A talk with a librarian

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A: I'd like to sign up for a library card.
B: Have you ever signed up for a card?
A: Yes, but it was a long time ago.
B: How long?
A: I don't know..about ten years.
B: Ok, I need to see your personal records
A: Which personal records?
B: Umm, I need to see your photo I.D. and address documentation
A: (pulls out I.D. out of pocket) My address is on my I.D. is that ok?
B: Yes.

Information is being looked up.


B: Do you have your old card?
A: Well, no. It was over ten years ago
B:You have to pay 2 dollars for a card renewal.
A: (Thinking about why he's being charged when it's always free to sign up.)
But i'm signing up, why do I have to pay?
B: You have to pay for a renewal card if you don't have your old one.
A: (Annoyed by what he feels is somewhat 'scheme(y)' to charge someone for a card they would do nothing with. Once they see the old card, they would either throw it out or say 'ok')
What I want to do is sign up, not renew. I haven't been here in over ten years.
B: But you are still on the records, if you don't have your old card you have to pay 2 dollars.
A: (Annoyed by the repeat.)
Yes, I understand that.
(Hoping for a different thing to be said)
B: Well, that's good that you understand that.

Complete silence between both parties

A: (unsure whether that was a mocking sentence, or a just a person genuinely out of things to say)
(Walks away in frustration)

well i guess my question would be (to specifically the non neuro-typical individuals)


Is A wrong to be frustrated, angry, upset, etc?
other comments are welcome, not only the above question

Times are tough.

Funding is being cut everywhere, so organizations are being forced to raise money by charging for things that used to be free.

So, it is uncomfortable for the librarian to charge for the new card, but has to in order to keep his/her job.

I'd say it is normal to feel angry/upset, but there isn't much to be done about it.

You probably have to remember that the people who make stupid rules like that are not the ones who you would be talking to directly. The person you are talking to is just simply being forced to enforce it... and may not completely understand the reason why, or any way to deal with a situation like that other then to repeatedly demand compliance.

Its probably a good reaction to just walk away. I would have been frusterated as well!

It's annoying, but personally at $2, I would have just let it go. I do understand your frustration, though.

It's not wrong to be frustrated about it. It would have been wrong to take that frustration out on the poor librarian who was just trying to do their job. Walking away when frustrated is a very valuable skill, one I've only recently acquired.