Library vent!

[RitaZ.]

Ok, so I decided to go to the library to study. My kids are on Spring Break and I figured I'd get more studying accomplished at the library.

This library is 5 minutes away from my house, which is better than driving 30 minutes to school. I got there and decided to sign up for a private study room. I got one right away and set up my things. I began to study, but I couldn't concentrate because of all the noise and screams (no exaggeration) coming from the first floor. Some parents use the library as their kids' personal playground, but I won't go there today. Anyway, the private study rooms are on the second floor next to the atrium, so all the noises from the first floor are magnified and carry to the second floor. I gathered my things and decided to move to the opposite side of the second floor, which is the quiet area and has individual desks and tables.

Let me start by saying that in this quiet area there are signs, all over the place in big letters, letting patrons know that cell phone use isn't allowed and to set them to vibrate. Ok, so I finally began to study, all was well. Sometime into my second hour of studying, I hear this guy talking loudly on his cell phone as he was walking toward my area. He was looking for a book on one of the shelves. He was loud and the voice of the guy that he was talking to could also be heard. At first, I figured that it would only last a few seconds and he'd quit. Well, evidently, the rules don't apply to Mr. Bozo! I finally turned to him, he was about 4 ft. from where I was sitting, and asked him to please keep it down. He either didn't hear me or was ignoring me; so I said it louder. He finally turns to me and looks at me like I have 2 heads. He proceeds to tell me that he has only been on the phone for a few seconds. I asked him if he missed the signs on cell phone etiquette for the study area. He goes on about how he is only having a brief conversation. I told him that some of us are trying to study. Again, he says that it's only a brief conversation. So, I told him that he is only thinking of himself. What does he say to me? "Ma'am, you're being inconsiderate." How dare I interrupt his very loud cell phone conversation in the quiet study area! Since I didn't want to become the disruptive one, I turned away from him and went back to my studying. That's when Mr. Bozo finally told the person that he was talking to that he'd have to call him back. BTW, this guy was older than me, probably in his mid to late 40's.

I'm so sick of rude people that think the rules don't apply to them!!!!!!!!!

On the way out, I talked to one of the library employees about what happened. She said that if it happens again to come and get one of them to take care of the problem.

I just had to get that out. Thanks!!!

 

[Disneyland1084]

I can't believe libraries nowadays. When I was a kid you never spoke a word in one. I'm 27 now, but when I was in college some years ago there would ALWAYS be chit chat in the library when I wanted to get work now. It was annoying, so I know how you feel.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm afraid quiet libraries are a thing of the past.

There was a story on the news a year or two ago about how parents are using libraries as daycares for their young kids. Apparently they'll drop the kids off at 8am and leave them there all day until 5 because they feel it's a safe place and that librarians will have to look out for any kids hanging out in there. Needless to say, the librarians were displeased!!

 

[RitaZ.]

I'm afraid quiet libraries are a thing of the past.

Unfortunately, I think you're right.

I usually study at home when the kids are in school and I get a lot accomplished. I figured it would be better at the library since my kids are home this week. It's actually quieter here than it was there.

 

[lyzziesmom]

Just send the kids outside for a while, I think it would be much quieter than that library!

BTW RitaZ. (and this is very OT): does the "C.S., FL" in your location happen to stand for Coral Springs? I lived there for 15 years, until I moved to KS in 2001. Sometimes I miss it - like today, when the weather jumped from 80 on Monday to 43 today.

 

[RitaZ.]

BTW RitaZ. (and this is very OT): does the "C.S., FL" in your location happen to stand for Coral Springs?

Yes, it does. The library is where the old mall used to be, on the S.E. corner of Sample Rd. and University Dr. We've lived here since 1996.

 

[DAISY DUCK FAN!]

Sadly, I agree.

The thing that gets me at our local library is there are computers that are specifically designated to use for looking things up in the library, to see what is available, checked in or out and the status of your account.

There are signs clearly posted right next to and/or above them. But NO! People decided to use them for the Internet.

Now, understand, there are a lot of computers in the library for Internet use. I know, I've used them.

And I've seen the Internet computers empty while they tie up the other ones.

I guess they are to lazy to take their library cards out and log on.

Very frustrating!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Quiet libraries do NOT exist anymore. However, I still love to go. All those books and mags to peruse....

 

[gina2000]

My library is still relatively quiet. Certainly quiet enough to study or read in with little or no interruption.

Many towns don't have aftercare for middle school students so they congregate at the library and wait for their parents to pick them up. It creates a noisy, disruptive atmosphere for the patrons. Unfortunately, these kids can be there by themselves so there's little that can be done except to bar them if and when they become loud.

 

[angel_bright05]

I'm afraid quiet libraries are a thing of the past.

