to want libraries to be nice peaceful places

[imahappycamper]

My local library is so noisy I can never choose a book there. Last time I went in there were people talking really loudly and the library assistant was telling anyone who would listen about her bad leg. It is quieter in our local Co op, even when it is busy. Is this the way all libraries are these days?

YANBU. If people want cafe facilities, then they should go to a cafe. If they want noisy toddler and baby sessions, they should go somewhere appropriate for that activity. Libraries are one of the last bastions of peace and quiet for many and a respectful silence is appropriate.

The library i work in is a much nicer to work in than a public library (its a prison library). People in public libraries can be so very rude to the staff at least at my work I get a little 'respect' and it's not taken for granted.

wearescientists I didn't mean anything by it.Just that people often tell me they assume we won't have the latest titles, when in fact we do,but they go out so fast they hardly touch the shelves.

I can see the appeal of having very peaceful libraries where people can potter around quietly choosing books, reading papers and studying, without the need for computers, coffees, dvds and children's storytelling sessions. But as far as I know all public libraries are supposed to pay their way and all these things generate income. They are also very popular.

I am lucky enough to live near a city with a fabulous library. It has everything you could want in a library, peaceful areas, a separate room for the children's library, internet, cafe, meeting place, exhibition area. I love going there and its really become the hub of the city IMO.

I love the idea of a library becoming a social place where people want to meet up. (I do also have a soft spot for the old traditional 'quiet' type libraries though so wouldn't want them to disappear.)

Our Library

this area is normally filled with exhibitions, craft fairs, information stalls etc.

Oh God KuriKurri I love the millenium library it's supposed to be the best in the country; I wish I worked there. I remember the old Norwich library with love too

It's a fabulous building Schroeder I remember the old library with fondness too - that was where we went when my children were little.

I do like the quiet atmosphere and can see why there are dvd's and computers but what really bugs me is the having to pay for library books to come from one branch to another. I have to pay 90p per book. I already pay heaps of tax.
Oh and another thing. So librarians are not 'librarians' like I knew in the day?? I asked one if they had a 'Who Writes Like' book and they had no idea what I was talking about.

I work in a library.

Our county doesnt have free internet accesss. You have to pay £1 per 30 mins unless on JSA.

Its a small branch and we do try to keep reference section quietish, have been lots of teenagers in there cramming recently.

Lots of dvds are borrowed (at £2 a week) but there still seems to be a good circulation of books.

The self service machine isnt so great though, we have started to have lots of books one the shelf that are still on peoples tickets and some at peoples houses not on their tickets, we only find out when they try to renew.

I was in my local library the other day with my 4 year old. He and another child started larking about as small boys do while I was trying to make sense of their new self service style system and the librarian got quite cross with them and told them to shush, glaring at me for not controlling my child more effectively. I was a bit annoyed as the library quite often have activities on for children where they are allowed to make as much noise as they like, so how is a 4 year old supposed to know when to be quiet and when its ok to make his usual rackett?!I agree that children should be encouraged to enjoy visits. Mine really do and I would hate to put them off. Its different in a study library where I do agree people need to be quiet.

YANBU. There are plenty of other places to chat and listen to music apart from libraries. Some people can only really concentrate to work/study in a quiet environment and I think it's a good thing if libraries can provide this.

I live not far from Norwich and though I don't use that library for day to day stuff we go there once a fortnight with dd. She adores it. It's a pretty amazing building.

Exogenesis - you are so right, I work in a large public library and the rudeness we encounter was the one factor which made me reluctant to return after maternity leave. It is at least balanced by the extremely pleasant and interesting people of all ages that frequent the place, which help remind me why I wanted to work there in the first place.

YABU.

Yanbu. Our libraries are fairly calm and quiet. Yet busy at the same time.

I am really surprised (not in a good way) at the number of people who say they encountered rude people at the library. Very sad.
I think libraries should have a nice balance of buisy noisy moments and of peace and quiet. In ours it is very "lively" one morning a week because there is astory time for children and sometimes baby massage sessions. Other than that, quiet enough to do some work.

Imagine this book shop was your library

But, biryani, I don't want a toddler and baby group, I want somewhere I can take my toddler and she can learn about how much fun books are. If the library was a silent solemn place I wouldn't feel comfortable taking her there at all, but a playgroup or park isn't going to have masses of board books at toddler height that she can pull out, plop down on a cushion, and "read" to herself upside down, is it?

I love my library. The kids section is down one end and has low sofas and a few quiet toys (wooden puzzles, mostly), and some teddies, and loads of books. I read the MumsNet Guide to Toddlers there, while my daughter practised walking by holding onto the bookshelves. Then there's the cafe/magazines bit, which is slightly quieter than the kids bit, then the checkout desks, and the other side of that is the adult section, which is pretty quiet.

When I was a student I could never concentrate without total silence, so I do think academic libraries should have some silent bits. But local libraries are vibrant and fun and providing internet connections to people who don't have them is a public service. Arguably, these days, it's at least as important as providing free books.

When I worked in a library (busy, public branch) I don't think I ever shushed anyone. Little old ladies would come up to me after the rhyme time sessions to comment on how lovely it was to hear the babies singing in a library and although it wasn't noisy (since I think people automatically speak a little more quietly in a library) it wasn't silent either.

Funnily enough it is also the most dangerous job I think I've ever done. I was threatened with a knife (he had a fine to pay) and had to call the police countless times for all manner of behaviours, we didn't have any security back then either. I still loved it.

Yes the internet is the reason a lot of people come in. When some asked for a "card to use the computers" I would always point out it could be used for taking out books too (to their bewilderment ). But the library is a source of information, not simply books.

For those of you who are unhappy with the council spending your money on people having free internet access could you please bare in mind that some people cannot afford to have their own connection at home. Why should they be denied the use of the internet? I think it's vital that it is available to all.

Our library is great - busy (and sometimes noisy) downstairs where the children's library / computers / lending desk and fiction section. Upstairs is very quiet - the non-fiction section, with lots of reading desks.

I loved my local library growing up I was a book worm and the library was my home from home.

When my eldest was little I used to love taking her and feeling like I was passing on my love of books and reading.

Sadly the government decided that libraries shouldn't be for books anymore, they were for internet access, hiring DVD's and other services.

My local library had a refit and was made open plan with large chairs for lounging in and self service machines next to the automatic doors to the main road (excellent for trying to use while keeping an eye on 2 small children!). To manage this they got rid of over half the books, now they only seem to have chick lit and the "big" title authors new releases. You get charged if you want a book from another branch.

And we have stopped going to the library, we pick up new books from car boots for less money and pass them on to the charity shop when we have done.

I really miss going to the library of my youth, where they actually had books and were a haven for those people who wanted to read!

To me the point of a library was to have books in it, the whole thing makes me really but most of all it makes me

So it is me that is out of step with the modern way of thinking then (sighs). I will continue to browse in Waterstones and buy off Amazon then and gradually libraries will become a thing of the past.