of milk and honey and here they are sitting in a crummy library, job hunting’.
She’s right. They come in, book a computer, ask to log on and then they sit all day sending their CVs. Nobody sends CVs nowadays. It’s all about ‘Personal Statements’.
Big yourself up.
Anyway, where was I? Yes, there’s hardly any books now, the racks of DVDs might as well be slung out because everyone’s doing this live streaming. Oh yes. I know all about your Netflix and your You Tubers. You can make a packet out of that. Just look at that Joe Suggs. Nobody had heard of him and then he only goes and nearly wins Strictly Come Dancing.
I said to Maud, ‘I know he’s skinny, but he gorgeous’.
She said to me ‘You on the turn Julie’ and we just fell about laughing at that.
But I think Maud was quite shocked. So, I said to her ‘You don’t lose the urge just cos you’ve turned 60’.
What people don’t realise is that you see all of life in here. Take that woman over there sitting in the children’s section. She’s brought her grandchild in and she’s been reading stories to her for the last hour, but she’s really waiting for Mr Ovett to come in. They’ve been having an affair for at least three years.
Then over there next to the printer is Roddy. He’s waiting for his boyfriend and praying his wife doesn’t walk by like she did the other week on her way to the supermarket.
The only thing I draw the line at is drug dealing. I’m not putting up with that. I’ve got the police commendation from when I dobbed that group of teenagers in. Oh yes, they thought they were being so clever. Passing their wraps over in book covers. Well, that didn’t last long, I can tell you. It was when one of them slid a joint inside the cover of Lord of The Rings that I thought ‘well I’ve had enough of this. What an insult to Tolkien’.

Me and Maud have worked here for over 40 years. Straight from school we were. Left on a Wednesday, came in on the Thursday to ask if there were any jobs, started on the Monday. It was so busy then. All those long queues of people bringing books in and taking them out. Everything done by hand in those days. Now they just go up to a screen, scan their books or DVDs in and take a receipt. It’s a miracle we’ve kept our jobs.
Our boss is Mr Enderby. Not that he does much. You never see him really. He’s up in the office, comes down for lunch and then back up there until 5 0 clock. Maud caught him up there once watching porn. No wonder he always looks so worn out. I sometimes wonder what he’s for. But there you are. He doesn’t bother us. I think we’re invisible to him. Mind you, it wasn’t like that when we started. Oh no. You had to watch his hands all the time, and lord help you if you had to go down to the basement for any books and he was in there. I could clear two flights of stairs in record time. I remember saying to Maud ‘They should put us in for the Olympics’.
Now, let’s see, who else is in today. Oh no, here comes Charlie. He’s homeless and likes to come in for a snooze. We don’t mind. Poor sod. Sometimes we make him a cup of tea and give him a biscuit. He’s always grateful but I wish he’d get his teeth seen to.

Well, time’s creeping on. Nearly 5pm. Time to do the rounds. Always need to tell people that we’re closing, and they need to log off. I saw that grandma crying today and her chap walked off. I think that might be over, and the gay chap, now that was interesting. He left hand in hand with his friend. Good for them. Be yourself I say. Look at me and Maud. Been together for thirty years now. We don’t hide it. She’s still lovely.
‘Come on Charlie, wake up, time to go. Yes, you can take the biscuits. See you tomorrow’.
Last job coming up. Shelve the returned books. Well that won’t take long. Not many books to be put back on the shelves these days. Says it all really.
‘Come on Maud. Switch off the lights. Lock the doors. Yes, we’ll go home. Think I’ll have an early night and a good read tonight. You picked up anything interesting today?’
‘No, same old same old as far as the books go. Let’s pop into M & S. Get something tasty for supper. Think we’ve earnt it. Hope they’ve got the meal deal on tonight. Good value for a tenner. Ready Maud?’
‘Right you are Julie. Doors all locked, alarm on.
Ready to go. Start all over again in the morning’.

---