Irish travel writer documenting rail journeys, city wandering, books read abroad, and the strange joy of ending up somewhere unexpected.
Europe, overnight trains, cafés, history, and travelling without much of a plan.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
The other day a man came to the counter and asked to join the library.
Sure thing, I said. I'll need proof of address and ID.
He didn't want to give me ID. Said that was private information.
I can't set you up without it unfortunately, I said.
He demanded to speak to a manager, so I went and got her.
I can't set you up without it unfortunately, she said.
He stormed off.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
Recently I had a kid come up to me, wanting to take out a music CD.
I asked if he had a library card.
He said no, and left.
That was that. Or so I thought.
He came back five minutes later with a blurry picture on his phone of a library card.
It was for a library in Utah, USA.
I got it from Google, he said. Will this work?
No, I said.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
Literally just this morning I had a woman walk in the door on a speakerphone call.
She walked right up to the desk and continued on her call.
Eventually a queue started to form, and I called the man behind her forward.
Without ending her call she screamed that she was next.
Everyone ignored her outburst, except for one man who pointed her to a door and said "toddlers' library is that way love".
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
A child came in and asked for colouring pages.
I gave him a colouring page.
He then asked for crayons.
I gave him a little bowl of crayons.
Then he asked what colour he should use.
I asked him what his favourite colour is.
He didn't know, and he started to cry.
Just then his mom ran up, apologizing profusely, and assured me he liked to use green.
That's great, I said. So do I!
He started laughing then.
Kids, man.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
Had a guy come in recently looking for a book about Dublin history.
Luckily, we have a Dublin section.
I pointed him in the direction.
Twenty mins later he comes back with a book.
You taking that out? I ask.
Yeah, he says. Flips the book open to a black and white picture of a man and a kid.
That's me and my dad, he says.
Rare enough someone in there puts a smile on my face, but that did it.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
I had someone come up to the desk this morning looking for coffee.
He came up and said hi, I need a coffee.
Don't we all, I replied.
No, can I get a coffee I mean, he said.
What, I asked. Where do you think you are?
Do you not have a coffee machine?
We don't, we're next door to a tesco though and they've one.
Ridiculous, he grunted. What services so you even offer then.
Books, I suggested.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
Had someone come in looking for a vhs tape today. We actually have DVDs, but we don't have anything further back than that, technology-wise.
Well what am I supposed to do with my VHS player he asked.
I wanted to say maybe sell it. What I actually said was Im not sure, but we've nothing to put into it.
Will DVDs work in it he asked. No, I replied.
He got one out anyway. I don't think we're getting that back in a workable condition.
I work in a library in Dublin, Ireland.
Today we had a woman come in and ask for us to get a computer ready for her.
We only have laptops.
No no, a computer, she declared.
We only have laptops.
What are you not understanding, she demanded. I need a computer!
We only have laptops.
She eventually left. I'm convinced she still thinks I'm just some idiot who doesn't know what a computer is.