Submitted by perduep on May 12, 2008 - 7:59pm
I have to say that Western's library is THE WORST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO STUDY. I'm appalled by the total lack of library etiquette - talking to friends, talking on the phone, loud headphones, eating chips, more talking, talking when walking through the library, and still more talking.
Please, whoever is reading these comments that can actually do something, something HAS to be done about talking in the library. I spend more time moving away from talkers, or telling talkers to be quiet, than I do studying (or so it seems sometimes). I mean seriously, who sits there and talks on their phone - in full volume - in the LIBRARY?? For Christ's sake!
I also think it's irresponsible of the library staff to have allowed this problem to go on unchecked. I'm in my third year, and it's the one thing that really disappoints me about WWU.
So, thank you for opening up this forum. I'm glad to see others raising this same issue. I recommend the following measures to address the lack of library etiquette at WWU:
1. Convene a task group or designate an individual to draft a new policy for etiquette in Western's library. The policy should isolate three - yes, three - floors of Wilson Library as "No Talking Zones."
2. Run an information campaign about this new policy. University-wide emails, signs at entrances to the three designated floors, and signs at every desk and workstation informing individuals about the No Talking policy. These signs could direct readers to other areas of the library where talking is appropriate.
3. Emphasize etiquette. I think guilty students forget how rude it is to be a distraction in a library.
Thanks WWU! You HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
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no talking!
yes, the library needs to be more quiet. the library is a place to do research, not to work with a group of people on your marketing project.
oh man
what about that big room in wilson? you could have someone sit in there keeping an eye on things if you want.
idea
this might sound cheesy... maybe we could have hall monitor types to "patrol" the quietest areas of the library?
If this doesnt end up happening, ill probably just keep up my routine of leaning out of the desk cubicle and making a pissed off face at the people talking.
yeah
Also I wish that the group study rooms had better soundproofing so that the couches nearby could be used with less distirbance. The windowed walls of most group study rooms only keep small sounds in. Many of those groups are debating or practicing a speech. Also some just laughing and joking around loudly.
cell phone inhibitor
Some libraries (like the Spanish National Library in Madrid) have something like a "cell phone inhibitor", which works great. As soon as you enter the library building, your cell phone does not connect anymore; you are really forced to go outside if you want to talk. It is amazing and protects the real readers against the rude and talkative pseudo-students!
Useless idea
All the super smart and sexy computer science majors would just hack it in a day.
SILENCE PLEASE!!
NO TALKING ZONES POLICY! GREAT IDEA!!!!!
Shhhh!!!
I'm always looking for a quiet spot in the library, and sometimes I find it. Then when I go back another day and there are those people who ruin it. Even in the reserve section of the library there is a room, and posted on the door it says "This is not a group study room" and there have been plenty of times I've tried to go in there and people are doing group projects. Even right now that I'm typing this post I'm in a computer lab and people are having full length LOUD conversations and it's so irritating. I think something needs to be done!
Still searching for a quiet place...
To add my two cents to the pot, I am also appalled by the complete lack of consideration that seems prevalent throughout the library. I am an English Literature major, and as such, I have an urgent need for a quiet refuge where I can focus to get through hundreds of pages in one sitting. My roommates are always playing video-games, and the walls in my townhouse are paper thin, so I've always had to look elsewhere. I used to go to 4 Central and camp out, reading for hours on end - this was heaven. No one said anything. Cell phones were off, and people tried their best not to shuffle about. Since it's been closed for renovations, I have yet to find a consistently quiet place anywhere in this sprawling complex. Seriously. It makes me a little nuts. People answer their phones in computer labs, and talk loudly in groups when others are trying very hard to stay motivated and focused. They don't even whisper any more. I'm normally against zealous regulations, but this is ridiculous. Why would you come to the library if not to focus and, ya know, maybe try to read something? Often I get so frustrated moving from place to place when people will not stop yakking that I simply have to leave and abandon my studies. This is a school people. Please let me use it.
The Search Continues
I have also been on the same search of trying to find a quiet area, with the search often resulting in nothing, but crunchy eaters, texting, and conversations. I enjoy the areas like the skybridge were you can go to study with friends, and you know that this is an area ok for conversations, but you should also have an area that is designated for silence. Not whispering and quiet laughing, NO TALKING! I think this could be better accomplished by more independent seating, instead of putting a bunch of tables together and stricter enforced rules.
