Comments on: NO CELL PHONE USE IN THE LIBRARY!

By: Roger Zimmerman

Roger Zimmerman — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:27:27 +0000

I’m sitting in my local public library right now and there are three loud phone conversations going on around me right now. I’m trying to study for finals and it simply cannot be done. When you talk about welcoming all customers, you are in fact unwelcoming to the people who are trying to use the library for its intended purpose. As a child I would have been taken out and sternly scolded for making noise int he library. What happened to a place where people can read undisturbed?

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:29:49 +0000

It’s almost like nobody these days as proper etiquette. Manners are unheard of and that is why we must post signs instructing people what not to do. Sad but true.

By: Mobile Phone Reviews

Mobile Phone Reviews — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:32:05 +0000

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!” this is so true you better make your phone silent and in order not to bother anyone with your anoying ringtone.

By: Michael Sauers

Michael Sauers — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:19:34 +0000

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

John Fudrow — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:36:13 +0000

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

Rebecca Blakiston — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:01:05 +0000

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

Steve Lawson — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:32:15 +0000

>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

Vampire Librarian — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:06:23 +0000

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

Sabrina — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:23:06 +0000

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

Linda — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:03:03 +0000

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

Woeful — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:27:34 +0000

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

Alan Kirk Gray — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:30:55 +0000

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

Susan — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:24:29 +0000

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!)

By: Jessi

Jessi — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:01:29 +0000

Cell phones are no longer an optional accessory, but a part of life. We need to invite our customers and attached devices into our building with open arms…

By: Brad C

Brad C — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:00:00 +0000

I can see -talking- on a cell phone being bad but phones do so much more than that these days. Instructions like this are just not reasonable to most people anymore.

It would also be “nicer” to have a place (or a few places) set aside for people to be able to talk on their phone and direct them there instead of just saying no.