Kevin Cowherd wonders Whatever happened to libraries being quiet places?: When I was a kid, the library was so quiet I thought they were going to hand out Communion. Now, anything goes. You have teenagers horsing around while they prep for the SATs. You have toddlers running all over the place like it’s their private indoor track. You have middle-aged people pecking away on computers with their big, fat fingers while shouting: “How do you get to Google?”
- Next Internet TV slow to catch on despite BBC iPlayer: Books Continue To Inspire
- Previous Gaiman On Free Reading
Recent Posts
- E-Books Can Subvert Book Bans, But Corporate Profit-Seeking Stands in the Way March 10, 2024
- Ten Stories That Shaped 2023 December 15, 2023
- War Sows Disruption at the National Book Awards November 16, 2023
- “No one else is saving it”: the fight to protect a historic music collection November 16, 2023
- No, I Don’t Want to Join Your Book Club November 9, 2023
- Iowa election 2023: Pella Public Library retains independence November 9, 2023
- A door at a Swedish library was accidentally left open 446 people came in, borrowed 245 books. Every single one was returned November 9, 2023
Recent Comments
- Examining Arab and Muslim librarians in fiction – Pop Culture Library Review on Librarian Combats Muslim Stereotypes
- St. Paul libraries face moment of reckoning – LISNews – News For Librarians on Secret and mysterious libraries
- Ellie on Just How Gross Are Library Books, Exactly?
- Prodigious1one on The Teaching Librarian Versus The Teacher
- Jason on Ten Stories That Shaped 2019
- centaurea on Libraries using Internet Trust Tools
LISNews Archives
- March 2024 (1)
- December 2023 (1)
- November 2023 (5)
- October 2023 (1)
- September 2023 (1)
- August 2023 (22)
- February 2023 (3)
- January 2023 (20)
- December 2022 (6)
- February 2022 (3)
- December 2021 (1)
- December 2020 (1)
- July 2020 (11)
- June 2020 (11)
- January 2020 (1)
- December 2019 (2)
- November 2019 (4)
- October 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (4)
- April 2019 (3)
- March 2019 (11)
- February 2019 (41)
- January 2019 (31)
- December 2018 (6)
- November 2018 (11)
- October 2018 (15)
- September 2018 (9)
- August 2018 (22)
- July 2018 (1)
- June 2018 (1)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (8)
- March 2018 (5)
- February 2018 (17)
- January 2018 (13)
- December 2017 (8)
- November 2017 (16)
- October 2017 (18)
- September 2017 (11)
- August 2017 (8)
- July 2017 (8)
- June 2017 (21)
- May 2017 (39)
- April 2017 (22)
- March 2017 (15)
- February 2017 (21)
- January 2017 (40)
- December 2016 (20)
- November 2016 (9)
- October 2016 (20)
- September 2016 (48)
- August 2016 (48)
- July 2016 (55)
- June 2016 (61)
- May 2016 (39)
- April 2016 (67)
- March 2016 (81)
- February 2016 (85)
- January 2016 (69)
- December 2015 (90)
- November 2015 (126)
- October 2015 (107)
- September 2015 (85)
- August 2015 (42)
- July 2015 (32)
- June 2015 (35)
- May 2015 (39)
- April 2015 (14)
- March 2015 (60)
- February 2015 (75)
- January 2015 (44)
- December 2014 (30)
- November 2014 (39)
- October 2014 (43)
- September 2014 (30)
- August 2014 (36)
- July 2014 (59)
- June 2014 (46)
- May 2014 (62)
- April 2014 (58)
- March 2014 (52)
- February 2014 (37)
- January 2014 (42)
- December 2013 (41)
- November 2013 (25)
- October 2013 (43)
- September 2013 (28)
- August 2013 (32)
- July 2013 (61)
- June 2013 (51)
- May 2013 (50)
- April 2013 (52)
- March 2013 (68)
- February 2013 (62)
- January 2013 (62)
- December 2012 (53)
- November 2012 (64)
- October 2012 (111)
- September 2012 (109)
- August 2012 (128)
- July 2012 (57)
- June 2012 (75)
- May 2012 (163)
- April 2012 (158)
- March 2012 (109)
- February 2012 (125)
- January 2012 (136)
- December 2011 (109)
- November 2011 (74)
- October 2011 (82)
- September 2011 (95)
- August 2011 (106)
- July 2011 (93)
- June 2011 (102)
- May 2011 (94)
- April 2011 (105)
- March 2011 (100)
- February 2011 (92)
- January 2011 (110)
- December 2010 (124)
- November 2010 (83)
- October 2010 (118)
- September 2010 (115)
- August 2010 (110)
- July 2010 (108)
- June 2010 (113)
- May 2010 (78)
- April 2010 (121)
- March 2010 (191)
- February 2010 (182)
- January 2010 (168)
- December 2009 (129)
- November 2009 (116)
- October 2009 (131)
- September 2009 (149)
- August 2009 (162)
- July 2009 (166)
- June 2009 (189)
- May 2009 (112)
- April 2009 (164)
- March 2009 (185)
- February 2009 (151)
- January 2009 (173)
- December 2008 (200)
- November 2008 (155)
- October 2008 (252)
- September 2008 (267)
- August 2008 (193)
- July 2008 (208)
- June 2008 (161)
- May 2008 (208)
- April 2008 (253)
- March 2008 (201)
- February 2008 (246)
- January 2008 (185)
- December 2007 (200)
- November 2007 (208)
- October 2007 (241)
- September 2007 (227)
- August 2007 (269)
- July 2007 (201)
- June 2007 (205)
- May 2007 (157)
- April 2007 (217)
- March 2007 (250)
- February 2007 (183)
- January 2007 (181)
- December 2006 (163)
- November 2006 (180)
- October 2006 (170)
- September 2006 (215)
- August 2006 (210)
- July 2006 (202)
- June 2006 (257)
- May 2006 (280)
- April 2006 (271)
- March 2006 (347)
- February 2006 (284)
- January 2006 (300)
- December 2005 (267)
- November 2005 (238)
- October 2005 (364)
- September 2005 (349)
- August 2005 (377)
- July 2005 (382)
- June 2005 (403)
- May 2005 (371)
- April 2005 (420)
- March 2005 (367)
- February 2005 (368)
- January 2005 (346)
- December 2004 (311)
- November 2004 (260)
- October 2004 (308)
