Locate a Political Book

NARRATOR:Listen to a conversation between a student and a librarian employee.

FEMALE STUDENT:Hi, I am looking for this book, The American Judicial System, and I can’t seem to find it anywhere.I need to read a chapter for my political science class.

MALE EMPLOYEE:Let me check in the computer.Um, doesn't seem to be checked out and it's not on reserve.You've checked the shelves I assume.

FEMALE STUDENT:Yeah, I even checked other shelves and tables next to where the book should be.

MALE EMPLOYEE:Well, it's still here in the library. So people must be using it.You know this seems to be a very popular book tonight. We show six copies. None are checked out. And, yet you didn't even find one copy on the shelves.Is it a big class?

FEMALE STUDENT:[Upspeak] Maybe about Seventy Five?

MALE EMPLOYEE:Well, you should ask your professor to put some of the copies on reserve.You know about the Reserve system, right?

FEMALE STUDENT:I know that you have to read reserve books in the library and that you have time limits.But I didn't know that I could ask a professor to put a book on the reserve.I mean I thought the professors make that kind of decisions at the beginning of the semester.MALE EMPLOYEE:Oh, they can put books on reserve at anytime during the semester.

FEMALE STUDENT:You know reserving book seems a bit unfair.What if someone who is not in the class wants to use the book?

MALE EMPLOYEE:That's why I said some copies.

FEMALE STUDENT:Ah, well, I'll certainly talk to my professor about it tomorrow. But what I am gonna do tonight?

MALE EMPLOYEE:I guess you could walk around the Poli-Sci (Political Science) section and look at the books waiting to be re-shelved.

FEMALE STUDENT:[Slowly, as though she’s looking around and noticing it for the first time.] There do seem to be more than normal.

MALE EMPLOYEE:We are a little short of staff right now—someone quit recently—so things aren’t getting reshelved as quickly as usual.I don't think they've hired a replacement yet, so, yeah, the unshelved books can get a bit out of hand.

FEMALE STUDENT:This may sound a bit weird, but…I’ve been thinking about getting a job…Um, I've never work at the library before, but...

MALE EMPLOYEE:That's not a requirement. The job might still be open.At the beginning of the semester we were swamped with applications, but I guess everyone who wants the job has one by now.

FEMALE STUDENT:What can you tell me about the job?

MALE EMPLOYEE:Well, we work between six and ten hours a week, so it's a reasonable amount.Usually we can pick the hours we want to work ... but since you’d be starting so late in the semester, I’m not sure how that would work for you.And, Oh, we get paid the normal university rates for student employees.

FEMALE STUDENT:So who do I talk to?

MALE EMPLOYEE:I guess you talk to Dr. Jenkins, the head librarian. She does the hiring.