[Publib] Cell Phones in the Library

[Ruth Seid]

I keep emphasizing to staff that the use of cell phones is NOT against the
rules. It is disturbing patrons that is against the rules. There are many
instances of cell phone use like you describe, where patrons are quietly
talking about what they're doing in the library.
-R

> -----Original Message-----
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Diedre Conkling
> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 11:26 AM
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Publib] Cell Phones in the Library
>
>
> Thanks for saying this.  I was thinking about how to say just
> this.  I would like to add that I have thought that cell phones
> would be very useful for family members when one of them comes to
> the library to pick up an item for someone else but isn't sure
> exactly what will work when they see what is at the library.  So
> the person calls home and says "here are the three recipes that I
> have found for making gingerbread.  Which one sounds best to
> you."  So, having the cell phone in the stacks is actually a way
> to make good use of the library.
>
> And remember that many people, more all the time, are pulling out
> the cell phones and text messaging.  This is a very quiet
> process.  Yes, ask that the conversations be at a normal level
> for conversations in the library and put the cell phone ringer in
> "manner mode," "vibrate," etc. because the ringing is not the
> normal level - at this point.
>
> And, yes, this subject, including the legality of blocking cell
> phones in the US have been discussed a number of times on PUBLIB.
>  I found a few references with a Google search, though not all of them.
>
>
> ============================================================
> From: Bob Watson <librarybob at gmail.com>
> Date: 2005/12/02 Fri AM 10:58:00 PST
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Publib] Cell Phones in the Library
>
> 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
>
> ============================================================
>
>
> Diedre Conkling
>
>   Lincoln County Library District
>   P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR  97365
>   Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
>   http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
>   Work:  diedre at beachbooks.org
>   Home:  diedrec at charter.net
>
>