Talking in libraries

[ElleDubloo]

I feel like an old lady for saying this, but I’ve had to use the town library quite a bit recently and I’m shocked at how much people talk in there.

Not just whispering, but having full-blown conversations. One guy was shouting down the phone at somebody today, and being borderline racist. A few days ago two ladies were having a proper gossip about colleagues, and using swear words too.

I’m fine with young children making a noise, because they can’t help it, and it’s important that they’re welcome in libraries. And to some extent, I get that teenagers can’t help chatting a little too when they’re all revising in there together. But AIBU to expect adults to be quiet in libraries and respect other people’s time and concentration?

I politely asked someone to stop chatting the other day, and she actually told me to go study somewhere else

Libraries nowadays are not super quiet places where you will be shushed by the library assistants.

In my local library you are allowed to talk on the ground floor as it is the general lending and children’s library. So long as you aren’t being excessively loud talking is not frowned upon even making phone calls is allowed.
Upstairs however there is a quiet study area where mobiles phones are not allowed and although people do chat quietly while studying, full blown loud conversations are not permitted.

Depending on the size of your library it may not be possible to have a separate quiet area. However people should be considerate of other users near them, but I’m afraid you can’t expect silence.

Gives me the RAGE.

I know the librarians at one of our local libraries don’t like it either, they get annoyed at the kids using the place like a youth club but equally they know they’re aren’t any actual youth clubs for them to go to so they don’t want to chuck them out.

How any of the studious kids manage to get their homework done with all the yelling I can’t think.

But I think that children don’t seem to be taught the idea that there are places where you simply don’t talk.

Why has it changed? If people want to talk, they can go to a cafe. If people need to study, there’s nowhere else to go. It’s been proven that noise (esp people talking) affects concentration and memory retention. AIBU to feel really sad at this?

People are very disrespectful in libraries. I have previously had to use them to study. I study in addition to working, and being a mum. So I got to the library for desk space and ideally a quiet environment.

Have witnessed poor library workers asking people to be quiet and considerate of other users, just to be verbally abused and intimidated. Have seen a mother allowing her two kids to run around screaming and slamming things, when library worker asked her to consider that others are using the library for study and that some monitoring of the children would be appreciated she made threats to complain about the staff and was so very nasty (then went back on her phone and let the kids continue to run round screaming). I thought she was incredibly entitled.

I wish Libraries were still quite places. Where people could get on with quiet work, study or read. It's not a soft play area and even children should be taught to be quiet when in a library (unless designated kids room). My DC can do it, pre school age, I'm sure other kids can too with guidance from parents.

Our local library has a security guard . Whether he’s there to keep the peace or deter people from stealing I don’t know.