[Publib] Cell Phones in the Library

[Bob Watson]

Some weeks ago when one of our staff members was "busting" a cell-phone user
for talking on his phone in the library, he noted that it wasn't fair
because people were talking in the library all the time.

And you know, he was right.

Our public service desks are located where people can overhear the
conversations pretty easily.  Staff members talk to patrons and staff
members talk to each other ... the difference today and what made this a
startling revelation is that the ubiquitous computers make so much "white
noise" that conversations are quickly damped over the space of a few yards.
The library "seems" pretty much as quiet as ever, but it isn't really.

So we reversed course.  We now have signs asking users to turn off their
ringers (ringtones can drive anyone a tad nuts) but we do not mind if people
are carrying on quiet conversations.

We still quiet those folks who think they have to be loud to be understood.

We also made sure to create a "quiet study" area for those who really do
need something close to complete silence.

Bob Watson
Director
Lake Villa District Library
Lake Villa, IL
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