I don’t post my library experiences because most of them aren’t interesting enough (unless you’re a fellow librarian and have that kind of sense of humor) or funny enough to merit the attention, but this one had me and my co-workers chortling all the way to closing tonight.
This is an actual call I got, my hand to heaven, but roughly transcribed.
Me: * Library.
Her: Hi! I was wondering about the Little Women’s Tea Party? It it full?
At this point, I jerked the phone away from my ear about a foot and asked her to turn her phone down. Then I get up and start looking to see if the sign-up sheet is full.
Her: Is the author going to be there? I heard the author was going to be there.
Me: Louisa May Alcott?
Her: Yeah, my mother-in-law said she thought the author was dead, but I wasn’t sure.
Me: Louisa May Alcott is dead. I’m pretty sure she died at least 100 years ago.
Her: Oh.
Me: There’s going to be an actor there, dressed up in period costume, doing the reading and stuff.
Her: Oh, okay. Thanks!
Then, just because I was curious, I went and looked up LMA on Wikipedia. She died in 1888.
One of my co-workers asked if I was kidding after I hung up and when I explained what happened, she started laughing. Then, of course, I had to share with everyone. I started joking about a library seance, saying “Everyone bring candles. Don’t screw up or we’ll get Harriet Beecher Stowe!”
Good times.