A Job or Joy?

            The Saturday delivery came quite early today; right after we were open after 10 am. There were a total of twenty-one tubs. As busy as this branch has been the quantity of the requested tubs was within the norm. Jennifer and I occupied ourselves unloading the items requested, processed, and sent to the customers in need. As I was bending and placing the items onto the waiting trucks, I heard Jennifer’s voice, the kind woven with joy and excitement. “Here it comes! The young man will love it and I am going to call him.”

            It turned out that there was this young kid requested certain item and couldn’t wait for its arrival the other day. Jennifer was at the desk when this child came to the counter and asked about the status of his reserve. That’s why Jennifer, our beautiful and attractive veteran customer service representative, remembered this specific item. The sight of it wiped Jennifer off the floor and made Jennifer rush to the computer to process and call the patron. A smile, as bright as the shining sun, as sweet as the holiday goodies, was seen on Jennifer’s pretty face. Holding the item as if it were a newborn baby, Jennifer walked fast passing me and had it processed as soon as possible.

            Such excellent customer service wouldn’t be seen or witnessed by the public, the library users; at least not as obviously as one thinks. It is like beautiful and artistic wallpaper at a place. People come and go minding their own business. The beauty of the wallpaper resides at the background, silently doing its job. If people happen to know about the wallpaper they would stop by and show their appreciation. The patterns of wallpaper vary yet the purpose and effect of the wallpaper are served quietly by the proprietor.

            To a person as passionate and enthusiastic as Jennifer, working at the public library is not simply a job. It’s a joy; it comes from sense of achievement, honor, and pride. It’s sense of achievement for she is able to respond to and meet the patrons’ needs and demands. It’s a great honor to be able to make a living by serving the public at the same time; a genuine smile is priceless, money can’t buy. Sense of pride comes from being a member of a team and making effort to maintain high quality and excellence teamwork and customer service.

            A job would stay being certain task if one’s mind and heart are somewhere else. It’s a joy to be able to serve other people. The life span a person owns might be limited yet the impact and influence made by a person defy time and space.

            Is it a job or joy? You define.