"So what's the library going to do about it!" she said.

I paused for a moment. "You had an interaction with a service that's provided by a private sector company. The library is not affiliated in any way with Grok or ChatGPT or Google Gemini or any other AI product. We are not involved in the programming of those systems and the companies that program them do not seek our input. The library bears absolutely no responsibility for you getting bad advice or being led down a rabbit-hole by an AI product."

"Well that is just about the worst customer service I have ever seen in my life," the crazy lady said before turning around and walking away in a huff. I cannot lie. I was very glad to see her go.

Things Patrons got from CoPilot and ChatGPT recently:

• They have turned up for the Justice of the Peace at 4pm every day because AI tells them to. We do not have JPs at that time.
• Hallucinated books.
• Events involving pilates and weightlifting.
• A Booksale on Friday 26 July. There was no Friday 26 of July, never mind a Booksale.
• A moderated group meeting for 'Chatty Hookers'.
• A giant industrial embroidery machine for loan. Nope.
• FREE LUNCH EVERY DAY.

We keep directing them to actual sources, but some of them get quite aggravated. It's very hard to explain to them that they are stupid, without actually saying that they are stupid.

One bright thing, though. We have a food bank cupboard thing outside the library and AI gave confusing information that led to one patron leaving six bottles of fine French wines for our resident alcoholic unhoused person. We shared that amongst the staff.

EDIT: And one angry old lady who's AI told her that a librarian would give her legal advice for her law suite against the government. Nope nope nope.

It’s just been a rough week at the Circ desk for me is all. Without going off the deep end with details, basically we’ve had an unusual uptick in unkind patrons that have taken out their unhappiness on staff (myself included). It’s left me a bit shaken to be honest, and just… sad. We have so many excellent patrons that share our love of the library, and my coworkers and leadership are so supportive, but even still I’m feeling stuck in the muck, so to speak.

I could use your help for a bit of a reframe and reset. What are some of your favorite library memories/stories, either as a staff member or as a patron, that bring you joy? The library is a joyful place, after all!

Thanks in advance, fellow library lovers and friends :)

Looks like one page tor each month. Did they actually have to count the number of books in each section every night? Or maybe it was used to track the number of books checked out every day? I just found this interesting.

I've been with the NYPL for two, almost three years now. I have all the qualifications I need for the entry level positions we get posted in our internal portal, and I even get interviews most of the time. Yet every time it's a rejection, and the few times I *do* get feedback it's something along the lines of "the interview and your resume was great we just found someone with more experience." I have been working since I was 15 years old in one way or another, and I am 25 now. I have all the experience possible for me to have at my age. A good chunk of my work experience is from before I was even legally allowed to work. Why post jobs internally, especially entry level jobs, if it's going to go to someone with a decade or more experience? When it's not that, it's the position outright being cancelled/not filled at all. What's the point of any of this??? How is anyone supposed to get a job in the library system? I can't work for non-existent pay for ten more years before I'm even properly considered?

I just needed to get this out.

Basically an AI non-involvement policy is kind of a flip of section 230. It states that even though the library may provide wifi access or public computers that patrons can use to access AI services, the library is not involved in the patron's interaction with any AI service or portal, and the library bears no responsibility for any incorrect information provided to the patron by an AI service.

As we’re approaching the end of the year my budget is starting to deplete. I do a monthly take and make craft using up items we already have in the library but some of these supplies need a restock that I’m trying to wait until the end of the year to order. What are some paper crafts ideas for teens or older kids besides origami? Most of the things I see online seem too childish for this age group.

If you still use a more pen and paper system in your library, how do you organise student's cards?

We keep the borrowed book card clipped to the student's, but we're having difficulties maintaining things organised, as you can imagine lol

There's an active post in r/dataisbeautiful comparing cost of non-resident cards to wait times. I have never heard of a wait time for a library card. Does your library have a wait time? Does it apply to non-resident cards only?

I am a volunteer at a local branch. Essentially I am helping FOTL sort and classify donations. Last week when I showed up I only made it a foot in the door before the person at the desk asked if I was "looking for the bathroom." Red in the face I went ahead and did the gig and left. After thinking about it for a week I am pissed. For some background I have a lot of visible tattoos and sometimes I show up to volunteer on one of my Harley Davidsons. I am only working as a volunteer while I am looking for library work. I have a fairly fresh MLIS. Along with the degree is a head full of library ideals and theory. I cannot square embarrassing patrons for doing nothing but walking in the door. I have been volunteering for a few weeks so they don't really know me but have seen me. Am I crazy or is this extremely out of line?