Talking in the Library!

Yeah this is a popular topic, seems to come up several times throughout the school year.  I'm surprised you could concentrate through all the construction noise though!

I definitely think that people should respect the sanctity of library space.  You're right, if you need to talk to somebody go to the Skybridge or a group study room or whatever.  If you need to talk on your phone, go into the hallway out of earshot.  I don't quite know at what point in our lives people started to ignore the lessons about being quiet in the library that we were taught when we were young...

Agreed.  I frequent the 4th floor Wilson side as well, and it tends to be an issue a few times a week.  I know the library addressed the problem a bit on the forum last year and made some posts about changes they were making.  Some interesting points of view on the issue are discussed here:  http://forum.wwu.edu/node/1561.  All it comes down to is some people don't have common courtesy.  It's not very hard to realize you are being very rude by having loud conversations when everyone around you is studying very quietly.  It doesn't matter if it's a designated "Quiet Area" or not.  If walk into an area of the library where everyone is studying quietly, it's simple common courtesy to follow suit.  Otherwise, find another area of the library.  It can be a bit distracting when you're trying to work and the only thing you can hear is all the details about how drunk someone got the other night.

I can understand that sometimes people need to work on a group project, or maybe someone just prefers to study with a friend.  If this is the case, I recommend checking out a group room.  I do that every so often and the library makes it very convenient.

Also, here is the thread where the library addressed the issue directly:

forum.wwu.edu/node/4850

Noise in The Western Libraries continues to be a concern of students and library staff. Additionally, I can tell you that from what I’ve read this is a concern at many, many – if not most – university libraries.

A common strategy has been to designate areas or floors as “quiet” areas much as we have done here. Clear posting and delineation of the quiet areas and self-enforcement by those using the areas works best to keep them quiet.

Unfortunately, as has been noted above construction on the 6th floor has produced a good deal of unavoidable noise on Wilson 5 West this Fall Quarter which is one of our designated quiet areas. The good news is that construction is entering the final phase this week with the installation of shelving. The bad news is this involves drilling into the concrete floors - but after that nearly all of the heavy and noisy work on the 6th floor will be complete. Yea, weeks before finals!

Returning to paragraph one – aside from the draconian “noise police” approach which would involve considerable expense - there is no really easy solution to the issue of library noise. Culturally we have left lots of previous conventions of civility and politeness behind. That’s impacted life everywhere in the 21st century – for better or worse.

To make it better we need to take civility back by being participants rather than passive victims. From what I’ve read the libraries that have the most effective noise management programs are those where students have taken responsibility, or ownership if you will, for keeping it quiet. Our “Keep It Quiet” campaign last fall was intended not as an admonition (the big “Shush! if you will) but rather as a call to action. A call to be part of making your library quiet.

So, here’s my question - How can students, as a group, be empowered to keep the peace so to speak?

Here's a thought.  I’m sure you’ve all seen this at weddings. Clink, clink, clink, on the glasses to get the bride and groom to kiss. One person starts and soon everyone is clinking. So, suppose that someone is talking in a way that disrupts study in a quiet area. One person responds and then another, and another. Maybe they start chanting out, “Blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah…” as a way of dising the behavior and hopefully make the talkers painfully aware that what they are doing is unacceptable. Or maybe everyone start pounding the tables? Sort of code for, “Shut the #8*^! up!”  I don't know the answer, this really needs to ge sort of a grassroots movement.

To have the library you want students, actually all of us, need to participate in keeping it quiet. There are plenty of spaces for collaborative and social interaction in our buildings; the main floor plate, group study rooms and areas such as the collaborative space between the east and west wings of the 4th floor.  There should be room for everyone's need.

As for the designated quite areas – Wilson 5 and Wilson 4 Central (Harry Potter Room) - please, Keep It Quiet!

WWU Libraries Expectations of Appropriate Conduct
 

Yessss.

The least they could do is whisper on the phone. This would at least show some respect.

I love it - I'm in.