Should Borrow Some Common Sense First

(This kind of exchange happens at least five times every day, despite the fact that we have a large sign on the wall, right behind us, which says that materials will not be issued without a library card.)

Student: “I want to borrow a laptop.”

Me: “Sure, do you have your library card?”

Student: “Oh, no, I don’t have it with me today.”

Me: “Sorry, you need to have your card to borrow anything from the library.”

Student: *genuinely astonished* “Really?”

Me: “Yes, absolutely.”

(We never cease to be amazed at the expectation that we will happily hand over £500-worth of computing kit without being able to see if the person is a student with borrowing privileges.)