[Publib] RE: Celll Phones in the Library

[Dusty Gres]

We have signs posted; we give gentle reminders; but I am getting old and
grouchy -- why should I feel even the littlest bit worried about offending
these people who insist that others have to hear their personal telephone
conversations? 
 
 
Dusty Gres, Director
Ohoopee Regional Library System
Hdq: Vidalia-Toombs County Library
610 Jackson Street
Vidalia, GA 30474
PH: (912) 537-9283
FAX: (912) 537-3735
EMAIL: gresd at ohoopeelibrary.org
WEB: http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org <http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org/> 
  
 

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Carol Bean
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 9:03 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] RE: Celll Phones in the Library


Lisë,
 
I tried chasing people down with stern reminders, and they pretty much all
responded defensively.  Then I tried smiling sweetly and asking them if they
would take their cell phone outside.  *Much* better results, but there are
still people who think they should be the exception ("but this is an
emergency!").  
 
I thought after a few months that at least the regulars were catching on,
but they seem to need 2 or 3 reminders.  I have noticed many now will answer
their phone and say "I'm in the library, I can't talk right now," and hang
up, or take the phone outside and call back. And there are actually people
now who will take the phone out and *turn it off* rather than answer it!  
 
I've noticed a lot of people taking calls try to "hide" - not in the bad
sense, but trying to find to a place where they will not be disturbing
others, not realizing that they are moving to a place where the acoustics
are just right to be heard all over the library!  Is it possible to have a
"cell phone room" (kind of like a phone booth) where people could more
easily go to take a call rather than making the trek across the library to
go outside?
 
Carol Bean
Library Computer Center Manager
North County Regional Library
11303 Campus Drive
Palm Beach Gardens, FL  33418
561-626-6133
www.pbclibrary.org

-----Original Message----- 
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 13:07:02 -0700
From: "Lise Chlebanowski" <lchlebanowski at avondale.org>
Subject: [Publib] Celll Phones in the Library
To: <publib at webjunction.org>
Message-ID:
        <AA5AF7CC3A17C2498626C20910F533554C3106 at SVEX01-EVS01.avondale.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

We have a horrible problem with people using their cell phones in our small
library. The ceiling is high pitched and echoes, adding to the problem. We
have signs posted to silence or set to vibrate all phones and we have our
policy posted about noise levels that are disturbing to others, but a great
majority of our patrons do not heed these directives. When we approach
someone about the problem, they become very defensive. I have heard about
libraries having a statement written on a card or bookmark that they can
hand to the offending patron and wondered if anyone has had success with
that and if so, what the wording might be.  Thanks in advance for any help
you all can offer!



Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Avondale Public Library

(623) 478-3105

lchlebanowski at avondale.org

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too
dark to read."

Groucho Marx <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Groucho_Marx/>


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