Patron, handing me a career book on customer service: I need to renew this.
Me: Afraid I can’t do that. You’ve hit your renewal limit.
Patron: Yes yes, I know, but I need to renew it anyway. See, I’m older and I need time to study.
Me: You’ve had it for over six months. We need to put it back in circulation.
Patron: Yes, but I’m older and I need to study.
Me: I understand that, but you’re not the only one who needs the book. We only have two circulating copies of this item in the entire system, and other people need it too.
Patron: But at the other branch, they said I could bring it to you and-
Me: Can’t do it. These books are in high demand.
Patron: Well, do you have a copier?
Me: Um. Yeah? But, it’s $.25 a page and… Are you going to copy the whole book?
Patron: That’s a good idea!
Me: It would be cheaper just to buy it.
Patron: Can I take it with me?
Me: You can’t leave the building with it, but-
Patron: But can I take it with me?
Me: You can’t leave the building with it, but-
Patron: Young man! I know I can’t leave the building with it!
Me: Cool. So you can’t leave the building with it, but you can take it to one of the departments that has a copier.
Patron: Hmmph.
Coworker: People don’t like to be told “no”.
Me: They do not.