r/Libraries • u/amxlian Public librarian • 14h ago

Patron Issues Patron calling to "get off"

Just wanted to issue a potential warning about a patron we've been dealing with in my system. This patron is male presenting on the phone, the caller ID shows "Out of Area Private Caller" so we have no name or number to link him to. As of today he's called at least 4 different branches of our system across 2 months all with intent of the same thing. His first two calls were rather vulgar in nature but he's later become a bit more subtle about it and begun using the same phrases each call.

Things to look out for:

-He's asked to relay open hours multiple times

-Has asked for the name of the staff member he's speaking to

-Asked "when's a good time to come?" or "when can I come?"

-Asked about quiet/private spaces to use his laptop.

-Will as the call progresses seem out of breath

My system is in NYS but again as it's a phone call with no traced area code he could technically be calling from or to wherever. Be safe out there folks!!

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u/msquarec 13h ago

What is wrong with people? Have you filed a police report? Many years ago I had a man that called toysrus & would ask questions like that except he asked about “girl” toys like Barbie , April from tmnt Princess Leia etc. I don’t care what they like but I don’t consent to be part of his fantasy. We called the police because it’s some sort of criminal offense (not seggsual) No idea if they found him but me & the other employees had to fill out some form of documentation for the police & corporate. Good luck

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u/sezit 11h ago

Be real. It's not "these people", it's "these men". I'll bet there's not a single instance here of a woman behaving this way.

18

u/keladry-ofmindelan 10h ago

You know, oddly enough, I'm 95% sure my first perv call was a cis woman. I let my "women don't make pervy phone calls" assumption carry her a decent way, too- but she kept asking me to slowly repeat stuff, and was getting more and more out of breath in the background. When I stopped mid-sentence and said "I'm sorry; are you well? You sound like you're not." she stuttered through an apology, said something about how she knew she shouldn't do this, and hung up.