Thursday, July 10, 2014

Carny barker

I don't mean to generalize too much, but when I am working on the phones a lot of the people who call are senior citizens. Very senior. The kind that does not do computers, cannot handle automated phone renewal systems, and is left with the old school option they seem to prefer. They call us. Sometimes they cannot hear well. Sometimes they are easily confused. Sometimes they struggle to read their library card number, or to use their phone properly, or to fully track what we're talking about. Projecting, communicating, and transacting the required business in these situations can sometimes require extra effort. I don't really mind. But, still, when the phone rang today and there was a 90-year old ex carny barker who needed help I was delighted. It was a breath of fresh air. It was intensely audible, it inspired me to speak loudly and clearly, and the whole transaction was crisp, clear, and neat, albeit slightly more thorough than is my preference.

Plus I made my co-worker laugh when I reenacted our conversation upon it's conclusion.

I can't do that here, exactly, but I can try and demonstrate a bit of it.

You might want to turn your computer down a bit.



A bit more.



Yes, there, that's good.





"Good afternoon, this is the library." I said.


"I GOT A THREE BOOKS HERE FOR YA TO RENEW. A THREE BOOKS THAT ARE DUE TODAY AT YOUR A SUBURBAN COUNTY LIBRARY."

"Great, um, I just need the barcode number off your library card."

"I HAVE THAT CARD A RIGHT HERE. A COUNTY LIBRARY CARD. IT IS A REGISTERED TO ME, CARNUS BARKARD DATE OF BIRTH APRIL A 19 A NINETEEN AND A TWENTY-FOUR. THIS LIBRARY CARD IS A NUMBERED TWO AND SEVEN, FIVE, FIVE, EIGHTER, EIGHTER, ZERO, ZERO AND A FIVE AND A SEVEN"

"Okay, your three books will now be due on July 28th."

"CARNIVAL HISTORY, ON THE CARNY CIRCUIT, AND HIGH TIMES ON THE SIDESHOW A CHECKED OUT TO ME, CARNUS BARKARD, WILL BE DUE ON JULY 28TH! I DO UNDERSTAND SIR AND I MOST SINCERELY HOPE YOUR DAY IS A GOOD ONE! CARNUS BARKARD SAYS GOODBYE!"

"Bye." I said.



Well, it wasn't quite exactly that, but it's as close as I can get.


I so hope he calls back soon!

2 comments:

  1. Ha ha, that was fun! I love that guy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, you and me both.

      I will say though, perfect on the phone, but I do wonder how he'll work out as a LIBRARY voice. Well, it's pretty noisy down at the service desk anyway.

      Delete

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