A day of minor annoyances, to wit:

(1) Last week I was browsing through my files and I found some purchase request forms that D., the acquisitions clerk, had returned to me. When a department submits a request, I give the form to D., D. orders the item(s) (online, usually), writes a purchase order number on the forms, and gives the form to me for my records. I noticed on this particular form, originally submitted in November, that some of the items weren't ordered. I asked her about the discrepancy and she didn't have any explanation--they weren't out of print, yet to be published, out of stock, etc. So I put in the orders for the remaining items, hoping that they were not eagerly anticipated. But today an accounting prof came in asking whether these books had arrived yet. He was understandably annoyed that they hadn't, since he had put in the request three months ago.

(2) A student worker called on behalf of the Spanish department asking if a couple of CD-ROMS that a professor had requested had come in yet. She didn't know the title, the subject, the publisher, etc., but said she thought they had been ordered at the beginning of this semester. I got paranoid because I couldn't for the life of me remember any such request, and was worried that I had been completely careless. I asked her to call back after she got more information. In the afternoon she called again and said "Oh, I think it was the beginning of last semester, not this semester," which made me relieved; however, she still didn't know any specifics about the items in question and I couldn't find any order in our files for the Spanish department. Now I suspect the careless one is the professor.

(3) Yes, the religion department dropped off another big stack of requests! I've told them twice that their well has run dry. When the new fiscal year comes around, I will probably blow their entire budget on the spot purchasing these backed up orders.

(4) Right as I was getting off work M. stopped by the desk and asked what I was doing tonight. Why was he asking? His computer at home was broken and he wanted to get online to try to troubleshoot. He just needed to use mine for a few hours some evening. Why not use the library computer? Because he doesn't like to use it for personal reasons. I told him I might go to Lubbock this evening, and he said he would get in touch with me later to arrange a more convenient time. I then countered that when I was home I was often using the computer myself, so "we'll have to see." Now that I think about it, the supposed scandalous behavior of M. was computer related. Is there something nefarious he wants to do under guise of my IP address? Probably not, but the thought makes the library scene not so colorless, eh?

I inquired about volunteering as a tutor for the local literacy council. The director wrote me back saying "We always need volunteers, especially men." My reaction to this statement was mixed. Evidently my interests are not particularly masculine. On the other hand, I'll be meeting lots of high-minded women, some of them, perhaps, young and unattached.

I get tomorrow off because I'm scheduled for Saturday, so I think I'll do a few things in Amarillo.