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Usually, the Library is a quiet place. There's construction going along our side of the building so we expect some noise. We know when it's going to happen and can compensate for it. At least, we can warn our readers to expect it. What happened today was completely off the map.
There's a wall between my work-space and the Ref Desk. At the rear of the Ref Desk, a work surface becomes part of the wall. In my area you don't usually hear anything going on at the Ref Desk. Today, it was very different.
I kept hearing something that sounded as loud as a pile driver. The problem was that it didn't have the rhythm of a pile driver. I knew there were no machines like that being used outside and the sound seemed to be coming from within the Library.
I walked out to take a look and could see nothing. I thought I might be going mad until I walked out to take another look. That's when I saw what was happening.
A volunteer was collating educational packets for a visit of teachers later in the day. The packets were small but there were about 50 of them and the volunteer was fastening them in a very enthusiastic way. Instead of picking up each packet and fastening it with the stapler in hand, she was putting each packet under the stapler and giving an enthusiastic "Whoomp!" on the counter.
In the Ref area this sounded like ordinary stapling activity. Through some strange trick of acoustics, what sounded like a little 'snap' outside, sounded like a pile driver on the other side of the wall.
There's a wall between my work-space and the Ref Desk. At the rear of the Ref Desk, a work surface becomes part of the wall. In my area you don't usually hear anything going on at the Ref Desk. Today, it was very different.
I kept hearing something that sounded as loud as a pile driver. The problem was that it didn't have the rhythm of a pile driver. I knew there were no machines like that being used outside and the sound seemed to be coming from within the Library.
I walked out to take a look and could see nothing. I thought I might be going mad until I walked out to take another look. That's when I saw what was happening.
A volunteer was collating educational packets for a visit of teachers later in the day. The packets were small but there were about 50 of them and the volunteer was fastening them in a very enthusiastic way. Instead of picking up each packet and fastening it with the stapler in hand, she was putting each packet under the stapler and giving an enthusiastic "Whoomp!" on the counter.
In the Ref area this sounded like ordinary stapling activity. Through some strange trick of acoustics, what sounded like a little 'snap' outside, sounded like a pile driver on the other side of the wall.
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