Unfiltered Story #341930

(Our library closes at five PM, but like most businesses we stay for awhile after locking the doors to turn off computers, shelve books, and otherwise finish closing procedures. About five minutes to closing one day, I’m doing a preliminary walk-through and notice a woman on her laptop, and I decide to give her a heads-up.)

Me: Just to let you know, ma’am, we close in five minutes.

Patron: Oh, that girl over there… (points to a co-worker) …told me you guys stay until five-thirty. She told me I could go ahead and stay until then to finish up what I’m doing.

(This has never been approved by the administrators, but seeing as a worker has already given this woman this information, there’s little I can do to convince her otherwise. This particular co-worker has been difficult to get along with and thinks nothing of overriding library rules to suit her fancy or help her “favorite” patrons. As she’s very abrasive and I’m fairly shy, I’m reluctant to confront her, but end up taking the issue to an administrator.)

Admin: Hey [my name], why is there still a lady at that table five minutes after close?

Me: She tells me that [Co-Worker] told her she could stay until five-thirty to finish her work. I wasn’t aware we could do that for patrons.

Admin: We don’t, but we can’t exactly chase her out now. Let her finish up what shes doing. Hopefully she’s gone by five-thirty.

[As soon as the admin leaves, Co-Worker comes storming up to me, fire flashing in her eyes, and proceeds to lay into me.]

Co-Worker: Do NOT put words in my mouth! Do NOT try to blame this on me! Next time talk to ME and not somebody else or the boss! Stop trying to get me into trouble! *storms off*

Me: …

(The admin ended up overhearing her rant, and assured me later that I’d done the right thing. Said co-worker no longer works here, thank goodness, and we still hold firm to our five o’ clock closing time.)