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May 1, 2006
Name Recognition
I had a phone call recently from a gentleman who said that there was a problem with the May/June newsletter. The problem was that he is familiar with a librarian named Kathy, but this was not the Kathy who was pictured on the cover of our newsletter. He told me that he's known Kathy for years, and he can assure me that this was not Kathy. He was right -- we have two librarians who work here with the same name, but it is Cathy Mealing who is our new director. Bryant Library is funny with names. There are two Micheles working here now. We also have a couple of Jackies, two Annes, and, you're not going to believe this, but we have not one, not two, not even three, but four Barbaras working here! When I was hired, I was sure that I couldn't have a future here since my name wasn't Barbara!
We have one woman who uses our library frequently, who can recognize all of us immediately by the way we answer the telephone. I think that's incredible. She insists that it's a matter of paying attention. The unfortunate truth is that in our day to day interactions with people, we often don't look that closely. I am one of a few blonde librarians, and we've often had to run down the list of blondes when we're trying to track down a particular situation. I used to be the "young one," but I haven't been referred to that way in a while!
While shopping in Michael's recently, a woman, rather aggressively, asked where she knew me from. I'd like to say that I recognized her immediately from the library - remembered the book she was looking for, what she was wearing and what time of day it was, but I didn't. I had no idea who she was. She insisted that she knew me and wanted to know where I lived, what school my children go to, my religious affiliation and my workplace. When I mentioned the Bryant Library, she recognized me immediately!
I am still one of two Micheles, am still blonde (albeit with a few grays!), but now I have a new identifying feature. I am now known as "the blogger." The newsletter came out a few days ago, with an article that I had written about the blog -- it is even accompanied by a photo. I can't tell you the number of people who have come in recently, recognized me from the photo and commented on my "new title." So, I've lost my anonymity, but I'm enjoying my moment of fame. If you're in the neighborhood, please come in and say, "hi!" Just ask for the "blogger!"
Posted by Michele at May 1, 2006 12:36 PM