You know, the LIBRARY KEEPER....

Seems I got way off track and left the library guy behind in the dust, but I have just finished the second day of work in November and it was a great day. Cool to cold and clear so I burst out of the house and jog around forty minutes and come back to my breakfast, then I prepare to face the world as mild mannered Earl and get my tie tied right and put a scarf over it and the leather jacket on top of that - I am going to ride the Trusty Triumph to work, that was what I was born for... yes, I did put out the garbage, and I waved at the garbage pickup man as I jogged by him, but I was born to ride the Triumph, it is a fine ride going deeper and recovering smoothly and laughing in joy. I walk down to the dock, passed by a prisoner mobility transport team, one of my patrons has been out to see a specialist.

As I walk into the Corridor I see one of the inmate bakers with a big tray of cheese cake pieces heading out to feed the audit team I think. As I get closer he signs to me and asks me to take the piece closest to me, so looking at the lady escorting him with the money box - and she is nodding her head in agreement -- I take a piece of the best looking cake I have seen. And hurry off to eat it in the workroom before I move the mail, and it is good, all over my fingers but I will lick them off, but it is good. And I hear knocking on the library door, it is the Associate Superintendent and all the audit team, waiting for me to open up so they can look.

I open, invite them in, and give them my best briefing of how wonderful I am and how important the library is to the inmates and the mission of education and all our capabilities. Ask if there are questions, get none and congratulate myself in public on another fine briefing. They leave to get their lunch and a piece of that cheese cake that I return to before taking the mail down. Mail back up and l open a letter from a book shop in Seattle:

To Earl Dungey: Nov 1, 2009

A former inmate, who worked in your library, came into my
bookstore and spent $50 on SF and a few other things. He said
he was sending the books to you (I did not catch his name,
sorry). He made me think, a bit, of you and your needs. He
was very pleasant. -- tallish, dark hair, a bit of a gut, has a four
year old daughter...
He made me want to help out, when he said you might be
able to take hardbacks....I asked for your address.

Can you take hardbacks? I get a lot of surplus hardbacks.
(Can you provide a tax exempt number for me, too? This is
not absolutely necessary, but I thought I would ask, anyway.)

I can provide mysteries easily, and thrillers, in hardback,
but can also provide lots of other kinds of books. Even
hardback SF Books. I have a fairly large store, with lots of
surplus generated -- books I don't want to take in are often left
behind. So, this includes nonfiction of all types. Send me a
letter back, with your needs, and I will be glad to help out.
Can do a limited number of specific titles; some bestsellers
begin to pile up, for example, and I can send those, too.
Also, of course, if you want to buy specific titles for your
library, would be happy to oblige. Give you a good price!
This is my email, storeindistrict@yahoo.com, but I sometimes
miss the emails; send it again if I don't respond.

Sincerely,

Nice Lady in
Seattle WA 981??

I sent an email off to the other Library Keepers and our leaders, since answering this letter with more than a thank you is echelons above my capacity - although I do seem to be the person so many of my former workers want to contact about things and donations do seem to show up from inmates, family, interested folks and others. Still this letter needs answered by someone higher than a lowly library keeper. I was very happy to receive it, and only change the addresses and real name to protect the nice lady and paste the intent all over my blog.

My supervisor was chosen as the Employee of the Quarter, and written up very nicely, and as another of the staff said "it was about time the two of you were recognized for your work". No, there aren't two of her - just does twice as much as she should have to, make all those dwindling budget dollars last a little longer... I suggested to our party girl, that this was a perfect reason for a Winter Holiday party - she is working on it.

Well, we were open and the books started moving, legally and otherwise, the alarm at the gate kept going off - the new guys making sure they had something for themselves.

I got two calls, and I answered in my most professional voice (I am wearing a tie, ya know?) "Washington State Library branch at McNeil Island Corrections Center, Earl speaking, may I help you?" or something very close... and on the other end is "I'm ____________ from Tower Three, and I wanted to apologize about what I called you." I hadn't know that was tower three, but if I remembered which was tower four (it has the armory) I could have figured it out. Anyway, we had a good talk about that incident and a little better understanding of who each of us were, and how we aren't going to be mistaken for fools in the future. She made sure it was clear that no one was making her apologize, and I made it clear that I didn't want an apology, I just wanted what was not normal conduct looked at and fixed. She had been sure I was mocking her, and I was sure I wasn't doing anything but being completely out of touch with what was supposed to be happening. She also didn't know until this week that I had been upset at being outed as a jackass. I lived through it but....

