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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Noisy children in the library

29 replies

Quipsandquotes · 27/11/2018 12:36

I don't want libraries to go back to the days when a cross looking librarian 'shushed' anyone who raised their voice above a whisper. But things seem to have gone to the other extreme now. I was in my local library yesterday and there were:

Children standing on the chairs and jumping off them
Children running up and down the length of the library
Children shouting at the tops of their voices
A mother calling loudly to her sons at the other end of the library

It was more like being in a playground than a library.

AIBU to think there should be some level of calm and peace in the library, and parents should respect other users trying to read, study, or simply select a book without having to listen to a non stop racket?

OP posts:
AmyDowdensLeftLeftShoe · 27/11/2018 12:40

Why didn't you go and speak to the librarian to find out if that was now the norm with children in that particular library?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 27/11/2018 12:41

was there a toddler group or something running at the time?

SneakyGremlins · 27/11/2018 12:42

I don't mind children running around in their section and hearing them chatter amongst themselves is nice.

Screaming? No. Running through the whole building? No.

And that mother should know better.

Original poster
Quipsandquotes · 27/11/2018 12:42

No, no toddlers group.

There was only one librarian around and she seemed to be run ragged with other things.

OP posts:
Gromance02 · 27/11/2018 12:43

I don't want libraries to go back to the days when a cross looking librarian 'shushed' anyone who raised their voice above a whisper I think they should. Its a shame the way things have gone to the other extreme these days. Its ages since I've been in a library but the way I remember is that you kept your voice down.

Chouetted · 27/11/2018 12:44

Unless it's a small branch library, there is usually an area sectioned off where you can read quietly. If you ask the librarians, they can advise

The local history section is usually deserted, I find...

Picnicinnovember · 27/11/2018 12:46

I've stopped going to the library because of this. Some parents just show no thought or respect for any other users and let their kids tear all over the place.

The local teenagers also like to take over all the seating in order to sit around messing on their phones, while showing no interest in the books whatsoever.

PinkCalluna · 27/11/2018 12:50

Its ages since I've been in a library

If you don’t use them they will close and you won’t have to worry about this issue anymore

Satsumaeater · 27/11/2018 12:53

there is usually an area sectioned off where you can read quietly

Although I went to the so-called quiet section of my local library a few months ago because my home WIFI went down so I needed to use their WIFI to work. People seemed to tolerate quite a lot of noise in that area, even down to library staff having a loud conversation with each other. It wasn't great.

MartaHallard · 27/11/2018 12:57

there is usually an area sectioned off where you can read quietly

My local libraries are open plan. If there's noise in one area, there's nowhere to get away from it.

JudasPrudy · 27/11/2018 12:57

I think it's good that kids are using libraries, keeps them open for the rest of us.

Gromance02 · 27/11/2018 13:02

pinkcalluna I'm too busy doing my bit by going to the pub a lot and keeping them open!

5foot5 · 27/11/2018 13:20

If the library is big enough to accommodate it then I think it is nice for there to be a more relaxed children's area. Our local library has a section downstairs with sofas and things where it is perfectly acceptable for a bit of chatter and story telling. The quieter section is upstairs, so that usually works quite well.

However, you do still occasionally see children who have been allowed to run around and shout the place down. I saw two older boys (10 or 11) running around the shelved section playing tag. Fortunately the librarian saw them and asked them to stop before they bumped in to someone. Their father was near by and had just been letting them got on with it!

PinkCalluna · 27/11/2018 13:20

Good to know you are doing your but for the community Gro Grin

RangeRider · 27/11/2018 13:22

I don't want libraries to go back to the days when a cross looking librarian 'shushed' anyone who raised their voice above a whisper
They should. It's one of the few places designed for quietness. I'm sick of everywhere being taken over by noise.

Picnicinnovember · 27/11/2018 13:26

I would love a return to nice quiet libraries. One of the last bastions of peace.
But sadly, I think a lot of young families just wouldn't use them if they had to keep shushing their kids, so libraries have no choice but to allow noise and clatter.

zippey · 27/11/2018 13:28

Without children, libraries will close down and its libraries who need to adapt to make them more child friendly. They need to be more like play areas with an educational slant. It’s good to see children in a library.

Picnicinnovember · 27/11/2018 13:30

True Zippy, but surely it would also be good to see parents teaching their children how to behave in public shared spaces.
Letting kids tear up and down the library shouting, or jump on and off chairs is not really acceptable.

A580Hojas · 27/11/2018 13:31

Yanbu op!

rememberatime · 27/11/2018 13:31

Council's seem to have Incorporated all of their family related activities into local libraries. they rundown everything from crafting sessions to baby music time. It's good to get young children interested in the library - but there needs to be balance.

Libraries should run "quiet sessions" each day where people who want to simply sit and read or catch up on work know they can have a couple of hours of peace.

dameofdilemma · 27/11/2018 13:31

What's really depressing is seeing all the computers commandeered by 10 year olds playing Grand Theft Auto.

MartaHallard · 27/11/2018 13:35

libraries ... need to adapt to make them more child friendly. They need to be more like play areas with an educational slant

So where do people go if they don't want a play area, but want actual books, and a quiet space to read them? In the race to make everywhere child friendly, soon there won't be anywhere left that is adult friendly.

5foot5 · 27/11/2018 13:35

True Zippy, but surely it would also be good to see parents teaching their children how to behave in public shared spaces.

Absolutely, couldn't agree more.

There is a difference between a bit of unobtrusive chatter and full on shrieking and running around.

Picnicinnovember · 27/11/2018 13:42

Unfortunately parents have a lot of power nowadays when it comes to keeping shops in business, or public amenities open. And an increasing number of parents seem to feel that the enjoyment and wants of their children must come before everything else, and are pandered to by those desperate to keep places open. As a result older people in particular are being driven out of places that were traditionally welcoming to them.

continuallychargingmyphone · 27/11/2018 13:43

I often think libraries have had their day, which is a shame.

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