I frequent my library a lot these days. We have been having internet “opportunities” at home so many times after work, Laptop and I (who by the way I have named Lazareth due to his dying and coming back to life many times now…) wander over to the local library where I can catch up on emails, visit blogs, and respond to comments.
Lately though… I have discovered a trend at my library that has me typing with clenched teeth and a little bit of smoke coming out of my ears…. enough to give that nice BBQ grill scent……
Teens talk talk TALKING at my library. Now I am not an angry person… I think for the most part I am pretty easy-going, but seriously…. I want to say,
“HELLO….. It’s called a LIBRARY!”
Yesterday I went in to find a quiet corner to do a bit of work and that was just not to be found. All the great tables were taken, and believe me this is not a complaint, as I am proud that our library is well used…. it is the teenage hang out part that has me riled up…. not book reading teens, but hang out teens.
As I sat trying to get my work done and wondering if it was worth it for me to truck up to the front counter and say something only to get the “wrath of teens” when I returned with the “Book Authorities”… I decided just to wait it out and of course, this blog post was forming in my mind.
Book Journey 
I actually love the libraries are not the churches they used to be. I love not having to worry as much when I take my three boys in that they will be disturbing someone, and I love seeing so many different people finding so many different uses out of the library! I don’t mind that it’s a little less quiet at all. 🙂
Good point Amanda. I don;t mind a little of that Amanda but this group was loud…. 🙂
I am one of those people that can not concentrate unless it is quiet and think I probably hit it at the wrong time of day… the High School is about two blocks away and school had just been let out.
I will have to be strategic 😀
Our local library is a small one with two floors, the bottom for kids and the upper for adults. The kids library is never quiet, there are puzzles and crayons always accessable and they run childrens programs in the morning with lots of reading, singing, musical instruments etc. My girls love it and they are trying to make the library a ‘safe space’ for kids to go – so no emphasis on the quiet.
The upper level is generally quiet there isn’t a whole lot of room for social gatherings but if they occur they are encouraged (to a reasonable noise level of course). I like when the library is a little louder and so obviously ‘in use’.
There is a section on our library for the younger kids with a play area, but not really a place for teens like a study room or anything. Across the street is a sub place and I am guessing they probably are not allowed just to hang out in there so the library it is. 😀
Ugh! How frustrating! I do use my library, but I put my books on hold ahead of time so I just have to walk in, grab my books and head to the counter….
Thats what I usually do Julie but the last couple weeks I have started hanging in it a bit to get the full effect 🙂
I could not agree more!!! I go to the library frequently — just because I need a change of scenery, and to convince myself that I am not completely anti-social. So my homework and I travel to my favorite library.
The last time I was there I was fuming! There were a hoard of teenagers hanging out at the front by the doors. And if that gauntlet wasn’t enough to deter me, when I got settled inside there was a couple of teens that came in about 20 minutes later that spent the next 3 HOURS making out, talking loudly on the cell phones, and playing their music on their laptop. I was ready to scream.
Oh! yeah that would be a deal breaker for me 😉
As a librarian, let me weigh in on this topic. 🙂
I do know what it is like to be in a library right after school lets out. I used to work in one that was right next to the Jr. high so teens were there right after school to use the Internet and hang out. I think it is great that teens choose the library as a place to go to. However, if they are being disruptive or breaking rules/making others uncomfortable, then that becomes an issue the way it would for library patrons of any age.
That being said, if they were talkative, that is typical teen behavior and it is likely that the library staff wouldn’t be able to keep them quiet if they wanted to. I’ve asked teens to keep the noise level down and they do try but girls especially just get so excited when they are around their friends and their voices rise. It is different if they are fighting, shouting, listening to music loudly, running around, etc. At my current library I’d be thrilled to have teens hanging out. I haven’t been able to have programs for them or encourage them to try different books because they aren’t coming in to the library.
I’ve found that early afternoon is a good time to use the library but around 3:00-5:00 would likely be the noisiest time of day. I do hope your next visit will be more productive and that you find a way to make things work for you.
Thanks for weighing in on this… good points! I was there around 3:30 and really that is the first time I have encountered it to be that loud. 🙂
My library is noisy too, and it drives me crazy, but on the other hand, I’d rather teens hang out there than somewhere else – maybe they’ll actually select a book to read at some point! :–)
True 🙂
There are quiet areas still in my area, but there are also very loud places that I wouldn’t be able to work. I have to get there early to get the choice spots!
