Your Library Connection
 

Shush!!!  It’s Loud in Here!

The new library has been great!  We’ve had a huge increase in the number of people coming to the library, checking out materials, using the computers, and relaxing here.  We love seeing so many people come to the library and enjoy the space!  Often, growing pains accompany growth.  We are still adjusting to the new space, the changes in technology, work flow, schedules, maintenance requirements, etc.  We are making pretty good progress on most of these areas.  However, there is one thing that is more visible to the public which we have been working on, though it may not always be evident.

The area that is so obvious to the public which we’ve been working on is noise and misbehavior in the library.  We have a vision of the library as a community center, you might say, the community’s living room.  As you imagine a typical living room, you might imagine people talking and a TV or radio going.  It isn’t always silent, however, typically it wouldn’t be filled with running, jumping, and loud noises.  By the same token, when you have company, it is probably louder than times when only the immediate family is home.

I would like to compare our new library to a living room.  We strive to have an atmosphere conducive to reading and visiting with others.  There may be a hum of activity, but it comes with a sense of control and unobtrusive behaviors.  Often, our library is just that.  When our library is especially busy, similar to having a large crowd in your own living room, it gets louder.  However, there are times when the noise level and the behaviors take on a different feel, and there are some visitors whose behavior is unruly.  This seems to be true more often on early-out school days and just after school.  We are very aware of this problem and have already implemented several things in an effort to curb behaviors like loud voices, running, and jumping.

What have we done?  We have placed posters in Flutterby Cove, the round area with the beautiful butterflies hanging overhead.  These posters illustrate what behaviors are acceptable as well as what is not.  We have purchased an area rug to help absorb some of the sound in this area.  We have ramped up our efforts to communicate the expectations to kids, parents, and guardians.  We have also implemented stronger penalties when kids continue to misbehave after the first warning.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be enough. 

We are now considering hiring a monitor, or a person who would be able to devote their time to making sure that behavioral expectations are being met after school and on early-out afternoons.  This is a drastic measure that would have to be funded by the money raised at the auction of  furniture and equipment from the old library.  The goal is to establish an environment, though sometimes louder than other times, that would still be pleasant and a place where most people would be comfortable reading and talking.  We also hope to communicate with families in other ways, in an attempt to get the word out about the challenges we are facing and how they can help. 

You can help with these challenges, too.  Many thanks to those of you who already do the things listed in this paragraph.  Encourage positive behaviors, soft voices, walking, and quiet activities when your children and grandchildren go to the library.  Encourage them to listen to library staff and follow directions.  If you are unsure of how your children behave in the library, don’t send them unattended.  Come with them and talk about what they need to do.  And, please don’t leave them in one area while you go to the opposite end of the library, unable to see them.  Maybe you don’t have children, but are sensitive to noise and know that the mere numbers of people and hum of activity will bother you, please try to visit the library at times other than when school has just let out.  Our statistics show that an average of 30 people come through the library doors (in or out) every hour.  Between the hours of 3 and 6 pm, the average number of people is 44 an hour.  Early out school days (every other Wednesday) we’ve been averaging 61 people through the doors each hour between 1 and 3.  The sheer numbers of people in the library is much higher at these times, so we can naturally expect that the environment will be louder at these times.

We would like to say that we’ve had no problems in the new library and that everything has been perfect.  When a new facility opens, there are always going to be unexpected problems that need to be worked out.  The library is no exception.  Please be patient, help us to alleviate the problem in the ways described above, and know that we are trying to create a space that will accommodate most people’s needs.  Thanks so much for reading!  

Home  Pictures  Donations  Services   Calendar of  Events  Web and Reference Resources   Kids' Resources  New Books and Materials   Online Catalog   Community Resources  Library Connections  Friends of the Library