Do you want toast or pancakes with that?

All I need to know about library customer service, I learned from breakfast waitresses:

• Smile.


• Greet everyone with a cheery "hello" or "good morning."


• Introduce myself and/or wear a nametag.


• Remember the preferences of my regulars.


• Be efficient and pleasant at the same time.


• Handle multiple loads and tasks with poise, grace, and balance.

Of course, the good breakfast waitress is most famous for constantly providing fresh, hot coffee.

But I'm having a hard time figuring out how I want to apply that metaphorically to the library. What is the "coffee" in a library? Since reading Wayne Wiegand's article on January 26, I'm hesitant to say "information." Many patrons may be looking for a good book and a comfy chair. Besides, "fresh, hot information" sounds more like a mission for CNN than the library.

Maybe the metaphor just doesn't work for the library, or maybe each librarian will have his or her own definition for the fresh, hot coffee to serve consistently to guests.     #

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