The second call was from another Library Keeper that had attended a meeting for communications, her interest being the Institutional Library Services blog. Her concern was that a portion of the new rules for social networking, individual personal blogs which mentioned the bloggers working with the Office of the Secretary of State must comply with the new rules. Since I often make dark mention of stupidity, foolishness, or downright mean conduct on my blog I might not be looked at favorably. I calmed her fears a bit, the only mention of risk to my job was for working on State Owned Equipment and this is my machine, and the intent was to keep the twittering for political reasons to a minimum... and I don't tweet, twitter nor twitch. I have no idea what to do on Facebook, and we cannot access any of the social networks at work. So I won't worry about my blogging, I can bore a few folks some of the time, I can bore lots of the folks lots of the time, and then once in a bit, I can be entertaining... I do notice that once the independent bloggers are corralled and the safe guards and laws laid down - the joy of blogging is gone, and the input for posting good stuff about our libraries dries completely up. But we aren't here to be happy, are we?

I ride the Trusty Triumph home to a fine meal, coffee and my only opportunity to tell my mother what happened today at work. The full moon shining down on me was a nice touch with the Autumn chill, but it has been such a good day I didn't want to ruin it. Thanks, Lord, and all those that participated to make it possible.

went to see Public Enemies...

which was interesting, loud, violent and very close to history of the time that I have read. I was told to stop whispering to my date, so I did. we went out to dinner after, trying to save the restaurant business one place at a time. I did have trouble identifying the Public Enemy some times, if there had been some water boarding I would have known which were the bad guys, but then maybe almost everyone one was, look at the number of people protecting us now and how safe life is... or do something more interesting like art or literature with the time you save.

I don't seem to be right for the job...

I missed a meeting with the Associate Superintendent for Programs, I had thought she was off the island and wouldn't be back the remainder of the month, the last was correct, but after Tuesday not today. The work day went well until a young looking felon started acting up in the evening, accusing one of my workers of yelling at him, then wanting me to do stuff for him, some of which I did, some of which I told him he could have if he wanted an ILL, that I could find the album that way. He came back wanting the information so he could buy the album, and I told him I wasn't going shopping for him. He got loud with me and I became tired of working with his handicap, and wasn't doing anything for him so he got louder and told me that I had lied and tried to manipulate me to giving him what he wanted (I am not allowed to give him what he needed). But when he called me a liar I got angry and my blood pressure was cooking so I kicked the desk. Which gave him ammunition, now I was threatening him. I told him to go away and sit down, which he did, after I cooled off I tried to talk to him again - and it didn't work, he wasn't old enough to have a real conversation with. Children are easier to talk to than adults that never grow up. So I ordered him to report to the Corridor Officer and tell her that he was ordered out of the library. He tried to tell me that he couldn't do that, but I told him that I knew better and that he had to follow my instructions. He left and I got back to work, and an officer came in to follow up and asked. We cleared the library on movement and I continued to work and the next group came in and the young failure returned quietly and I didn't see him until I sent everyone out and tried to lock up. When I went by him in the hallway I told him not to come back to the library until his counselor says he can, I will tell his counselor tomorrow about his behavior. I am not a cop nor a snitch, but I am trying to keep a working library open for more than the young fool.

But as I left the prison under the beautiful Full Moon and Cold Dark Sky I kept thinking maybe I am not the person for the job - missing appointments failing to placate the irate ignorant... I might be better as a has been, failed again... too cold for motorcycling far enough away from fools trying to kill me with my own blood pressure. I am not worthy.

It is Friday, and bad things are happening by law...

Two cases need attention, and fixed, the government is out of control on both of them - and it stands out like a criminal act against us in our peaceful life - this is not normal nor correct. Sailorcurt offers his following of the Ryan Frederick case on his blog Captain of a Crew of One and The Sensible Progressive is following Phillip Dominguez in California. Coast to coast the war on little Americans continues. What would have happened if the SWAT attack on Dominguez's home and family had ended in the death of one of the assault force? Nothing good, any death for stupidity is wrong. Don't you wish the Police swore to "Do No Harm" as well as protect the public? What do they swear? Or is it going to always be "They" against them? or us? or you? or just against me?

Economic Stimulus... in real time and effect...

