For the debut of Broken Resolutions, I wrote a ton of blog tour posts. The first one goes live today. Here’s a peek at it. And it includes a giveaway!

[NOTE: The American Library Association denied the very existence of this guide—written by the famed and mysterious Librarian X—for years. In a daring caper, however, I managed to steal a copy from a sealed vault in the Library of Congress, shortly before Nicolas Cage came in through the air vent. You’re welcome. —Olivia Dade, former librarian and author of Broken Resolutions]

So you’ve spied a single, attractive patron in the stacks of your library or in front of your circulation/reference desk, and you think the two of you would make a perfect couple. Congratulations! Some librarians go their entire working lives without experiencing true love at the library. Librarians like me, for example. But I’m not bitter at all!

Anyway, you should immediately begin to activate Protocol 613.9. Please follow the steps below.

1. Ask yourself the following questions: Are you asleep? Or hallucinating? Have you taken any new medicines or eaten any mushrooms of dubious provenance? Because honestly, hot patrons aren’t exactly thick on the ground in public libraries. I would know.

In the unlikely event you answered “no” to all those questions, please proceed to step 2.

2. Observe the people around your hot patron. Could any of them be his/her spouse? Yes, I know you said the patron was single, but that just seems so unlikely, I wanted to make absolutely certain—

Okay, fine. Let’s move on to step 3.

3. If you’re completely, one hundred percent, willing-to-bet-your-mother’s-life-on-it sure that you’re awake, in your right mind, and observing an attractive, single patron in your library, it’s time for you to make your first approach. Since the patron may still prove to be unpleasant, smelly, and/or unacceptable in some other way, start with a neutral question, such as “May I help you?”

Under no circumstances should you begin by asking the patron to elope with you in Vegas. How do I know that? Um…no reason. That’s just the natural response some people have to cute patrons. Not me, of course. But some people. Definitely.

4. If your patron refuses your help, be sure to ask a polite follow-up question. Something like “Are you certain I can’t help you find a special book?” Examples of inappropriate follow-up questions/remarks: “Can I sniff you? Because you look like you smell really good.” Or “If that book you’re holding is really a collection of Walt Whitman’s poetry, as I suspect it is, I’m going to have to insist that you come home with me.” Because those follow-up questions/remarks can earn you a very uncomfortable trip to your library director’s office. I hear.

But if your patron accepts your offer of help, give him/her your complete and undivided attention. Smile. Move in closer. If other patrons or your coworkers attempt to interrupt this miraculous moment, ignore them. If the fire alarm goes off, tell your patron it happens all the time, and the way library staff deals with it is by cuddling on the breakroom couch with whoever happens to be closest. Wink at the patron. If there’s no response, wink again. More slowly.

Wait. Disregard the bit about the fire alarm. I think that was actually a dream I had last week.

5. Once you’ve completed your patron’s task, offer to demonstrate how the self-checkout machine works. At this point, you will be tempted to make a joke about checking him/her out too. I am certain about this. How? I just…am. Trust me.

My point: Don’t tell the checking-out joke, despite its alluring use of a pun. Again, we don’t need to get into the details of why I know that.

Show your patron every single function on the self-checkout machine. Several times. Even if a rapidly growing line begins to form behind you. After all, you’re simply providing superior customer service to the library’s valued patrons. And the most valued patrons of all: the cute ones.

Special note: During conversations with your supervisor, do not discuss how service levels occasionally differ based on patron cuteness.

6. After your patron has checked out all desired library materials, offer to help carry them to his/her vehicle. You should follow this advice even if the only item you checked out together was a single paperback.

At this point, you can evaluate the likelihood of continued contact with this patron outside of the library setting. Ask yourself the following questions: Does he/she seem interested? Did your patron’s fingers brush yours meaningfully as you carried that single paperback together? Did he/she ask for your name, personal phone number, or other identifying information?

I should add that if the identifying information your patron requests is your social security number, credit card number, or the name of your supervisor, you’re probably going to want to proceed with a certain amount of caution.

Otherwise, however, congratulations! You have successfully flirted with a cute patron at the public library, you lucky son of a b—

I mean, you fortunate professional.

7. At this point, you should definitely contact whoever is in charge of the library newsletter, or possibly representatives from your local newspapers and TV stations. Because—

Hold on a moment. I forgot one last step.

8. Before your first date, Google your patron’s name to see if any interesting tidbits pop up. No, I’ll wait.

…

Oh, so sad. Your patron did what? No, I’m not laughing gleefully. Why would I do that? What kind of librarian do you think I am?

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[NOTE: Successful librarian encounters with attractive patrons do exist, if only in fictional form. Broken Resolutions, for example, is one such story. But now I need to take this document and conceal it from Nicolas Cage once again, as he appears to be tunneling underneath the floors of my secret library hiding place. Godspeed, gentle readers! —Olivia Dade]

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