Should people have to be quiet in libraries?

[swilphil]

I'm taking classes to become a librarian and have been asking myself this question. I am interested in being a librarian in one of the schools where I used to teach. The rumor is that the students are allowed to get a little wild in there. When I taught there, the librarians were very strict and it was totally quiet. You know why? There were hardly ever any students in it. I guess there is a happy medium where there is active learning going on but not a party atmosphere.

As far as public libraries go, it should be quiet though I'd cut a little slack in the kids' area. I took my 3 year old to story time and many of the children were playing with the library toys afterwards. They have dinosaurs and several of the kids were making dinosaur noises. Fortunately the children's section is on the bottom floor away from the adult section. When the kids clean up the toys, they can get a sticker. We always clean up even if we didn't make a mess.

Totally unrelated, but at story time the librarian showed a film strip of a book. Is this normal? If I wanted my kid to watch something like that, we could just stay home and watch Sesame Street.

 

[disykat]

I agree that quiet should be encouraged. Noise that goes along with read alouds and programs is great, but running around or rough housing should be kept for a different time. I have no problem with normal voices either. It's when people get really loud that I wonder what they're thinking - because obviously people are trying to read and study. It's rude.

 

[mom2boys]

Our library is horrible about noise. First of all the building is just one large room which the library outgrew years ago. There are not separate areas. The noise is disturbing. The worst offenders are actually the LIBRARIANS so I have no one to complain to.

 

[pfishgirl]

I also believe that the Library should be quiet... However, in the children's department we expect it to be a little noisier.. Sooo in our local library the upstairs is reserved ONLY for adults and is labeled the Quiet Section..

 

[DisneyVillain]

Our libraries all have quiet rooms, but the main areas are not that loud. The children's areas tend to be louder, but not too bad.

 

[newholidayx2]

We have an Early Learning Center in our childrens room which basically means a playroom! The children's room is NEVER quiet!
It is on a separate floor above the adults
No our library is definately not the same as the ones we grew up with.

 

[Marseeya]

I don't think the children's section should be like a tomb, but it's not unreasonable to expect kids to speak in hushed tones. Overall, I think libraries should be very quiet. There should be some places in life where you can expect some peace and quiet when you go there.

 

[Cindy B]

Libraries are not quiet anymore, at least the ones I have come across. Back in MO they had a library with a dessert & coffee shop with it. Kinda nice actually.

My local brand new library has a coffee shop/dessert shop in it too. Its not "tomblike" quiet either. There is definete conversation spots like the leather chairs near the fireplace, or the entire kids area (which is a separate floor from the other sections). Some teens who are too big for the kids area tend to talk a bit in the computer section or the section where computers are loaded with Itunes.

I don't mind it.

 

[Cindy B]

I guess it depends. Like at our library useual there is no one in our kids section. But we have a SECURITY GUARD ?!?! Yes thats right. That makes sure your quiet.

Our county library has a security guard as well. A while ago, a girl was molested in a library in Philadelphia. Since that time, many of the major libraries have stepped up security measures.

 

[meandtheguys2]

LOL, the librarian at our library complimented the girls on their good "library voices" this weekend and Remy said, "We aren't allowed to talk loud in church, the library and Borders." Ahh, I have trained them well.

That is perfect!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I just want to say I love the library and will go just to read magazines. I can go thru the latest cooking, gardening and others for free.

My brother is an avid movie renter.

 

[Rachie0507]

I was just wondering about this topic. My DD's Girl Scout troop meets in the storytime room off of the Children's room at our local library. Last night when we got there, DD and I sat down and read a book while waiting for the meeting to begin. The other girls chased each other around and screamed and NO ONE said anything!! I felt like a meany for not letting DD play at that point. But we go to the library several times a week and she has very good library manners and I didn't want to throw that out the window! I get the impression though that some of these girls have never been to the library before. The moms seem to be in pain having to stand and wait for the girls when there is plenty of other things to be doing in the library!

My opinion-the children's room is meant for kids and a little noise is okay. But it is a good time to start teaching about library voices and what is appropriate behavior in the library. As for the adult section, noise should be at a minimum. If my kids are with me when I'm getting my own books, I encourage them to not talk at all. Just my opinion.

 

[DoeWDW]

There's nothing better than a quiet library with a cushy chair for reading.....aaaahhhhh.

With that said, I don't mind people talking who are making a reasonable effort to speak quietly.

In the kids' section I'd expect to hear more noise and more kids up and moving around.

I want the library to be a welcoming place but I do not appreciate tons of noise. I like the idea of a designated quiet area with signs to make people aware that they are expected to be quiet.

 

[harleyquinn]

Lots to respond to!

I would never show a filmstrip of a book for younger children, but there are movies for older children where the author reads the book, and there are discussions attached to it. i know some librarians are uncomfortable reading out loud, maybe it wasn't the regular librarian.

As for loud staff members, we have that problem too. Most libraries have discreet comment forms that you can fill out to say that staff is too loud. We all have to be reminded where we work once in a while, unfortunatly.

No tomblike libraries for me. Someone said that their school library used to be so quiet cuz no one used it, I think the same is true for public libraries. As I said before, with the inclusion of computers in public libraries everything changed. We are WAY busier, and therefore louder. Which is a good thing (the busier part) except that the government keeps trying to take away all our money!

As for talking about this in a staff meeting, I know what I'll be told. I have to handle things on case-by-case basis. If someone is bothering another patron, I can say things. And for the children's section I have more leeway as I'm teaching them about library etiquette. i know what to do most of the time, but I wanted my DIS friends to share their opinion.

 

[NMAmy]

My community library is small and part of a larger network of libraries that service a larger city and several smaller communities. It's more of a gathering place--it's rather open (including the children's section), book discussions are held there, there are computers with internet access, and children's programs held throughout the day so it's not a quiet place but I love it. Since there aren't a huge amount of reference materials (you need to order them which you can do online along with regular books/videos/etc.) it's not really a place to study and read--it's more of a place to pick up your items and see your neighbors and take advantage of special events. The focus of the library has changed to meet the needs of the community which is an excellent thing, IMO. I really enjoy it. So, talking in my library is really encouraged.

I do work at a college and the library here is more traditional--mainly because students and faculty are studying and preparing materials. I don't talk much in that library because it's more of what dd calls a "working library."

 

[lovetheparks]

Absolutely. That rule should never change.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i think libraries should always be quiet! it's sooo annoying to have a few people ruin it for all! MY dd is starting to get veeerrrryyy vocal and we have picked up our things and left just because of this...if only more people would do the same