Chapter 27 — Second Floor Library Girl

The final day of counting had no cameras, no guests, just dirty hands and a list so long that Bao suspected the school was deliberately testing people's hearts.

Ms. Hanh asked the group to inventory all books before the council made a decision. They must know how many books are in use, which books need fixing, which books are missing, and which books should not be placed on high floors.

Jade divides the area. Phuc checks the shelf, Lam checks the category, Minh Chau enters the number, Bao puts on a temporary label. Hoang Duy and his 10th graders helped deliver books.

“I want the book part to have cake,” Bao said.

“There is no such thing,” Lam replied.

“I will create.”

Ngoc gave him a stack of white labels. “Create in another board.”

They work from eight o'clock in the morning. Each book has its code read, its spine checked, and its location and condition are recorded. Some books are older than a 10th grader's age but the paper is still good. Some new books were torn because they were stuffed into backpacks.

Phuc immediately repaired books with loose spines. The molds were removed from the room. Ngoc didn't want to give up, but Ms. Hanh said it was safe first.

“You can clean it and keep a copy,” Ngoc said.

“If there are resources,” Ms. Hanh replied. “Don't promise when you don't have one.”

Ngoc wrote that down in the notebook.

At noon, a 10th grade student found a book with Ms. Mai's name on the donation page. I asked if it should be put in the historical cabinet. Ngoc said she needed to ask Ms. Hanh and determine if the book could be used.

Phuc looked at the spine of the book. “You can leave it on an open shelf and take notes.”

“What if the giver doesn't want to display it?” Lam asked.

“We don't know.”

Ngoc wrote "waiting for verification". A book can be an object, but also a memory of the giver.

In the afternoon, they discovered a shelf in the back containing thirteen books that were not on the list. They are all books contributed by former students. Some books have messages, some have no names.

Bao picked up the thin book and read: "If you see this book, sit down before deciding you don't like it."

“The author seems to know how stubborn the reader is,” he said.

Ngoc placed the scroll on a low shelf. “So let more people see.”

Hoang Duy checked another compartment and said he could put away books that few people borrowed. Phuc asked how much "little" was. Duy spoke less than three times a year.

Ngoc objected: "There's a book that no one has borrowed because they don't know it exists."

Duy replied: "You can't keep everything just because someone might need it."

Phuc stood between the two people. “We need data on book age, condition and searchability. Not just number of loans.”

Duy nodded. “Okay. I will add criteria.”

Ngoc realized that the debate had changed. No one just says “keep” or “leave”; they ask for conditions to decide.

At the end of the day, the whole group was tired. Bao sat between two boxes of books, his hands covered in glue.

“If the library closes, I will miss the labeling,” he said.

“You can put the label somewhere else,” Lam replied.

“Nowhere are there as many people arguing about genre as here.”

“So you miss everyone.”

Bao pretended not to hear.

Phuc brought four small loaves of bread and asked his grandmother to send them. Ngoc asked if it was included in the budget. Phuc said this is family food, not sponsored.

“I will pay.”

“You can pay by not leaving crumbs on books.”

"Agree."

They eat in the hallway. Ngoc is no longer afraid to sit on the stairs, but still doesn't know how to keep the wrapping paper from blowing in the wind. Phuc gave her a clip.

“How many did you make?”

“Enough so that people don't lose paper.”

“Aren't you going to charge a fee?”

"I did count. The fee is that you have to ask before using my things.”

“I already asked.”

“You just asked after holding it.”

Ngoc put down the clamp. “Let's do it again.”

Phuc looked at her, then pushed the clamp towards her. “Use it.”

The inventory day lasted until the next day. They did not reach a perfect number because some of the old codes could not be read, but created a list of 1,284 books, 47 books needed repair, 19 books needed safe disposal and 13 books were waiting for source verification. Bao said 1,284 is a number that can be made into a poster.

Ngoc said the data is only meaningful if there is a way to update it. They create an inventory schedule each semester, delegating authority to the student library council.

Phuc sent instructions to the new group. He wrote clearly every step, including common errors. Hoang Duy said the first time he saw a project handed over before he knew if he could keep it.

“Handover is a way to not let the team's efforts die together,” Ngoc said.

Duy looked at her and said that was a sentence worth hanging on the board. Ngoc said not to hang it, just write it in the book.

