While sitting behind at my desk, cataloguing books I always
have to be aware of any potential dangers that may come lurking into the
library… especially the Tea Bandits.
You may be wondering, who are these
Tea Bandits? These are the patrons who constantly try sneak in the library with
their precious cup of tea, go around the corner where they are out of sight and relax on the couch and drink their tea. I am all for a relaxing tea
while reading a book, but a library needs to be a clean and tidy area that helps
promote learning and thus there is the strict rule of “No food or drinks in the
library”.
The Bandits understand this rule, but they get more and more creative everyday finding new ways to sneak in their
coveted cup of tea. From putting it
under their LAS sweater to quickly dashing around the corner, I have seen it
all. Although, I too have gotten creative in my ways of stopping them; I listen
to the creaks in the floorboards as they walk in, and I have trained myself to
smell a cup of tea from across the room.
At the beginning of the term when I
was doing my rounds shutting down the library, I would find mugs in the most
interesting places: behind books, under tables, in little cubby holes. If it
had a flat surface, I can almost guarantee you I found a mug there. It has
gotten better throughout the year, and now I barely find any mugs lying around.
I would like to say that I have conquered the Tea Bandits, but I know they will
always be around. So for now I always
have all of my senses on waiting to catch the next Tea Bandit that dares enter
the LAS Libraries.
Another term working in the LAS Libraries has come and gone. I would like to thank Ms. Leonhard, Ms. Bjorling
and everyone at LAS for another great term and for the unforgettable
experience!
