Regular Patron: Well hey Matt!
Me: Oh hey. Been a while.
Regular Patron: Over a year, I think!
Me: something like that
Regular Patron: I stopped going to Central because they’re not letting the public in the building.
Me: gee I wonder why
Regular Patron: so uh… you gonna scan my card and books and stuff?
Me, staring at the items they pushed through the plexiglass shield window: …yep. I guess I am.
Me, slowly reaching out to take them: I am going to touch these things
Me, scanning it slowly: that were touched by someone outside my bubble
Me, returning the items to the patron: with no existential dread whatsoever.
Regular Patron: Great, thanks! Have a good one!
Me, using so much hand sanitizer my skin is peeling off: haha you too
(I had probably 20-30 interactions that day, and I no longer have skin on my hands)
If it makes you feel any better, it’s super hard for COVID to be passed surface to surface, so touching stuff isn’t really much of a risk. Being in the same, not terribly well designed for good airflow room with patrons, on the other hand… :/
we’re all doomed hahahahahaha