Public Library??
07/19/2005
Yesterday I made the terrible mistake of trying to get a library card. I was turned down.
I was turned down for a card because I did not have two telephone numbers to give the people at the desk. Also, I was turned down because the address on my driver’s license does not reflect my current address even though they are in the same county.
See I moved a short time ago. The county where I live only requires a change of address to be on the books when a person moves. I followed the law and made sure the county had my current information. This was not good enough for the library.
When I went to the library desk to request a card, I was given a two-page application that needed to be filled out before they would even talk with me. The application requested my name (full including middle name), mailing address, two telephone numbers, an email address, birthdate, and ethnic profile. WTF!!! I’m trying to read not get a job there, not get bonded, not buy a house or car…
Since my mailing address is a PO Box, they wanted a physical address. I gave them that information. Because I only have one telephone number, they asked for a friend’s number to be added to the application – this is when I told them they were crossing the line because I do not randomly give out my friend’s telephone numbers. I also do not see why they wanted my email address and left that blank. When the person behind the desk requested the blank to be filled in, I asked her what the reason was for that information. She stated "because the board requires it". AND that’s the only reason you can give me?? Ok, that’s not good enough for me. I asked, "You want it because someone else wants it???" Nah, I don’t think so.
It was at this point that they wanted to see ID to prove I am who I say I am – or so they said. I showed them my driver’s license and immediately got a frown. "Well, madam, we are unable to accept that for your ID since the physical address on the card does not match the physical address you supplied to us." To which I stated "I moved not long ago and the new information is registered with the county." That was not good enough. "Well then we will need you to bring us a piece of mail with your physical address in order to prove you live where you say you do." To which I said, "I do not receive any mail at my physical address, hence the inclusion of my MAILING ADDRESS."
There was a moment of silence before the desk matron spoke again. She opened her mouth to say, "well, mail an envelope to your physical address." At this point I laughed. After laughing, "BULLSHIT!!!!!!" came spewing out of my mouth. "This is bullshit. I’m trying to get a library card not get bonded, not attempt to baby-sit your children, not trying to get a $500,000 financial loan. I came here desiring a fucking library card. I had less trouble getting my place of residence and buying my car. All I’m doing is trying to get a library card. I gave you all that you asked for, but I refuse to spend money on a stamp to send a piece of mail to myself. If I were to do as you suggested are you saying that I could select any address of any of my friends in the area and you would accept it without any other proof?" She stared at my blankly. I walked away to locate the friend who accompanied me to the public library.
I told my friend about the situation as she was searching the shelves to make her final selections. She looked shocked since she didn’t even have to fill out the application when she got her library card a couple of months ago. She didn’t even have to show proof of anything other than a desire.
As my friend checked out her books and movies, we were privy to another lady going through the struggle to get a library card. She has lived in this county all of her life but recently moved. Like me, she had sent her new information to the local authorities and has a state issued driver’s license. She too was denied. We joined hands on the way out vowing never to return.
I never got a chance to learn the secret handshake that would allow me to enter the blessed book sections. I got denied before we even got to the second page that I more than refused to fill out. What does my ethnic make up have to do with a library card? Now I wonder if they would have required a blood sample in order to prove my race. All I really know from this experience is that literacy took a strike yesterday.
Peace,
zss
© 2005 Wrosesongs
All Rights Reserved
Yesterday I made the terrible mistake of trying to get a library card. I was turned down.
I was turned down for a card because I did not have two telephone numbers to give the people at the desk. Also, I was turned down because the address on my driver’s license does not reflect my current address even though they are in the same county.
See I moved a short time ago. The county where I live only requires a change of address to be on the books when a person moves. I followed the law and made sure the county had my current information. This was not good enough for the library.
When I went to the library desk to request a card, I was given a two-page application that needed to be filled out before they would even talk with me. The application requested my name (full including middle name), mailing address, two telephone numbers, an email address, birthdate, and ethnic profile. WTF!!! I’m trying to read not get a job there, not get bonded, not buy a house or car…
Since my mailing address is a PO Box, they wanted a physical address. I gave them that information. Because I only have one telephone number, they asked for a friend’s number to be added to the application – this is when I told them they were crossing the line because I do not randomly give out my friend’s telephone numbers. I also do not see why they wanted my email address and left that blank. When the person behind the desk requested the blank to be filled in, I asked her what the reason was for that information. She stated "because the board requires it". AND that’s the only reason you can give me?? Ok, that’s not good enough for me. I asked, "You want it because someone else wants it???" Nah, I don’t think so.
It was at this point that they wanted to see ID to prove I am who I say I am – or so they said. I showed them my driver’s license and immediately got a frown. "Well, madam, we are unable to accept that for your ID since the physical address on the card does not match the physical address you supplied to us." To which I stated "I moved not long ago and the new information is registered with the county." That was not good enough. "Well then we will need you to bring us a piece of mail with your physical address in order to prove you live where you say you do." To which I said, "I do not receive any mail at my physical address, hence the inclusion of my MAILING ADDRESS."
There was a moment of silence before the desk matron spoke again. She opened her mouth to say, "well, mail an envelope to your physical address." At this point I laughed. After laughing, "BULLSHIT!!!!!!" came spewing out of my mouth. "This is bullshit. I’m trying to get a library card not get bonded, not attempt to baby-sit your children, not trying to get a $500,000 financial loan. I came here desiring a fucking library card. I had less trouble getting my place of residence and buying my car. All I’m doing is trying to get a library card. I gave you all that you asked for, but I refuse to spend money on a stamp to send a piece of mail to myself. If I were to do as you suggested are you saying that I could select any address of any of my friends in the area and you would accept it without any other proof?" She stared at my blankly. I walked away to locate the friend who accompanied me to the public library.
I told my friend about the situation as she was searching the shelves to make her final selections. She looked shocked since she didn’t even have to fill out the application when she got her library card a couple of months ago. She didn’t even have to show proof of anything other than a desire.
As my friend checked out her books and movies, we were privy to another lady going through the struggle to get a library card. She has lived in this county all of her life but recently moved. Like me, she had sent her new information to the local authorities and has a state issued driver’s license. She too was denied. We joined hands on the way out vowing never to return.
I never got a chance to learn the secret handshake that would allow me to enter the blessed book sections. I got denied before we even got to the second page that I more than refused to fill out. What does my ethnic make up have to do with a library card? Now I wonder if they would have required a blood sample in order to prove my race. All I really know from this experience is that literacy took a strike yesterday.
Peace,
zss
© 2005 Wrosesongs
All Rights Reserved
posted by I am Z @ 6:28 PM
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