stereotypical single woman

And possibly one of you as well. I know I shouldn’t make assumptions. Really, I do. Especially in my line of work. It’s especially important not to make any when dealing with a patron. The ALA Code of Ethics states

“We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.”

So basically it’s a librarian’s job to help you find and check out material to you without making any judgment calls or telling anyone (even the government) what you’ve been looking for. And honestly, I think that’s a great policy. It’s one that’s constantly under threat by the government, but we’re not even going there today.

My problem is that I just can’t not make a silent, private assumption about patrons as I’m checking out their materials. I try not to, but sometimes that socially unacceptable, un-PC, sneaky little bastard sector of my brain gets the better of me. Mind you, I’d never voice them or treat anyone differently because of this, but still, I’m only human, so sometimes assumptions will be made. Such as when you see a geeky guy checking out a bunch of programming language books; it’s hard to not think that chances are pretty good he’s not getting laid this weekend (of course, I’m sure that’s what someone thinks about me when, on Fridays, I check out yet another knitting book and a David Sedaris audiobook - and unfortunately they’d be right.) Or a man or woman checking out a bunch of books on aliens and conspiracy theories? There’s a strong temptation to check the lining of their hat for tin foil. But my very favorites? The feisty old women who come up to the counter with stacks of historical romance novels. You know, the books that are really nothing but very thinly disguised porn? They know you know exactly what they’re reading. And they couldn’t give a shit less. More than once, as I was making small talk while checking out their books, they’ve made the comment “It’s going to be cold this weekend, so I needed to come to the library and find something to help keep me occupied.” Yeah, that’s no longer making an assumption. That’s just reading between the lines.