- September 2004 (228)
- August 2004 (319)
- July 2004 (395)
- June 2004 (338)
- May 2004 (288)
- April 2004 (364)
- March 2004 (348)
- February 2004 (438)
- January 2004 (266)
- December 2003 (222)
- November 2003 (226)
- October 2003 (281)
- September 2003 (317)
- August 2003 (315)
- July 2003 (278)
- June 2003 (282)
- May 2003 (265)
- April 2003 (271)
- March 2003 (249)
- February 2003 (283)
- January 2003 (210)
- December 2002 (186)
- November 2002 (184)
- October 2002 (222)
- September 2002 (210)
- August 2002 (207)
- July 2002 (184)
- June 2002 (166)
- May 2002 (160)
- April 2002 (195)
- March 2002 (183)
- February 2002 (195)
- January 2002 (203)
- December 2001 (203)
- November 2001 (238)
- October 2001 (183)
- September 2001 (153)
- August 2001 (204)
- July 2001 (243)
- June 2001 (176)
- May 2001 (92)
- April 2001 (116)
- March 2001 (153)
- February 2001 (142)
- January 2001 (131)
- December 2000 (110)
- November 2000 (124)
- October 2000 (128)
- September 2000 (132)
- August 2000 (138)
- July 2000 (166)
- June 2000 (135)
- May 2000 (120)
- April 2000 (121)
- March 2000 (181)
- February 2000 (163)
- January 2000 (54)
- November 1999 (37)
Why does it have to be peaceful?!
Several years ago, when in library school, I had a subscription to “Wilson Library Bulletin.” It used to occasionally have a “centerfold” section, one of which I kept and still have. It said (in BIG black letters)….”Talking —- the sound of learning”
Why would anyone expect a library to be a hush-hush place? The rest of the world isn’t!
some libraries still enforce quiet “zones”
previous poster wrote:
“Why would anyone expect a library to be a hush-hush place? The rest of the world isn’t!”
You answered your own rhetorical question: “The rest of the world isn’t [a quiet place]! [which is] Why [you] would…expect [at least] a library to be a hush-hush place!”, i.e. a sanctuary away from the hustle-bustle of the everyday.
The few times I’ve lately been to my local public library, it’s been reasonably quiet inside.
In other public libraries in my parent’s hometown, the children’s section is, as should be expected, quite noisy, while the adult section is agreeably quiet. The computer labs are reasonably quiet except for the incessant mass clackety-clack of typing keys.
Of course, I’m a curmudgeonly cataloger, so in my work environment you can practically hear a pin drop.
And seriously, yes, in my academic library, I accept that talking can also be a sign of collaboration and learning, and that’s fine, it has its place. But we do still stake out a sanctuary for the individual learner seeking quiet peace…our 3rd floor is maintained as a quiet zone, no cellphones, no talking above a whisper. Same is true at the other academic library across town at our other major university here; their 1st floor (where circ and the ref desk is located) is noisy with activity, but 2nd floor and above, Shhhhh. It’s a fair compromise, I think.
Noisy academic libraries.
A few years ago I was in the very unhappy position of being a part time reference librarian at a large, urban community college where the newbie director was too afraid to take a position on noise and library decorum – scared that he might offend either the faculty or the students.
As the night school was very busy with, mainly, older students who came to study before and after class – that was one group that, in my mind, had to be protected.
Protected from who?
Well, that would be the younger night school students and some hangers on from late afternoon day school who were just came to the library to goof around, watch porn, do Myspace, flirt, talk on their cellphones, play video games, etc.
The latter would get very loud as the evening went on and it was my fine job to keep them quiet so the former could do their work.
Timid, political hack director refused to take a stand on anything other than create one tiny room (for 3 people) as a “quiet zone” – the rest of the huge, multi floor library was up for grabs.
I was alone and always the “bad guy” trying to make the big mouths be quiet – as they would get quite loud, hollering, screeching, etc – they hated me.
Then when I would let things slide a little bit (if they weren’t being TOO loud) I would get complaints from the older students – “please DO something about THEM!”
Ugh – glad I quit.
Ironically, “timid man” (who, can you guess, was quite hateful towards his staff) had all manner of signs posted all over the place re: QUIET and NO FOOD OR DRINKS NO OFFENSIVE WEBSITES NO GAME PLAYING NO CELL PHONES
What a joke – that was all the norm rather than the exception.
What a hell hole.
Oh, and he hated “bricks and mortar” libraries, too. It “all” should be on the computer (he came from the IT department.
duh?
Hasn’t this guy ever heard of quiet study rooms?
Honestly, people want everything from their libraries, everything. The antiquated, blanket archetype of the “quiet library” may not be applicable to everyone, depending on the mission of the library and the community they serve. (Especially a public library!)
Quiet Study Rooms
We have an adult quiet study room and some patrons get mad when you tell them that they can go in there to escape the afternoon noise. That is not to say that I don’t let people know when they are too loud but our library is one big room with high ceilings, so when you get enough people talking, even in normal voices, it can be loud.
“Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds”
-Candide by Voltaire