To expect peace in the Library

Having been a librarian for almost forty years, in both public and academic libraries I despair at the way some people are now behaving when visiting.
I've been through all the library incarnations, from the 'shush' time, which was peaceful but could seem a bit intimidating to people, to the way it was when I finally reached breaking point and took early retirement, more of a playground/office space/coffee shop!
I am absolutely in favour of libraries being friendlier more accessible places offering a wide range of services and activities, it's the only way for them to survive in these days of electronic everything.
However, I have a huge problem with people using the library as their personal work space.
When I was still working we had one gentleman who visited the library every day, arriving at 9-10 and staying until 4-30. This wouldn't have been a problem if he hadn't behaved as though he owned the place and the staff were there to attend to him, and only him!
We served coffee/tea etc, which wasn't a problem, but I lost the plot with this particular person when he clicked his fingers at me, and shouted, "Latte, and make it snappy"!
Oh, he got snappy alright, he was told in no uncertain terms to remove himself, his laptop and his attitude from the premises and informed that he was no longer welcome to use the facilities.
He slunk out, with his tail between his legs, but someone (probably him, but I don't know for sure) reported me to the 'powers that be' and I received an 'official reprimand'.
So, that evening I went home and composed my letter of resignation, fully intending to send it into headquarters the next day. However, before I got the chance, we received an e-mail offering all senior staff over a certain age the opportunity to apply for early retirement.....my application went in like greased lightning!
I loved my life in libraries, being a Librarian was my identity, but I had seen the 'rot setting in', screaming children running riot, abusive teenagers using threatening behaviour, lack of funding for new book stock, no back up from senior management, new staff being brought in who had little more than basic literacy, and had decided that enough was enough!
Now our local council has cut the hours of our libraries to ridiculously low levels, no late evenings, no Saturday opening, doubled fines and reservation fees, and when staff leave, replaced them with temps, who aren't properly trained, and the service is falling apart at the seams.
I could see we were at the top of a slippery slope when I left libraries, and it breaks my heart to know I was right.
The library where I spent the greatest part of my working life has now been closed and is scheduled for demolition, it's just soul destroying!
Okay, rant over!

He would have to have been desperate to use our Library for its wifi access as it keeps dropping out. He would be better sitting on one of the benches outside and using 4G

I used to go to the library for peace and quiet but that is not what modern libraries are about. There are lots of computers, far less books, kids running about, people studying and chatting having tutorials and it's just a community meeting place, not a place to read.

He was out of order but I do love going into our child friendly library when they have Rhyme Time on for the toddlers. I have heard people complaining about it though. If it gets the young ones thinking the library is a great place to go then I am all for it.
My GC love going there. They run craft sessions for children too for a very modest cost. Wonderful for the little ones.

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.

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 .

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

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

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..

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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 .

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!

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.

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.

Aggie

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

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 )

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!

The librarian should have said something to him.