6th floor????
The only quiet place is at the very top of haggard, and honestly, who wants to have to travel to the stars to find somewhere quiet to read a book and catch up on notes? I think that if the entire library were made into a quiet zone, students would be more successful and satisfied with their library going experience. And please, no cell phones. You wouldnt answer your phone in class, dont do it in the library.
I agree - and more group study locations, please!
Yes, it is true that the library is way too noisy most of the time, and I think there should be specially designated quiet zones (a few floors in Wilson) because it is truly unrealistic for the entire library to be free of noise "pollution". That seems like a reasonable idea. Whenever I'm studying with a group I study on the Haggard side anyway.
It's also true that there aren't enough group study room options available. That could be really helpful.
Quiet, please!
I agree, the worst thing is when people put their phone on speaker and have a conversation about how much they hate studying. If you want to have a conversation, go outside. Unfortunately, they don't; and this is the reason we need 'quiet areas' in the library.
More group study rooms
More group study rooms please!!
24 hours of operation
It would be nice to have the library open 24 hours a day like that of other major institutions. Also the talking is mainly a problem because their is not enough study rooms for groups to study. This quarter alone I have four group projects and it is hard to keep your voice down when working with that many people. In addition, we have had a terrible time finding an open study room. I know that you can reserve one but that is hard with everyones different schedules all the time.
Library Etiquette
I agree that the Library in general has lost that quiet feel, but I don't think it can or will be solved with more signs, angry enforcers, etc.
This is a cultural phenomena that needs to be changed slowly. I've heard many library employees say that they thought students just liked talking in the library now.
We, as the students of this university need to make this change. I'm just not exactly sure how to go about it. Ideas?
Testing my "Extreme" idea
Library log - 5/13/08 1:20pm
Yesterday I posted a rant about the lack of library etiquette among Western students. So today, I've decided to put my rant to the test.
At approximately 1pm Tuesday, I rode the elevator to Wilson's 6th floor. Not ten seconds after I stepped off and walked over to the work area, I walked past a couple who were studying together using their full voices. On these floors, it only takes one voice to distract the entire area.
So I took the stairs down to the 5th floor. Again, as I was scoping out a spot to sit, two young men struck up a conversation, in FULL voice:
"Hey! What are you doing up here?"
"Oh, I've been studying up here for a while. What are you up to?"
Etc, etc.
Every single time I work on the 4th, 5th, or 6th floors of Wilson Library - the "quiet" floors - I hear exchanges like this.
As I'm writing right now, I can hear a conversation from a few desks over.
Also, the fellow nearest to me has just started eating a bag of chips. Crunch, crunch, crunch... crinkle crinkle.... crunch, crunch...
A little extreme...
Signs at every desk and workstation informing individuals about the No Talking policy? Seems a just a little extreme, no one wants signs everywhere telling us what to do. This is America not the USSR...
not extreme at all!
As the original poster has said, normal rules of library etiquette should apply in Western's library as they do at every other library. It is rude (albeit sometimes unbeknownst to offenders) to talk on cell phones, carry on loud or even full voice conversations, and eat noisy foods in the library. Obviously people don't know the "rules", why not educate them via some well-placed signs and possibly an entertaining advertising campaign. It would only take a little to create a traditional library culture again and return the library to the excellent study place it can be and sometimes is, usually the library is dead silent around finals, why not now?
Please
For starters, the USSR no longer exists. Use your library to learn these kinds of important facts before you spout off.
Secondly, there are already signs posted everywhere, and people still don't see them.
Thirdly, the "this is America" argument is weak sauce. This is a library. And in libraries, norms of etiquette apply. These norms include keeping talking to a bare minimum.
Fourthly, what is actually 'extreme' is the level of rudeness that is the studying environment of WWU's libraries.
We are not free to do whatever we want whenever and wherever we want. Don't be foolish and argue that we are.
Out of Line.
That "A Little Extreme" comment seems very out of line. I can't imagine anyone actually taking offense to the posting of extra signs. If it's "talkers" or other rude library users that end up having a problem with extra enforcement of everyone's right to study and get an education which thay have paid tons of money for than I think we can afford to lose them. I'd be amazed if anyone would actually compare a few informatory signs to the USSR. Seriously?
A little extreme
Does anyone understand the concept of "not feeding the trolls" ?