To expect peace in the Library

Tired and grumpy here too! but I don't think you're being unreasonable. However, libraries are no longer quiet places. Our local library hosts mother and toddler groups, seniors groups, I.T. skills improvement groups etc etc.
These groups are all facilitated in the open plan lending library area, and it's far from quiet.

Our knitting group meets in the library and we all chat. People do wander over to see what we are making. We have raised thousands of pounds for charity.

I know many groups are held in libraries now and quite rightly so. Even more reason I think, that this type of telephone conversation should be held elsewhere. It's just rude IMO.

The librarian should have said something to him.

You are being unreasonable!! Libraries are not hush hush places any more. We encourage users of our Library to feel comfortable and see the library as a welcoming place!

Well I wouldn't feel comfortable and welcomed if some eejit was blasting into his phone !Totally out of order in my book ( oo did you see what I did there )

I'm very happy that libraries are used for group meetings.
How would this particular incident make a library user feel comfortable and welcomed?

Aggie

I agree that's it's good for libraries to be more of a community hub and encourage groups to meet there. However the behaviour of this man I feel was extremely rude and unnecessary. Why do people feel it's ok to inflict their personal business on others in inappropriate places.

For me this type of shouty conversation is inappropriate in any public space, I really don't want to hear, particularly when I am trying to concentrate on choosing a book or indeed anything else.

Of course YANBU. Yes, the days of hushing and whispering have gone, though it's good to see them still alive and well in the study section of our library. But you can surely expect basic manners and consideration for others, and that doesn't usually include bellowing obscenities!

No, YANBU. Libraries are busy community places these days, but there should be a line drawn when it comes to loud, sweary, inconsiderate wazzocks!

I wish I had the nerve to tell idiots like that to pipe down, but I don't .

The librarian in charge should have had a quiet word with him to 'keep it down please'!

I worked for many years in a little local library, and in that case I think one of us would have had a quiet word.

What was harder to deal with was the odd parent who thought it was all right to let their young children charge around the library screaming (I do mean screaming) and bashing into people who were trying to choose books. If we ever said anything, however nicely, and the parent complained that we weren't 'child friendly' we would get it in the neck from higher management. Staff were invariably wrong in such cases.
Luckily parents like this were few and far between and most of the children were very well behaved.

I agree someone should have said something but be grateful that people use your library for anything and that you have a library to use.

Agreed that we should be grateful these days if we've still got a local library. But gratitude for having a loudmouth eejit sharing it with you might be stretching the old adage of being thankful for small mercies a bit thin

There's a difference though between e.g.children listening to story time in the children's library, reasonable quiet discussion (I once ear wigged on a sort of student mentoring session) and the inconsiderate use of FREE office space by a loudmouth.
It's not a case of Sshh, is it, if he had tried the same thing in his local Starbucks/Pret/ Costa I think he would find someone said something.

I don't think of libraries as quiet places at all

I remember when they used to be, but they're not now so I don't expect it

I expect people to be on the phone to housing/benefits/estate agents because the library is the only place a lot of people can bid for housing or check online etc. Language should be watched though.

Some libraries have quiet floors or pods, but my local library has cooking demonstrations and all sorts going on on the main floors

I really don't notice the chat and laughter of groups, or children chattering whilst choosing books and colouring. People on line aren't generally shouting on phones. I use the local library often with DGC who aren't the quietest and have at times told them to pipe down but this type of LOUD conversation in a library is not necessary. (IMHO)

Goodness, you should see academic libraries now! They make public libraries look like havens of peace and quiet. Open 24/7, food and drink allowed. Takeaways ordered at night time when we've all gone home..

while I agree NanSue that it's rude to shout on the phone while around people (not that it's ever really necessary), the fact that it happened in a library is irrelevant to me.

It would be rude to be obnoxious on the phone anywhere.

But not any more so in a library than anywhere else.

p.s. I <3 the new academic libraries, you don't have to pack up and decamp every time you need a caffine hit to keep going

You can get a caffeine hit in our village library - it helps keep it open!

I belong to our Craft Group that meets in our library's meeting room. As well as being a book reading member of course. It's a small library so the children's section is just to one side. On Thursdays and Saturdays a baby sing song takes place. I quite enjoy humming ' the wheels on the bus; as I browse the shelves. However, I've heard a few mutterings from the seen and not heard brigade . Libraries are more then just books these days. In order that yours stays open the librarians has to keep the numbers up. This is why there are so many other activities. Our head librarian would have asked this chap to keep his noise down. For that matter I would have asked him .

If that guy is running a business and using the library, he's getting away with not needing to pay for premises and getting free WiFi! A lot of local authorities have stopped personal trainers running boot camps and other fitness groups in public parks for the same reason.