[Publib] Cell Phones in the Library

[Roslyn Yerman]

We allow cell phone use in our vestibules, and have signs posted to that 
effect, as well as a sign welcoming folks to the phone zone, letting 
them know that cell phone usage is allowed between the doors.  We also 
have cards made out to hand patrons, which read:

_Quiet Please!  No Cell Phones_
Cell phone use is restricted to the area between the outside entrance 
doors in consideration of other patrons. 
Thank you for your cooperation.

MADISON HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY

The phone zone signs and the cards were both ideas borrowed from other 
libraries. 

I have to say that I agree with two points that have been raised during 
the course of this discussion, the first being that the consideration 
must be reciprocal.  Staff need to be conscious of noise levels as well, 
and are reminded periodically.  It doesn't help that we too, don't have 
any areas that function as "quiet" areas, although we too often direct 
folks to quieter spots.  An added difficulty is that reference 
librarians are "on the desk" all day, as with our current set up, staff 
desks are on the floor.

Ros

Elizabeth Cuckow wrote:

> Of course it's about the behavior, not the device. The problem comes 
> with people who seem to believe that their *device* exempts them from 
> all normal standards of *behavior*. I have seen some incredibly rude 
> people get even more obnoxious when asked to comply with the library's 
> code of conduct (which emphasizes behavior). Reasonable people are 
> embarrassed when they realize they are disturbing others, and they 
> change their behavior to suit the environment they are in.
>  
> IMNSHO, there is a big difference between using a cell phone in a 
> grocery store and using one in a library, especially in the stacks or 
> in areas where people are working like a computer room. That is the 
> expectation of QUIET. No one really expects a grocery store to be a 
> place they can concentrate, do they? Heck, it can be hard to have a 
> conversation at all because the *store* is playing that blasted music 
> so loud.
>  
> But people do have an expectation that the library is one of the few 
> places left in our culture where they can find a quiet place to think, 
> write, read, research, etc.
>
> My library - like many libraries - is so strapped for space that we do 
> not have any place that really functions as quiet space. We tell 
> people they can go to the "quieter" wing, but we still get complaints. 
> The staff has been admonished for talking too loudly at the 
> information desk, and we have to be very careful when we're helping 
> people in the stacks. Ringing phones and loud conversations just add 
> to the problem.
>  
> If you could trust people to be considerate of others, and if spaces 
> were ideally designed to allow for concentration AND conversation, 
> there would be no problems. I'm all for text messaging and muted 
> ringers and appropriate behavior, but I'm getting cynical, I guess.
>  
> Grumpy on a Friday,
> Elizabeth
>  
> p.s. Our new library will have a designated SILENT room. Yee-ha!
>  
>  
> Elizabeth Cuckow
> Manager, Information Services
> Laramie County Library System
> 2800 Central Ave., Cheyenne WY 82001
> www.LCLSonline.org <http://www.LCLSonline.org>
> 307.634.3561 ext. 141
> ecuckow at LCLSonline.org <mailto:ecuckow at LCLSonline.org>
>
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-- 
Roslyn Yerman
Director
Madison Heights Public Library
240 W. 13 Mile Road
Madison Heights, MI 48071

tel:  (248) 837-2852
fax:  (248) 588-2470

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