Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Exceptional

This is very amusing. You've turned computers into named people with personalities and kids into maniacal zombies. The cattle prod seems like a very worthy investment. Have a blessed new year.

 Comment Written 30-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 30-Dec-2021

Hello Carol,
Thanks so much for the six stars! I think that the computers were named because the librarian had given each one a different password. I had initially thought of installing ejection seats, but the
money needed to install a roof over the computers that would retract and then close would be astronomical. Plus people would probably be complaining about folks flying through the air during school hours. There was also the chance that some of those clowns would enjoy the thrill of being ejected so much they would intentionally give reasons to be given the boot. A cattle prod would be much cheaper and just as effective (though much less entertaining). Thanks so much for the kind review.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

Comment from Mary Shifman

Excellent

This was an interesting post. I've tried to work a few times in public and school libraries and even using one's own laptop, it can be trying. Apparently gone are the days when quiet was the norm for liberties. Sigh...

 Comment Written 30-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 30-Dec-2021

Hello Mary,
Thanks so much for the kind review and comments. I worked at the school for a few years and actually wrote my firs book at the school library after hours. I ran the school store so I had all the keys to almost everywhere in the school, plus I had permission to work there in the evening. It would have been an impossible task in the daytime. When discipline is lacking in the school, including the library, kids just can't learn. Sad but true.
Have a blessed evening gal.

Tom

Comment from Melodie Michelle

Excellent

This narrative is excellent! It is clearly well written and well thought out indeed;-)

Thank you for sharing and many blessings to you and your family this New Years ahead!

 Comment Written 30-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 30-Dec-2021

Thanks so much for the kind review Melodie. One nice thing about troubling issues is that they provide material to write about. I appreciate your comments. May the Lord bless you and your family as well in this coming new year.

Blessings.
Tom

reply by Melodie Michelle on 30-Dec-2021

;-)

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

I am shocked that the library doesn't enforce standard library rules, especially since it's a school library. I just retired from teaching after 26 years, and since my husband was military, it those years were in states all over to include Germany. All the libraries enforced rules. Oh well, thank you for sharing. I enjoyed reading.

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Dec-2021

Hello Barbara,
When the people who were trained to be librarians were in charge, there was never any problem maintaining order. However, they retired and getting qualified people was very difficult. We had a mother/son take over and it was pretty much a disaster. Especially the son. He was as immature as many of the students and basically wanted to befriend them. Eventually the library shut down to public use, so where the people go who had no computer I've no idea. Thanks so much for commenting. I appreciate the review as well.
Have a blessed day.

Tom

reply by barbara.wilkey on 29-Dec-2021

Thank you for the explanation. I only knew about certified librarians.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

I do like your hot seat and cattle prod ideas. But worst of all using public computers can lead to being hacked more easily. The kids are probably less likely to do their banking but I guess these days they use the phone. Enjoyed your humorous take on this frustrating situation.

 Comment Written 28-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 29-Dec-2021

Hello Helen,
I'm glad you enjoyed the humor. It's one of those situations that you have to laugh to keep from crying- or going ballistic. I think the vast majority of the students were oblivious to anything like security. They pretty much lived day to day, and didn't seem to let anything bother them too much. I worked at the school in Spec-ed for seven years, and it was amazing what I saw, and how little control there actually was by the staff and administration. It was pretty much a choice by each teacher on how to run their classroom and many just didn't want to put in the effort it took to have control. The library was like a free-for-all after school, the librarian at the time being a very immature person himself. Eventually the library was closed to the public, which was really unfortunate, as the next closest library was in Juneau, 40 miles away by air. Thanks so much for the review and comments.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from Judy Lawless

Excellent

I can understand your frustration with having to use a computer in a public place to post your blog. I had that problem when we spent our winters in an RV Park in Arizona. WiFi at our site was non-existent so I had to use the computer lab, when classes weren't in progress. Interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 28-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 28-Dec-2021

Hello Judy,
It was certainly a trying situation. The complete lack of discipline was hard to take, but as the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers. Fortunately, my internet or computer got fixed and I didn't have to count on the school to do my business.
Thanks so much for the fine review and comments.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom

reply by Judy Lawless on 28-Dec-2021

You are welcome, Tom.

Comment from Jesse James Doty

Excellent

I'm sorry, this is way too long for me to read!
If I could offer a suggestion it would be to shorten this post by one-third. It was an interesting essay on using computers in a public library. Your author's notes were enough for me to read and I agree that it can be a circus when the kids are running around the library.
I appreciate you bringing up an important issue such as personal computers and the lack thereof for many people to be able to buy them.
Happy 2022!
Jesse

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2021

Hello Jesse,
I appreciate your suggestion regarding shortening the post, but I think I don't have the skill necessary to make the story interesting if I had shortened it. Thanks so much for the kind review and comments.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from Susan Newell

Excellent

Tom,

I can't imagine having to use a public computer. It is weird how we develop a personal relationship with our own technology -- perhaps to intimate a one. Did they really open at 10:00 P.M.?

Sue

 Comment Written 27-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2021

Hello Sue,
Believe me, using the public computers was at the bottom of my list of fun things to do, but I was between a rock and a hard place. No, they opened at 1:00 PM. I had to go back and look to make sure I hadn't put in the wrong info. This post had so many errors when I published it that it was almost shameful. Fortunately there were a few folks who caught them and gently corrected me. I'm a little bit afraid of how much we all count on technology. Of course we open ourselves up to all manner of snooping every time we do anything on a smart phone or computer, and frankly, I don't like having a GPS built in to my car or phone or anything else. It feeds my paranoia. Thanks for commenting gal.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

reply by Susan Newell on 27-Dec-2021

You're not paranoid if they're really out to get you. :-) (I remember that from the sixties.)

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

An interesting read, and an insight into both public libraries and public computer use over there. Our libraries are still quiet spaces although people may talk. There is calmness and peace, which we all appreciate. Mind you, these days most kids have laptops which they use at school, so probably don't need to use the public libraries for their games. Very well written, and I like the humour you incorporated.
Wendy

 Comment Written 26-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 27-Dec-2021

Hello Wendy,
Thanks for the kind review and comments. There was a general lack of discipline in the school in Hoonah which carried on right up to the library. At the time there was a person in charge who was incredibly immature and seemed to want to get on the good side of the students, to the detriment of the rest of the patrons. It was frustrating to say the least. I don't miss being there.

Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from damommy

Excellent

This seems to be true of all libraries. I was appalled one day by the children running through the library, screaming. The days of "shhhhh" are long gone, never to be recovered. I enjoyed your story very much.

 Comment Written 26-Dec-2021

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reply by the author on 26-Dec-2021

Thanks so much Yvonne. At first I thought it was just the library in Hoonah, but I visited family in Wisconsin and found the same situation. As soon as school was over, the kids flocked to the library and took over the computers and it was like a free-for-all. It kind of takes away the joy of visiting the library. Thanks so much for the kind review and comments.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom