I am aligning myself with the Nanna Frye coalition...
Technological empowerment is not an entitlement-generator.
For example, when boom-boxes proliferated in the 1970's, beach-goers couldn't avoid being involuntarily inundated with others' loud music; whether they liked such music or not.
Was that right, just because it was technologically possible? I submit that it was not.
Rude behavior, digitally engendered or enhanced, is still rude behavior.
Compared to the myriad of places where you can talk out-loud to your heart's content; libraries are relatively few, far between, and dedicated to specialized purposes.
Let libraries remain places of quiet information gathering, quiet study, quiet contemplation and; if really necessary, quiet conversation.
Just as smokers are no longer allowed the convenience of making others inhale their smoke or go elsewhere, neither should loud-talkers be extended the courtesy of making others hear their conversations in libraries.
Or am I wrong?
David C. Clark, JD, MLIS (SLIS '97)
Law Librarian
Lightfoot, Franklin, & White, L.L.C.
The Clark Building, 400 20th St. N.
Birmingham, AL 35203-3200
205-581-0768 / 205-581-0799 FAX
(Any opinions expressed herein are solely my own.)
----- Original Message ----
From: "Frye, Nanna" <Nanna.Frye@jud.ca.gov>
To: Priscilla Streightoff <pms@ctw.com>; Information Bridges Intl Judith Siess <jsiess@ibi-opl.com>; Sharon Wayland <SWayland@TarrantCounty.com>; Lawlib <law-lib@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 6:26:05 PM
Subject: RE: Cellphone Users
I wear earplugs regularly when I ride my motorcycle and I can still hear car engines, dinky car horns, distant sirens, etc. just fine. For you to imply that earplugs block out the noise of someone talking on a cell phone across the table from a library researcher is not accurate. Historically, libraries have been zones of quiet for researchers and readers. Libraries can arrange for some confined area for those who need to talk/conference but by and large, they should remain quiet. Cell phone users can go elsewhere to talk but library users by and large cannot since they cannot always remove the materials they need from the premises. There is a time and place for just about everything in life and cell phone users need to learn those boundaries.
Nanna Frye, Law Librarian
Court of Appeal
San Diego, CA
From: owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu] On Behalf Of Priscilla Streightoff
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 3:56 PM
To: Information Bridges Intl Judith Siess; Sharon Wayland; Lawlib
Subject: Re: Cellphone Users
To paraphrase the bird in the hand saying: A pair of earplugs in my purse is worth a thousand signs.
There are several solutions to the "problem" of cell phone usage. One can be proactive planning by a personally empowered non-listener. Another can be thoughtful usage by the cell phone user (quiet text messaging; or moving to an enclosed area). Either person can find a way that "works."
When I went back to school as a non-traditional student (read older) I was surprised at the noise level in the academic library in which I studied (this was before law school, where the library was truly quiet - so it was another type of graduate school library). My reaction: hmmm, it's louder now in libraries. It really didn't occur to me to demand that everyone else defer to my needs. I went out and bought some earplugs. The problem dissolved.
I think it is unrealistic to expect most people to forego cell phone use for prolonged periods of time. When they are collaborating on a research project, it could be counterproductive. A no cell phone use requirement could well drive people away from the library.
Earplugs, as one option among several, also can block noise from children, chatty adults, electronic equipment of many types (air conditioners, copiers, computers, automatic doors...), and on.
It's one solution - not the only solution. However, it is a solution any individual can control without eliciting cooperation from others.
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 : pms@ctw.com
>>> "Judith Siess, Information Bridges Intl" <jsiess@ibi-opl.com> 8/31/2007 5:13 PM >>>
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 : pms@ctw.com
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This transmittal, including attachments, if any, is intended for a
particular addressee (s), and may contain confidential and privileged information. If it is not clear
that you are the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmittal
in error; any review, disclosure, copying, distribution, dissemination or use of the contents of this
information is prohibited. If you suspect you have received this transmittal in error, please notify
me immediately by telephone at (512-472-8800, ext. 1218) or by reply email to pms@ctw.com,
and delete the transmittal and any attachments, and all copies of the original message.
>>> "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.
INFORMATION BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL, INC. /I\B/I\
477 Harris Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44143 USA
voice: +1-216-486-7443, fax: +1-216-486-8810, email: jsiess@ibi-opl.com,
on the web at http://www.ibi-opl.com AND NOW BLOGGING at http://opls.blogspot.com/
Publisher and Editor of The One-Person Library: A Newsletter for Librarians and Management
The New OPL Sourcebook: A Guide for Solo and Small Libraries, Information Today, Inc., 2006, ISBN 1-57387-241-5
The Essential OPL, 1998-2004: The Best of Seven Years of The One-Person Library: A Newsletter for Librarians and Management,
Scarecrow Press, 2005, ISBN 0-8108-5429-5
The Visible Librarian: Asserting Your Value With Marketing and Advocacy, ALA Editions, 2003, ISBN 0-8389-0848-9
Time Management, Planning and Prioritization for Librarians, Scarecrow Press, 2002, ISBN 0-8108-4438-9
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