Internet is Evil

People who are used to doing the same thing every day have a hard time noticing when something chances. This morning at work, our Internet management system went down. It was having trouble all weekend and it turns out that there's something wrong with the hard drive, so our IT department had to take it away. We find all this out a few minutes before we open, so we have some time to get ready for manual sign up. We print out our sign up sheets and post all our "Please sign up at the desk" and "No printing today" signs.

The first rush of people are easy to catch because they come in sign file, so I just stood by the first Internet computer and took names. After that, things were not so easy.

We are suppose to have 15 minute express Internet computers, but with the name taking, that gets too hard to keep track; so, when the system is down, all computers are equal. Getting people to come and sign up when they're used to just sitting down and taking one is next to impossible, no matter how many signs you have up.

About a half hour after opening, I spot someone on a computer who did not sign up. I take my clip board and pencil and walk over to him to get his name.

Me: Excuse me, can I get your name? Our sign up system is down so we're taking names to keep track of computer time today.

Guy: (checking his gmail) Oh, is that why I didn't have to enter my library card?

Me: Yes.

Guy: You should really put up a sign about that.

Me:(pointing to the two signs on either sign of the monitor) We have. So if I could just get your name so you can continue using the computer.

Guy: (closing his gmail) That's okay. I'm done.

Luckily, this conversation didn't repeat itself often, but I did have to nab people from the express area several times to explain what was happening.

An email went out to all reference staff about the manual sign up. This is standard procedure for computer meltdowns. Of course when my relief comes, she doesn't know anything about it and immediately starts telling some poor visitor about 15 minutes express computers. Which don't exist today. Which she passed on her way to the desk, with all the signs.