Standing behind this desk, I am still amazed at what I see in the library. People who need help come to the library to use unfamiliar technology with no training or background, to solve insurmountable problems.
I have training and background; in a sense I am the keeper of the technology. But some days, I have no help to give. I am the helpless one.
A loose family group came in last week to use the internet. I think they are staying at one of the shelters. They asked for help looking at the sex offender registry.
I got them signed in and showed them how to get there. The petite woman came to the desk. “I don’t know why she wants to look in there,” she said.
Pause.
“My ex - her father - molested her and she wants to see his picture.”
Pause.
“I guess if it brings her peace she can go ahead, but I just don’t understand it.” She walked away from the desk, obviously agitated, going toward her daughter, then moving quickly away.
I stood there, helpless.
After a few minutes with other patrons, I looked up to see the mother standing in the corner, back turned, wiping her eyes. I got a tissue, touched her on the shoulder and handed it to her. I had no words to offer – helpless.
The searching group became more animated – they had found something. The girl who was looking said, “Let me see, let me see! That’s him…..” Her eagerness turned on her. Suddenly she was rocking back and forth in her chair, sobbing. No one made a move to comfort her. Some of them were still glued to their screens.
“I’m safe, I’m safe,” she chanted softly to herself. “I’m safe now.”
Her mother was standing at a distance, wide-eyed and struck motionless. I stood behind the desk – helpless.
The girl’s quiet sobbing slowed and then stopped. She wiped her eyes on her t-shirt, took a deep breath, and changed the site on her screen. I could see her mother hoping. The girl was moving on to another page on her screen, and I hope, in her life.
Ten or fifteen minutes later, the mother stopped at the desk. “Thank you for the tissue,” she said, and continued toward the door.
Tissues in the hand – photos on the screen. Did any of it help?
I hope so.
As someone who has been on both sides of that situation, I can tell you without question that it helped. Even small steps, even the tiniest of comforts and what seems like miniscule help, can be as simple as a tissue and as profound as facing a fear that one felt was surmountable. You can rest assured that you touched the lives of all that family in a way that cannot be duplicated. You also touched mine with your simplicity and honesty in facing that issue. Know that your kindness and your true caring (which may have made you feel helpless but truly opened the door to help) is appreciated.
Posted by: Sarah | August 30, 2006 at 07:39 AM
Thank you for your kindness and thoughtful reply, Sarah. It helps to hear it.
FGL
Posted by: feelgoodlibrarian | August 30, 2006 at 02:41 PM
Wow. And people think libraries are just books? Thanks FGL for posting this experience.
Posted by: sarah louise | August 31, 2006 at 08:49 AM
OK, I'm sitting at the reference right now, with tears in my eyes (that's what I get for goofing off at work). I think you did the right thing, and I'm sure the mother was grateful.
Posted by: Jessica | September 05, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Wow, sometimes it's amazing what we are witness to. You are such a giving and good person, FGL.
Posted by: Vampire Librarian | September 07, 2006 at 07:55 PM
I've seen similar scenes where I work. I once helped a woman find mailing addresses for her three sons; one at a jail in Indiana, one at a jail in Texas, and one at a jail in Oklahoma. Another time, a woman came to me and said that the man who had abused her son was in the library. That was a tricky situation, let me tell you!
Posted by: Caterwaul | September 30, 2006 at 03:39 AM