The American Corrections Association auditor dropped by with the Associate Superintendent of Programs, and I got to try and wow him with my wonderful library and what we do for the prison population. I guess I did alright, seems I was mentioned in the outbriefing (which I didn't attend, since I do have a library to keep) for the evidence of a fine library well used. That was nice.

Today I had six inmates on the Call Out for testing and Job interview at 9:10 AM. I prepared ten test packets and got the other three workers on the normal Thursday work. I have only one open position and I really want the best worker for the job. I know one will be late since he has to see the medics first, and one of those coming has a position in the Chapel Library and wants to stay there and he looks a little older than I (only my opinion but he does) so I allow him to return to his work without a test. My workers do tell me about one of the names on the list - and identify him as a page cutter, and show me an example of his most recent ripping out an article from Men's Health. No, I am not allowed to shoot him on sight - probably why they don't allow me to pack pistols in prison. I have four people to test and interview, so I pass out pencils and tests and go back to prepare for the interview.

The first one done is an old worker, trying to get back into a job in this library and away from the terrible Corrections Officer that supervises him. I guess I am much easier, he passes the test without missing any of the answers, but he sure did get creative in reducing the number of pencil strokes to answer the questions. I interviewed him first, and used my "wake up and tell me who you really are" questions. I like to think all those promotion boards I sat upon have sharpened my pointed prying at the joints in the armor, it could be painful if I don't find out now about problems later. Then I relax, explain and we discuss a bit, and since he and I have some knowledge about each other - I tell him about my concerns over his weaknesses in his past performance, I am sure that hurt a bit but he can figure a better way to be, and I expect he will.

The second inmate comes in with his test and pencil and explains that he isn't qualified for the job, since the minimum education is a GED and he hasn't finished his yet. He has a body, and face full of tattoos, no minimum education and looks like a thug in size and shape of muscles - but I like the honesty and good manners in his voice. So I tell him to take a seat and talk about how he should get that GED finished and come back again, or get an even better job. I think Life has now gotten his attention, and he is looking for better ways of living.

The third man in is the page ripper, and I grade his test finding fourteen errors - it is almost like you really have to try and be that bad, but I think he just isn't as smart as the man with all the tattoos - and from his surly attitude during the interview I couldn't see hiring him ever. Still the job interview is always a teaching point for each inmate's future so I talk to him about presentation, answers to questions that would be better and wish him well on his next attempt to find work. Funny, if I were still an Army Drill Sergeant I would have marked this one for running off - not tough nor smart nor responsive enough to become a better soldier with more time and trouble. But I am not a Drill Sergeant and there isn't anywhere to get run off to, this is the end of a line in life that hasn't worked, so change directions and get with the program.

Fourth man comes back from his medical appointment, takes the test and I grade it with only two mistakes, he went a bit too fast and jumped a cutter, and reversed the answer. He also knew it immediately when we talked about it. He was awake for my questions, answered well and wants the job, because he doesn't have one, he worked in the library at another prison but didn't get enough hours, so didn't get paid enough so he changed jobs. He would do fine, so I will make my recommendation to the Job Center, telling them the first and second choice, explaining the selections and any problems I had during the Call Out - two no shows means something wasn't as it should have been. By the end of the day I still haven't any idea which of the two I would hire is going to be assigned to this position; for some good news waiting isn't that bad.

The inmates get forty-two cents an hour, my crew gets about forty-four dollars a month to buy their stuff with. For real staff (like myself) there is a better pay scale and the opportunity to pay taxes and earn a retirement and have health and dental care, two positions open, just not on my island in My Library, until I win the Lotto. It is all about me, ya know?

How was Sunday? Here it was great...

Not that anyone would notice, but I watched Sunday Morning and listened to Mariah sing, both cute and sexy, and I had gruel for breakfast and then went on a gentle jog. Cleaned up and shaved, put on my church clothes and gun and rode the Trusty Triumph to church, opened some doors for ladies and children, smiled at young ladies with starry eyes (wishing I were in the market, but not even window shopping - they still look wonderful). Get gasoline, ride home and start watching football as I iron all my week's plus clothing. Okay, the Cardinals win and I yawn - did like the second half better'n the first. Ironing stuff gets put away and the next game is up and I pull out the pistols for cleaning. I wonder when I will get to shooting enough for a gunsmith to work on them to tune them up again. They do show a bit of wear, but not enough to worry me - I don't compete and so I am sure I am okay, competitors need to win against other competitors, and actors on the screen need to out shoot other actors on the screen. I will only need to out shoot the type of guys that steal from libraries or terrorists that have area weapons and surprise on their side. So, if my ammunition is clean and plentiful, the weapon is within reach and the day is going badly - I am confident that my .45s will work with all the function Mister Browning intended, and I will being my best because I prepared for the worst. My Sunday is just fine, ending it with a prayer for those far away from their loved ones and those in need but still fighting.