I think I need to choose my time better…. the trouble is I get off work at 3 about the time school is letting out. I may need to limit my use to Fridays when I can get n there late morning 😉
I am on the fence about this topic. The library where I worked had a sort of separated adult and children’s area. The tables back behind the adult stacks were mostly quiet-ish. The children’s room and teen area – not so much. We tried to keep an eye on things and we did have a lot of middle schoolers as we were just down the street from a school. We did ask people to talk on their cell phones outside and I was proactive about enforcing that rule. Most of the time, I would take a walk around and as I did that, things would quiet down some. However, with library computers (which people had to bring their own headphones for music listening) and laptops and tapping away and chatting, libraries are still not your parents’ library – a cone of silence. I was pickier about enforcing the eating rule and making sure drinks were covered with tops. I did make the kids not eat Cheetos at the youth computers – I’m mean that way! I also told one woman that she couldn’t bring a cooler with salads and croutons and dressing and chips and crunchy things to eat in the quiet reading area. Again, I’m mean that way! LOL
Sheila, I think libraries are the new town square. It’s hard for librarians to manage things and still be welcoming and positive to patrons. Good luck with yours. Glad to see it’s being used. Totally understand your frustration. 🙂
I tend to overdose on people and really need quiet time… many times that is me and my laptop after everyone else has gone to sleep…. I think that is what I was hoping for at the library and was disappointed when I did not find it.
I can imagine a librarians job of keeping a happy medium is not easy 🙂
Oh and our library has signs that says no food or drink but people are drinking their fast food pop anyway….
Thankfully, my library isn’t near a school…and when I’ve gone there (usually just to grab a book on hold), I haven’t noticed any undue noise levels.
About a year ago, I went everyday to use the computers when mine was on the blink….sigh. And especially in the computer area, it was quiet.
But I can relate…it’s usually in the movies that I find this happening, but only if I go to a later one. Another reason I like going to the first matinee on a weekend!
Hope your computer issues ease up soon! I’m thinking this will happen to me any day now. I’ve had Internet connectivity issues a couple of times, and the service provider “rebooted” things on their end, and then it was fine. But every morning, I hold my breath, hoping it will connect!
Does this sound like an addict hoping to get her morning fix? LOL
I a not sure what is going on in our home Laurel but we constantly seem to be losing signal… makes for a hard time when I am trying to write a review or read blogs 🙂
my story is the same…the lower level is little kids which is chaos
upper level is teen/adult..we are fortunate to have separate rooms..but even the teens that aren’t using the rooms are pretty quiet
i understand your frustration but i think i’d rather have them hanging at the library even if they aren’t using the materials than hanging outside….i’ve had teens hang at the park and it really is disturbing for the little kids…the language is offensive and they take over the equipment the kids use
it wouldn’t hurt to mention your concerns to a librarian (when the teens aren’t there so you don’t look like the bad guy!)
good luck
I thought about it Diana, maybe just asking them what the policy is…. 🙂
Some of the branches in our library have designated quiet zones for reading and study, and other areas where people can meet, chat, hang out. That seems to work well if you’ve got the space. I often use the library to meet with colleagues in a volunteer organization and it’s great to know that we can have conversations in certain areas of the library and are not bothering other patrons.
I like the idea of there being a space where people can be more social and a place that is still reserved for those who need the quiet. 🙂
Our library is generally quiet, but I usually go while school is in session. I don’t know if teens hang out there or not.
I need to plan better Kathy 🙂
The only quiet library I’ve found in the past 20 years was a university library during finals; of course, most of the kids were asleep but at least it was quiet. 🙂 At our small library between story hour for the little ones, computer keys clicking, people discussing the new books, and others chatting to the ladies at the circulation desk, there isn’t a quiet spot in the place. I remember when the roofers were at our house several years ago, I went to the park for quiet.
Well, one thing that I am getting out of this post Barbara is that I am not alone – and apparently my library is normal 😀
The teens do use the Brainerd Library as a hang out area. I too am on the fence on this one. I am glad that they feel comfortable coming in to the library, as they could be out doing things we really don’t want them to be doing; but for heaven’s sake, PLEASE BE QUIET.
The library in Little Falls has a room on the 3rd floor that the teens use frequently. It is a lifesaver, as the library still stays quiet.
LOL Roseanne… I love that you know the library I speak of 😛 I have never been to the Little falls library….
I’m a visitor at my library 1-2 times a week, and usually I just hand in books, find new ones, gets them checked out and leave, but I always find it somewhat quiet. If there are kids/teens making noise the librarypeople give them a warning about speaking more quietly etc. When I’m at the library with my kids at work we might make more noise, but the kids-section is on the other side from the adult-section so I dont see that as a problem. Usually when I’m there with the kids its in the morning before lunch and not so many people.
I think you should say something about the teens to the librarypeople. Maybe no-one has complained about them before?
I am loving this discussion as I am seeing both sides Elida, I am glad the kids have a place to go…. but not at the expense of others trying to enjoy the library too. I think I will start by avoiding the “after school” hours as this really is the only time I have had this much noise to deal with 🙂
I think my library is mostly quiet, yes.
That is a good thing Hannah 🙂
Oh, agreed! There’s always a bit of commotion at the counter area, but other than that, I think the beeps of the self-checkouts are the loudest regularly occurring noises.
Haha! I like that comic you posted! My library is pretty quiet. There is the odd chattering people (me included), but not the loud bugging-others kind. I get really annoyed if people start talking at the top of their voices in the library.
Aths I was searching “Quiet Library” images while the teens were talking right behind me…. maybe I should have made a screen saver out of one and showed it to them….LOL 😛
My library is mostly quiet upstairs in the adult section and bustling downstairs… talking and interacting but not really annoying. A few years ago the library put in a teen room and now they have a place to go and it seems to be keeping the noise down upstairs.