ITA. My niece is a college student and goes to the library to study. She said there are signs EVERYWHERE including little ones on the desks that say "Quiet Study Area". Phones are constantly ringing, and even when they're on vibrate, the vibrating sound on the desk is annoying. Then people continue on with conversations. She ended up coming over to our house one night to study (while my boys were out and she's got brothers so her house isn't quiet!) because she couldn't get anything done at the library. IMO, the first time a person's cell phone goes off they should be kicked out. I'm sorry but if you're in a library, especially a college library, it's probably because you're studying. Shut up or get out!!

 

[RitaZ.]

Like it or not, there are universal rules that we must follow in order to live in a civilized manner. I mean, if you haven't learned that by the time you're 40, then it's probably a lost cause. If we accept rude behavior, then it becomes the norm.

This moron that I encountered today really believed that he was right, the rules didn't matter to him. It was his own personal desires over everyone and everything else.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

The library around the block is always quiet.

I'm sorry to hear about your experiance.

 

[suzimar57]

i work in a library and yes, the cel phone use is awful

plus with all the storytimes, knitting groups,computer gamers, books sales and in-house events, it sounds like a lively daycare center.....

it's no longer quiet in the library

(oh - and no one has heard of a garbage pail - we find starbucks cups and dunkin donut bags all over the place...)

 

[Pigeon]

I work in a university library. I loathe cell phones. We routinely have to call security on the people who will not follow our cell phone policy.

My favorite are the people who come up to the reference desk to ask a question, and will answer their cell phones while I'm trying to give them an answer.

 

[harleyquinn]

I'm a public children's librarian and I can't emphasise this enough: If you have a problem COMPLAIN to a manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You don't have to complain about a specific person, just the situation. Get everyone in your town that you know to complain too!

I hate cell phones in the library as much as all of you, but if no one says anything, my director will not make a rule to not let them be used. All of us librarians HATE them.

If you care about your library and want areas of quiet, then for heaven's sake SAY something. Staff is constantly told by administration that if the patrons don't complain, then we won't change anything.

As for the babysitting service, I won't stand for it, but I know plenty of other librarians that put up with it. I will wait for the child (7 and under) to be picked up and then explain to the parent that we have 5 sexual preditors living in the area and 3 of them have library cards.

There is good news though. We're still free and many of us staff totally agree with you!!

A lot of new libraries are being built with loud and quiet floors. I think they are wonderfull!!!

 

[FutureMrsC]

I'm afraid quiet libraries are a thing of the past.

There was a story on the news a year or two ago about how parents are using libraries as daycares for their young kids. Apparently they'll drop the kids off at 8am and leave them there all day until 5 because they feel it's a safe place and that librarians will have to look out for any kids hanging out in there. Needless to say, the librarians were displeased!!

As a fellow Atlantan, you certainly seem like you're talking about the library I USED to work at. I can't remember how many times I had to talk to people about being on a cell phone in the quiet sections... and getting the "2 headed" looks... I also will never forget the time that someone left their baby (6-9 Mos old...) sitting in their carseat/carrier thing (can you tell I don't have kids yet? ) on the table! I stood around with it until the "owner" (I don't even know if they'd qualify as parents) came back for her 20 minutes later... She hadn't left the libary, but still... ugh... I couldn't ever do that to anyone.

Sorry for the hijacking... but libraries ARE strange places now.

 

[jonestavern]

Not about librairies, but kind of close.
I work at an historic house museum, we give tours, which are, as you know, supposed to be well ordered.
Our museum is owned by the state, but administered & staffed by a local group. If any patron becomes obnoxious (incredibly, it has happened--I mean come in drunk or stoned or refusing to stop taking or making cell phone calls!) and if we ask them to leave, the manager asking them to please leave can be personnally sued for violating their civil rights!

So if your tour is disrupted, loud etc we are really putting our reputations, financial futures in jeopardy by asking repeatedly rude & thoughtless (or worse) types to leave.

At least our libraries are reasonably quiet

Jean

 

[RitaZ.]

You don't have to complain about a specific person, just the situation.

I plan to write a letter to the librarian. Today's incident wasn't the first. I've accepted the fact that if I want to study in a quiet place, this library isn't the place.

On a positive note, the teens that I saw there were well behaved. Can't say the same for Mr. Bozo.

 

[wdwcindy]

I used to love going to the library. I love to read and before I could afford to buy books I spent many hours selecting the perfect books to check out of my local, small, township library.

Not anymore. If there are books I want from the library I ask my cousin (a librarian) to get the books for me. She works in the childrens section of a large city library and a lot of parents think the librarians are babysitters. They have had to call the police to escort rowdy kids out.

wdwcindy

 

[bookgirl]

I'm a librarian in a public library. We do not promise quiet anywhere but the quiet reading room, however we do have signs for cell phones to be used in the lobby and I do go up to people who are being more than just conversationally loud or have music on teh computers that I can hear outside of thier headphones. As for children in our policy it states that all children left in the library are NOT our responsibility,,,,we call the cops and report them as abandoned.