I disagree.
The problem is not with those hearing the conversations but with those
talking. Make them be quiet.
Judy
At 12:45 PM 8/31/2007, Priscilla Streightoff wrote:
>Sharon,
>
>You could consider providing a jar of disposable earplugs for the patrons
>who are bothered by the conversations.
>
>Some other thoughts:
>
>1. Ask the callers to answer the call just long enough to ask the other
>person to text message instead.
>
>2. Some of the other patrons may consider the situation an opportunity
>for free competitive intelligence.
>
>3. The situation is ubiquitous. Some of the patrons who are not on the
>phone may be able to tune out the conversations, as they do in the other
>settings of their lives.
>
>
>Priscilla M. Streightoff
>Law Librarian
>Clark, Thomas & Winters,
>A Professional Corporation
>300 West 6th Street, Suite 1500
>Austin, Texas 78701-3902
>Phone : (512) 472-8800 x1218
>Fax : (512) 474-1129 ATTN: P. Streightoff
>Email : <mailto:pms@ctw.com>pms@ctw.com
>
>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This transmittal, including attachments, if any,
>is intended for a
>particular addressee (s), and may contain confidential and privileged
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>
>
>
> >>> "Sharon Wayland" <SWayland@TarrantCounty.com> 8/31/2007 10:33 AM >>>
>
>I know this has been discussed before but our problem with cellphone users
>has become increasingly worse and I am wondering if others are having the
>same difficulties. Fort Worth sits on top of a huge natural gas reserve
>and so our library (and the entire courthouse for that matter) has very
>recently been overrun by people doing oil and gas research. They talk on
>their cellphones incessantly and no amount of warning and signposting has
>seemed to help. We used to allow them to keep their phones turned on in
>vibrate mode but the phone conversations became so loud and annoying, we
>recently posted signs tellling them to shut them off completely. Now we
>are fighting with them all day long to get them to KEEP them turned
>off. They are usually cooperative about turning them off but almost
>invariably, end up turning them back on, sometimes within just a few
>minutes. I am not talking about one or two isolated cases but more like
>dozens every day.
>
>What do you do when you have a large number of patrons who abuse the rules
>constantly? This is public library and I hesitate to start banning patrons.
>
>Sharon Wayland
>Tarrant County Law Library
>100 W. Weatherford, Rm. 420
>Fort Worth, TX 76196-0800
>817-212-7228
>Fax 817-884-1509
Judith A. Siess, B.A., M.A., M.S.L.I.S.
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