Not my birthday yet, but the Vibes are out there...

I keep getting good wishes and that, and the winning Lotto ticket, will make my day. I did tell one of my bosses that if I won the Lotto I would buy the servers and the CD's that the library budget won't buy us.

In the library I continued to try and catch up with the ILLs and all the other things I am to do, being reminded of the almost exhausted swimmer in choppy seas - that salt water is cold and just doesn't taste good when you swallow it and work to keep one's head above the water... I did take an interruption - actually I took a bunch of interruptions all day, only I can work some miracles. The one I was happiest with was with a Russian inmate - don't know how he fell, but he is in the library looking for help and wants me to find the document that he needs. We have a discussion about manners, expectations, Russian customs, Asian Customs - American lack of manners, customs and get your own... he was convinced I was very knowledgeable about human relations and such and must have had a great education. But I told him the truth, spent most or my adult life preparing to fight the Russians --- one of those fights I was always glad that preparation was 99% of the events of the Cold War. I was not in a hurry to fight Russians on their turf, I read and study History. I did find the document he needed and printed the whole thing out for him, our conversation had started with his using a word Americans would only write and never use in conversation - he is very well educated. But I noticed that the Russians are predicting that America is going to collapse by 2012, seems that they think our country is doing many of the foolish things the Soviet Union did before it fell apart. They do say that recovering drug addicts and alcoholics can spot the problems in others with the disease around them.

I don't really need Russians to tell me about America, I am watching it from inside, and I am doing my part to correct the foolishness. New books came in today, I will be taking

Who Killed the Constitution?: The Fate of American Liberty from World War I to George W. Bush

home to read on Thursday (we will have all the new books processed by then), on Friday I am covering the Western State Hospital Library, while my supervisor opens at McNeil Island. Two movies to see this weekend (my birthday present!). Defiance and Gran Torino - if you have to ask why I want to see B+ movies then you haven't been paying attention. I never was an A+ kind of guy... take care out there and go gently.

So in Las Vegas...

Several major Entertainment Establishments have run up against a string of bad luck - the house's bad luck - percentages were on their side but something happened and suddenly they weren't raking in a constant profit of the house's share of the slots and the tables. People weren't coming as much and the ones that did were going home loaded! Imagine, the Entertainment Establishments kept the glitter and talked the talk and walked the walk - but things were shaky. The High Rollers kept coming because the word was out and the stakes were high and it was time to come and get theirs. They came in droves, no one could lose a bet. The Casinos were on the ropes, families weren't coming, the little stuff was just the compulsive gamblers and they were winning, too. How could this happen?

Since the lights were about to go off in Vegas, the joy gone and the ripple effect of the collapse of the entertainment industry threatened the economic security of Nevada, then California (what to do with hundreds of unemployed chorus girls in feathers?). The FEMA was called in before the total collapse, it would have been the Treasury but they were busy saving Wall Street. Bugsy would have been proud, the mob wins again...

Sorry, the story is so short, the economy is built on work and it is nice to have credit for those things one really needs and can repay - but loan sharks and creditor slavery weren't lawful once upon a time, and they aren't really what keeps America functioning. Did you ever see the collapse of America on Banking Holidays, weekends or because the big money guys were off to Europe or the Caribbean stashing their loot? I don't really think I need them, do you? Nope, you don't have multi-million dollar political campaigns to finance, do you?

Thank you, thank you good people everywhere...

Thank Mister Heller, thank you especially Mayor of DC for thinking the Supreme Court was against the People. I have to read the reasons for their thoughts and the votes. But I do know that drug abuse, alcohol abuse and poor reading levels and basic skills have all been taken care of by laws that prohibit drugs, public drunkenness, and support a very fine fully funded public education system in Washington DC. Maybe the next time my sister goes to Washington they won't be stealing stuff from the tour bus, maybe.

I do want to keep laws against harming life and property, but deciding an ice pick is a more terrible weapon than my fine Randall blade is foolish. Make sure I don't harm anyone, don't worry about rocks, sticks or nuclear weapons. I have handled them all well, and with those haven't harmed a soul. Now where do I get that BAR? They once were owned by real American citizens.

