Comments on: NO CELL PHONE USE IN THE LIBRARY! http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/ Libraries, Technology and People Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:24:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Michael Sauers http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-496 Michael Sauers Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:19:34 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-496 I have since talked to the director of the library involved and he has informed me that the library is active in discussions regarding changing the policy to something less restrictive. I have since talked to the director of the library involved and he has informed me that the library is active in discussions regarding changing the policy to something less restrictive.

]]> By: John Fudrow http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-495 John Fudrow Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:36:13 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-495 I really dislike signs like this. It is highly questionable to put up such an unwelcoming sign and then two steps away ask why students aren't coming to the reference desk. I made this sign idea to try and get the message across while still having a bit of fun. http://www.library.cmu.edu/People/jfudrow/golden_silence.pdf I really dislike signs like this. It is highly questionable to put up such an unwelcoming sign and then two steps away ask why students aren’t coming to the reference desk.

I made this sign idea to try and get the message across while still having a bit of fun. http://www.library.cmu.edu/People/jfudrow/golden_silence.pdf

]]> By: Rebecca Blakiston http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-494 Rebecca Blakiston Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:01:05 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-494 I think some of my biggest pet peeves with signs like this are the use of red font, all CAPS, and underlining. And exclamation points. Seriously, is that necessary? Do we really think library users wouldn't understand a nice "please be courteous" sign? This is just so uninviting. I think some of my biggest pet peeves with signs like this are the use of red font, all CAPS, and underlining. And exclamation points. Seriously, is that necessary? Do we really think library users wouldn’t understand a nice “please be courteous” sign? This is just so uninviting.

]]> By: Steve Lawson http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Steve Lawson Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:32:15 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-493 >Trying to compete for a student's attention WHO HAS COME TO THE DESK for assistance, but insists on continuing to chat on the cell phone is beyond frustrating. No kidding. I just ignore them and do something else until they hang up. >Trying to compete for a student’s attention WHO HAS COME TO THE DESK for assistance, but insists on continuing to chat on the cell phone is beyond frustrating.

No kidding. I just ignore them and do something else until they hang up.

]]> By: Vampire Librarian http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-492 Vampire Librarian Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:06:23 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-492 This is my cell phone sign: http://vampirelibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-made-new-sign-2.html Sabrina, I want to work at your library. Trying to compete for a student's attention WHO HAS COME TO THE DESK for assistance, but insists on continuing to chat on the cell phone is beyond frustrating. I have heard every ringer imaginable. I've had to go turn students' cells off b/c they have earphones on and can't hear it, or they've left their stuff and gone off to who knows where. This is my cell phone sign:
http://vampirelibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-made-new-sign-2.html

Sabrina, I want to work at your library. Trying to compete for a student’s attention WHO HAS COME TO THE DESK for assistance, but insists on continuing to chat on the cell phone is beyond frustrating.

I have heard every ringer imaginable. I’ve had to go turn students’ cells off b/c they have earphones on and can’t hear it, or they’ve left their stuff and gone off to who knows where.

]]> By: Sabrina http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Sabrina Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:23:06 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-491 It all depends. Certainly a university library can be a 'cathedral of quietness' as Garrison Keillor observed, and so the restriction is necessary. But students who use the library already observe these unwritten rules, so do we really have to ask? On the other hand, public libraries can be incredibly noisy, filled with kids story hours, workshops, chats with staff at service desks, etc. Maybe posting the sign for a particular area, designated for quiet study, would be better. It all depends. Certainly a university library can be a ‘cathedral of quietness’ as Garrison Keillor observed, and so the restriction is necessary. But students who use the library already observe these unwritten rules, so do we really have to ask?
On the other hand, public libraries can be incredibly noisy, filled with kids story hours, workshops, chats with staff at service desks, etc. Maybe posting the sign for a particular area, designated for quiet study, would be better.

]]> By: Linda http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-490 Linda Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:03:03 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-490 I think we should limit down to a very bare minimum the number of times we "no." If we want to make our libraries user friendly, limiting the "no" word will go a long way. Especially cell phones. we ask that ringers be turned low and that conversations be kept private. I think we should limit down to a very bare minimum the number of times we “no.” If we want to make our libraries user friendly, limiting the “no” word will go a long way. Especially cell phones. we ask that ringers be turned low and that conversations be kept private.

]]> By: Woeful http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-489 Woeful Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:27:34 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-489 Maybe it's a community thing, but most of the people I encounter at the library turn when someone's cellphone goes off and shoot them a look that clearly says, "Die!" The vibrate idea would be great if people had any common sense whatsoever, sadly they don't. This is why they also talk at full volume about their most personal matters in crowded rooms. Nobody else wants to hear about it... Then another someone's phone rings and they do the same thing after they just shot the other dumbass a dirty look. Maybe it’s a community thing, but most of the people I encounter at the library turn when someone’s cellphone goes off and shoot them a look that clearly says, “Die!” The vibrate idea would be great if people had any common sense whatsoever, sadly they don’t. This is why they also talk at full volume about their most personal matters in crowded rooms. Nobody else wants to hear about it… Then another someone’s phone rings and they do the same thing after they just shot the other dumbass a dirty look.

]]> By: Alan Kirk Gray http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-488 Alan Kirk Gray Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:30:55 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-488 We don't post signs on the door of the library saying no one can talk in the building. We expect, and enforce, appropriate behavior where it's necessary. How is that different from the use of cell phones? A library denying the need for appropriate use of cell phones has a death wish. We don’t post signs on the door of the library saying no one can talk in the building. We expect, and enforce, appropriate behavior where it’s necessary. How is that different from the use of cell phones? A library denying the need for appropriate use of cell phones has a death wish.

]]> By: Susan http://tametheweb.com/2007/11/09/no-cell-phone-use-in-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Susan Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:24:29 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/wordpress/?p=569#comment-487 The sign is unnecessarily restrictive. Most--if not all--cellphones have a vibrate and/or "sounds off" option, so receiving notification of calls and sending/receiving text messages doesn't have to be disruptive. (I seriously wonder how many librarians are aware of this, since cellphones rang in every single session of the last librarian conference I attended!) The sign is unnecessarily restrictive. Most–if not all–cellphones have a vibrate and/or “sounds off” option, so receiving notification of calls and sending/receiving text messages doesn’t have to be disruptive. (I seriously wonder how many librarians are aware of this, since cellphones rang in every single session of the last librarian conference I attended!)

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