NLB
I did the stupidest thing ever today! I think no more National Libraries for me. Stress, man!
I had wanted to return the 2 books on the left - “Song of Kali” & “Salt & Saffron”. They were like 3 days overdued and I hardly read them. Well, I did read the “Song of Kali” but didn’t really liked the story so stopped halfway.
With much fatigue, I went to the National Library Tampines Branch to return them. Usually, one would only need to drop the books into the “Book Drop” that resembles a pigeon-hole. Well, since my books are overdued and I gotta pay the penalties, I went to the reception instead.
Instead of processing my returns, the librarian told me that I would still need to return the overdued books via the “Book Drop” AND then, pay my fines via another machine. Well, so much for help. So, obligingly, I went to the “pigeon-hole”, pushed in the 1st book. Hmmm, no sign of ackowledgement from the machine. Nevermind, continued with the 2nd one and the “Returned” sign lit up! Finally, some response. *sigh*
Then, being an abiding citizen, I went to the said machine to pay up. But then again, the records reflect that I’m still holding on to the “Salt & Saffron”! This really baffled me. So once again, I went to queue up at the reception, told the librarian what happened - the machine sign did not light up and payment stuff. The librarian went to the machine, had me demonstrated the whole procedure again, and then convinced that I’m not that retard after all before taking down the details of the book. She then went into another office where I can hear conversations on the book search. This was really getting on my nerves. She went in, came out a few times and then finally got me to fill up some form and told me to wait for their call within the next 1 week.
Being tired and hungry, I left the library feeling frustrated. Just as I got on the bus, I realised one thing that might just reveal the mystery about the “Returned” sign. I did not return a library book! I pushed in the book that Pak Kiong lent me!
As every library book will be tagged with a barcode, it will be scanned upon each return and that’s when the sign will light up! The machine must have not been able to detect a barcode on that book ‘cuz that was simply not a library book, and that’s why the sign was not lit!
How stupid can I get!
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Shucks! Now I gotta go there on to return the REAL “Salt & Saffron” (which I found on my table by the way) and inform the librarian on the find. But can only do so on Friday…
As for Pak Kiong, I think I’ll try to check if the library has any “Lost & Found Corner”… I feel so bad… Can’t believe it. I’m so stupid.