I would make a comment about the noise. If the staff doesn’t think it bothers anyone they may not do much about it.
We were way at the end of the library Leslie, not sure the staff could even see us 🙂
Our library is small, so there is not much distance between the study tables, reading section, computer desks (at one end of the library), and the kids section (on the other end of the library). And if there’s a kid’s activity in the meeting room (that has a false wall that lets noise right through – and is right next to the study desks) then you’re really out of luck. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, no the library is not a quiet place in our town – except for when school is in session. I don’t know that it’s a hang out per se, it’s more that so many people in such an enclosed space make it way too noisy for thinking.
I thought it was funny that you said you could just as easily have gone to a coffee shop, because that is where I go rather than the library if I need to get writing done outside of my home. 🙂
I would do the coffee shop Alyce except when I am writing or reading noise really does bother me…. I need quiet to concentrate. I may need to see if I can find a quiet restaurant with wifi…. 😀
I will add my vote to those above! I’m a librarian as well as a library user, so I have a few perspectives.
Libraries in general are moving away from the hush-hush no-food no-drink places, in the hopes of being more welcoming and bringing more folks in the door – including those teens. I think this is a good thing, in theory.
On the other hand, users such as yourself should still be able to expect a quiet study area from their local library.
How do we reconcile these goals? Libraries that have such a luxury, such as the downtown/central branch of Houston Public Library, have a teen room where that kind of behavior is welcomed, and quiet study areas for the other kind. Ideally I think this is the answer: separate spaces. But this isn’t always realistic.
I work in a tiny library, maybe the size of 3 living rooms on end (long skinny space). It mostly stays quiet in here, but even when it gets a bit chatty, I allow talking to other people when they are physically present – meaning, I NEVER allow cell phones. That’s my personal compromise.
I feel for you, and second the suggestions above that you mention your problem to the librarian. At least, s/he may be able to direct you to a quieter spot; or maybe even quiet the teens!
Great comment here Julia – I love the insight that librarians have brought to this post 🙂
The last time I was in a library I noticed how much louder it was. I think it’s the computers…they draw the kids, and the chatter.
In our library the computers are over by the kids section – far from where I hang out. You are right though, they are a draw and I understand that obviously we want the next generation to love books and love libraries, and hopefully for reasons other than talking about their latest speeding ticket. 😛
My local is quite quiet – noisier at storytime but that is what you expect if you go in then. What isn’t acceptable is the drugs paraphenalia found in the toilets and a pensioner being shot at with a BB gun! The library is in the local park so the teenagers come over to use the toilets etc. We now have CCTV installed. But what really gets my goat is having to run the gauntlet of the smokers (young and old) who insist on congregating at the main front door.
Ok Jo. you sold me…. I am back to LOVING my library! 😀
I don’t really use libraries but totally admire people who do. When I was little I would use the bookmobile in the summer…and load my bike basket with books but now with ebooks and wireless homes…I would rather stay nested here than opt for a loud noisy germy library…Ah chooooo!!!
Patty what a picture – a little girl with the bike basket loaded with books…. I want to do that now 🙂
I was at the library today and it was so quiet that I could hear my keys jingling. I think someone shushed me cause of that! My local library is full of hustle and bustle with plenty of quiet talking.
I like that Linda. 🙂
I think I learned from this post that we need a happy mix and we can all get along in the same space – us quiet bloggers and the chatty teens.
I am having trouble keeping up with commenting on the blog posts of prolific bloggers such as yourself! I do see all your posts just no time to get here every day I am afraid.
As a librarian this made me smile, libraries have changed and are much more places to meet these days, however in the libraries I worked in there were always spaces dedicated to silence, well almost if you needed to communicate it was brief and in a whisper.! 🙂
I like that – places for quiet and places for chatter…. happy medium. 😀
As a parent of teens…I would rather have them at a library, but as a avid reader, I go to the library for quiet that I can’t find at home due to my teens!! What a quandry! I like libraries that have study rooms…I like those to go in and close the door for my quiet while the teens can be teens! The local library in WBL does not have those..but the Maplewood one does. So depending on what my goals are for my library visit determines which one I go to. Luckily living in the twin cities there are many to chose from!
Right Jen – I totally agree with what you are saying 🙂
It is extremely annoying and happens in my local library also. I just can’t be bothered sometimes so i take my books and head to the nearest coffee shop at least i can enjoy a lush latte or two! 😀
I have to be more careful of when I go… I think that will stop the opportunities 😀
You have touched on one of my pet peeves. I hate people being noisy in the library. My local branch has designated rooms that are for collaborating while studying so teens that want to chit chat can go in there. That means that the rest of the library stays nice and quiet…just the way I like it!
I would like that Kathleen…. I just want a place to chill and use my laptop. 🙂
My library is usually quiet–although I’m usually hanging out there Saturday morning, so maybe the timing helps. I find all the fascinating book titles I look up from my paper and notice much more distracting to my work than the people around me!
I think timing may be everything at the library for me Cheryl…. I have made a note not to go there right after school is out 😉