That evening, Ngoc called her father to ask about the voting results. He said there is not yet, but an intermediate plan is being actively considered. She asked if he was not selected, would he continue to support her?

“If the school chooses another option, An Nhien will respect it. Dad can still assist with the appropriate parts through the process.”

“Are you telling the truth?”

“Father signed the document.”

Ngoc knows a signature doesn't guarantee everything, but it creates points for others to check.

She opened the notebook and saw a new sentence on the last page: "Don't be afraid to take stock. If you know what you have, you will know what to protect."

Ngoc didn't know who wrote it, but this time she didn't try to guess. She just left that sentence where it was, next to the numbers and incomplete names.

The next inventory day, the group invited students who had never been to the library to try to find books. It took one person ten minutes to find the literature shelf because the code was too small. Another friend didn't know where the card was. Hoang Duy recorded every step they stopped, without explaining immediately.

“Where do you find it difficult?” Ngoc asked.

“You ask before giving directions,” one friend said. “I like that.”

Ngoc understands that sometimes users need to be allowed trial and error before being saved. She revised the signage, increased the font size and added color but did not use too many symbols.

Phuc called from the program, listened to the report, and said that the system for finding books is like repairing a car: if the user doesn't know which hand to press the brake, the instructions should be clearer.

“Are you comparing libraries to bicycles?”

“I just have that example.”

“Then keep it.”

Bao proposed hanging an old bicycle as a road sign. Ms. Hanh refused because it would take up the aisle. Complains that the library lacks art. Lam said art should not cause stumbling.

At the end of the day, the group completes the provisional list. None of the books disappeared, but three were in the teacher's locker because they were borrowed for class. Ngoc recorded it without assigning responsibility. Ms. Hanh reminded everyone that the inventory is not to find people who are wrong; it's about finding what needs fixing.

Ngoc wrote that sentence right at the beginning of the instructions. Phuc sent a nod symbol, then reminded her to drink water.

To prepare for all options, the group tried opening a reading corner on the first floor for three days. This corner is noisier, near the staff room and only has twelve seats. Ngoc distributed questionnaires after each shift, not asking whether users liked it or not, but asking them what problems they encountered.

A person using a wheelchair couldn't get in because the next path was covered with cardboard boxes. Ngoc immediately moved the box, but she said she could only move it today enough. Walkways need to be marked and checked by someone every shift. Phuc took colored tape to tape the border, Bao added it to the handover list. Ms. Hanh asked the school to put up a permanent reminder sign.

Another friend said the light on the first floor made his eyes tired. Minh Chau suggested changing the table position, while Ngoc found an old light bulb to test the color temperature. They don't immediately buy expensive equipment; They tried for two days, asked users before deciding. Phuc laughed that she was turning changing light bulbs into a research project. Ngoc said that if the change is wrong, the person who will suffer is the one sitting under the lamp.

The group also created a book transfer list if the second floor was temporarily closed. Each box has a code, area, quantity and checker. Perishable books are placed separately. Ms. Hanh asked who would be responsible for the return. Bao accepted this part but requested that someone independently compare it. Ngoc saw that he stopped joking every time he heard the word "process".

In the afternoon, a teacher suggested using the second floor as a test room for two weeks. The idea made the group worried, but no one reacted immediately. Ngoc asked for the schedule, the number of hours needed and compensation plans. Ms. Mai proposed opening the reading room earlier on the first floor one of those days. Phuc said if you have to close a part, notify them in advance so users don't come and then turn back.

Ngoc wrote a short notice, used large letters and posted it at the gate. Below is Ms. Hanh's phone number, not the student's personal number. When someone asked, the group answered with the same information. A small change but it completely reduces rumors.

At the end of the shift, Phuc asked her if she was tired. Ngoc said yes, but being tired from work is different from being tired from guessing what other people are thinking. He nodded, saying it was a sign she was doing the right kind of difficult work.

Ngoc wrote that sentence in the summary, but changed the word "correct" to "necessary". Doing one thing right doesn't mean everything behind it will be easy. She wanted the team to remember that operator fatigue, user inconvenience, and small errors all needed to be seen.

When she left school, she discovered that she had forgotten to answer a friend who asked about exam preparation books. Ngoc returned, found the book and texted the time when she could pick it up. She thanked me, then asked what to do if I didn't have it next time. Ngoc points to the book recommendation board and asks you to write down the name of the book you're looking for. A well-placed question will save others from having to wait for just one person.