Strange day and staff is appreciated...

This week has Department of Corrections appreciating staff, got a fortune cookie on Tuesday, mine didn't have the big prize but I liked the motivational message and one fortune cookie isn't bad. They honored the staff with food for two days - I stayed with my sandwiches and apples. The new corridor officer in training got my library shut down for an hour, then I had only one inmate worker left and we shut down for the last hour and worked in clean up. The Callout has two inmates coming to start working and that will be very good.

The large Drug bust of the college students must have gotten the Corrections Officers busy, there was a bust of Upper A unit, and after they emptied it and searched, they started selecting, packing out and removing the members of the ring exposed. All afternoon they marched individuals to the F-unit for further investigation and such things authorized by the Justice Department. We have three mail bins of books for F-unit that couldn't be delivered yesterday, we will deliver them today.

After work I stopped and got my Dragon Case for my boot knife, and tested wearing it at home while working and stuff. I like it and it is right to hand, although I am sure I will use my Leatherman Wave more often than the boot knife at my back. I wore my compact pistol the other day and was impressed with how little I noticed it. Which is where one should always hope to be, the state of mind that isn't minding. Just be aware of what is happening and your portion of the World's events - may it always be very small and happily contented.

Good Help hard to find, or I am a harsh taskmaster

Of the last four inmate workers I have hired, only one remains. The very educated and well read and very eloquent man decided that I had shorted him for two months on his hours and that he couldn't physically do the work since he had some joint problems he needed medical help for. One decided that he could steal, felt guilty and confessed, returned what he had stolen and is now in "the HOLE" for something else. The last one of the missing three is on room restriction (stays in room except for meals and work) and decided that he didn't need to come to work yesterday. So just two inmate clerks and I manned the library and circulated an extra hundred items during the afternoon above what four of them and I had done the day before.

Until I have truly two terminations I cannot hire two new workers, so we will struggle along but will be open and circulating and answering questions. I wonder if employment is so fragile on the outside, is it a constant hiring process - when I think of work I think that the manager at the local grocery, the clerk at checkout have been there forever, but then a whole group of supporting workers seem to be in constant flux. We did go to drop off hot trash and dirty rags, picking up a bundle of clean rags and dust mop heads. The inmates that frequent the library love to call to us and say hello from where they are working as we pass by; everyone strives to be noticed, feel friendly and be seen at 'their' work. The leather hobby guy brought my belt back and the Dragon design he had made for me - very nice work. Since it was a custom job he learned many things while he created it twice to get it right. Some of the inmates take real pride in what they do well. One of the older workers long ago told me that he could get a crew to clean out my home in less than two hours - just get them off the island - they would take care of the truck and such as they did the job. Not really well rehabilitated, but proud of their work skills in criminal enterprise... he is still a great worker, just not in the library now.

Wondering about the end of Summer?

the first work week in April is done and I can see June is almost over and only half a year to go... for those folks in the frozen and wet north and east, there is a chance that Winter will wind down and go far away... to bother the other hemisphere or somewhere else. The rains seemed to let up and by Wednesday I was ready to ride out on my motorcycle, I have been spotting soaring and dropping Bald Eagles and their power and freedom make me envious. Can't fly outside my dreams but I can ride that Triumph. So on Wednesday and Thursday I rode to work and froze my fingertips and fogged my face shield, still I was swooping and soaring and making my heart beat faster, or beat happily. On the afternoon trips home the Sun was breaking out and the
'only good weather' riders were joining the frollic on the roadways, flashing that inverted V with their clutch hand - I will never know what it means, just that I am not alone in my fun. That works for me. Friday, a sixty percent chance of rain, the morning temperature was above fifty and no rain. I figure that God loves me, I rode the motorcycle and walked to the dock without rain, and on the trip home the heavy black rolling clouds must have had orders not to do it on my parade - for they didn't and my roadway was dry and I was cranking out some power and pushing my envelope to minor rapture... Home in time to see my wife and smile and talk with her before she goes off to a church group meeting. She will be back.

