Are libraries no longer known as quiet places??

[Anonymous]

I’m at a public library studying and wow, it is so loud in here. Kids running around, adults on the phone and Skype. When I was younger, the library was a place to get some peace and quiet. WTH happened?

[Anonymous]

You should try to go to a university library and bury yourself in a study carrel in the corner of the 4th floor or something. Many schools have visiting privileges for members of the community.

[Anonymous]

They are not. They are now seen as community gathering places.

[Anonymous]

You have to go to the special "quiet room" in a public library now, to get quiet.

Most public libraries don't have many books either. They don't like to take up lounging/table space with actual bookshelves. You have to put most books on hold, and wait until they're available and brought to your library branch. In certain counties, they toss out classic literature if it's a slightly less popular work that doesn't get checked out constantly.

I find I wait longest for e-books. Those hold queues take many months.

Lots of complaints, but I'm still glad we have them.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's a bit disconcerting. When my DD was a noisy toddler, we would only frequent the kids' area - no way was I going to let her run around squealing like some parents do with their kids.

[Anonymous]

No, not really. If you want quiet, it's best to go in the morning or either use the quiet study areas that are usually available. Ask the staff about them.

The majority of library users don't seem to want quiet anymore, but most libraries try to carve out a space for those who do.

[Anonymous]

I got politely shushed by a librarian for taking a call in the library. So I would guess it goes library by library. Obviously if you're there right when story time ends, it's not going to be quiet.

[Anonymous]

Really? All of our local libraries are very quiet.

[Anonymous]

Our library was never a "quiet" place. We had a quiet section that you had to go in if you wanted quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to go to the special "quiet room" in a public library now, to get quiet.

Most public libraries don't have many books either. They don't like to take up lounging/table space with actual bookshelves. You have to put most books on hold, and wait until they're available and brought to your library branch. In certain counties, they toss out classic literature if it's a slightly less popular work that doesn't get checked out constantly.

I find I wait longest for e-books. Those hold queues take many months.

Lots of complaints, but I'm still glad we have them.

Now isn't this the truth. Libraries are great if you just want a book, any book. But if you need a specific book, that's much harder. And I'm not talking about obscure titles. The kids and I went to our local library yesterday. My son wanted any book from the Fudge Series. Not one on the shelf. I could go to another library and get it though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got politely shushed by a librarian for taking a call in the library. So I would guess it goes library by library. Obviously if you're there right when story time ends, it's not going to be quiet.

As you should have been.

[Anonymous]

As the other poster has pointed out, libraries have turned more into "community centers". Cops routinely patrol libraries these days. You can even surfed p0rn in the library - my wife saw a bum did it once, right in front of others.

[Anonymous]

90% of public library usage:

- bums
- unemployed losers for free movie rentals / computer games
- delinquent parents who use it as a free daycare for their bastard kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got politely shushed by a librarian for taking a call in the library. So I would guess it goes library by library. Obviously if you're there right when story time ends, it's not going to be quiet.

I've seen them shush infrequent guests trying to get actual work done. Meanwhile strung out bums that smell like garbage loiter on their computers all day and trash blast music while playing games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got politely shushed by a librarian for taking a call in the library. So I would guess it goes library by library. Obviously if you're there right when story time ends, it's not going to be quiet.

As you should have been.

Why did you feel the need to add your two cents? How sad that your self esteem is so low that you need to try to make people feel badly. I hope that during your lifetime of looking down your nose at others as if you could never possibly do anything wrong, you trip and fall in front of a large group of people you hoped to impress. Happy holidays!