At the Library we started the week with the last day of the previous month, which means reports and data to compile. I lose an inmate clerk on Monday because he took out his anger on another inmate in the Unit, a chapel porter, and rumor has it he got the first punch in, but after the table turned over and they got on the floor without room to move around the porter cleaned up on him. Prison humor, sorry. They both ended up in F unit Seg, and by Wednesday I had picked some thick Historic novels for his reading, twenty-three hours alone is twenty-two too much for one's mind. I can't start the hiring process until his hearing and the judgement is given. His chances of staying in Minimum Custody and on McNeil Island are very slim. I did the inmate clerk payroll on Tuesday and turned it in, everyone will get something for their best efforts last month, less than forty-five dollars and more than thirty.

Three inmate clerks mean that we barely kept ahead of the patrons, and seem to have lost control of at least four items, don't know if they were improperly checked out, but they aren't where they should be. I suspect I have a frazzled circulation clerk that isn't looking at the computer screen because he has too much going on and there are more big ugly guys waiting for his attention. It is important to check that screen, we are about to receive sixty-one CDs and they will be hot items. The first CD we had was gone in about thirty minutes and no one let on that it had arrived. Our audit by the Corrections Oversight team was published and I made sure that my supervisors had a copy to feel very good about, I printed a copy for my historical record. I am identified as Earl Dungey Librarian (which I am not, but Library Keeper is too special for publication).

On Thursday my supervisor visited and was distracted by the amount of Reference material behind the circulation counter, so she weeded, and I ordered up to date replacements, withdrew old and ugly stuff, and discussed future purchases. I have less that six hundred dollars to spend and three hundred of it is in the current book cart with Baker and Taylor. She also approved my last book cart and it will go through Acquisitions. I was thinking as I wandered the library looking at books, that our Westerns are worn and weak, they just don't write enough of them any longer - well, the traditional ones - cowboy or gunslinger rides horse saves ladies in distress and then rides off.. we seem to have too many of the "urgently romantic" men without honor on the shelves now. What I would love to see is somebody donating Leatherbound Louis Lamour and Zane Grey to our shelves. I am sure someone out there bought them and has out lived them. I do live in a fantasy world, don't I?

Once upon a time,

There was a gang in my neighborhood, two boys and a wild young girl, they ruled our street and made life rough in the bedroom community. They threw the fallen apples at each other and didn't care that they bounced onto the golf course green-like lawn of the family across the street. That family was upset and wanted the sherriff deputy from down the street to do something about it, and he just wanted to come home and sleep - he worked with real criminals all day. I thought the family was a bit extreme for both being school teachers but maybe they had enough tiny terrors in their lives, too. Well, I went out and met the hooligans one day and took some grocery bags and suggested, like it was a game, that they pick up all the busted and tossed apples from the yards where they had thrown them. They did, and the street was cleaner and they could ride their wheels up and down again. I suspected the two boys were foster care, they had lots of toys to play with and little adult supervision, the girl was from "renters", probably subsidized by the state. Not bad kids but looking for adventure and some guidance. They asked me to play catch, and I noticed that Brady (the only name I ever got for any of them) never had shoes that fit, or half the time he had them on the wrong feet. I worked with him on that. He would go back home and get different shoes and on the right feet. We would play catch with a Nerf football or tennis balls. He would knock on my door and ask if I would play, and I would go out and play catch for awhile until he and his brother would be called to supper.

They all moved away, about six months later, that is what happens to the renters' homes and families. More children have come and gone, but they aren't worrying the streets, they are safe in their television or video game world. The apples fall from the tree and no one throws them around anymore, and there aren't big battery powered toy cars parked just off the street where the gang of three left them.

True Crimes

Well, I had a patron with a problem today, and I am kind of a problem solver. He wanted to know how he could have asked for a music CD on ILL, since he hadn't done that and he wanted to stop it from happening in the future. So I told him that I would put his account on restriction and when he really wanted library materials all he had to do was see me and I could fix it for him.

I asked him how it felt to be a victim of ID theft. Our policy is only one ILL per patron active at any time, and they (the criminal master minds) figure out that putting the request in another's name will be okay. Then when the material arrives they ask for it and get it - if my clerks are corrupt or not checking the patron name against the ID they just scanned.

I could recommend to the Institutional Library Leadership (bosses by any other name) that we first scan the patron ID (to check name against ILL request and for the patron having no ILLs) but that would be one step closer to slowing the whole system to a crashing stop.

Corrections Centers don't stop the criminal conduct; just its rewards, we are in a completely no smoking facility and the inmates will tell you that only the cost of tobacco has changed. And I would say the open display of foolish behavior over tobacco - but that is just my observation.