Noise and Quiet Zones
The Library is a place of active research and study. Some who use the Library expect to be able to study in complete silence. Some can tolerate a measure of noise and activity around them. Some are used to studying amidst the bustle of everyday life and do not notice the noise around them, or the noise they make themselves.
For this reason, we have divided the Library into zones of activity. Generally, we expect more quiet in the Library than in the Learning Commons.
- The quiet zones are now the second and third floors of the Library.
- What was once the Reserve Room will now be dedicated to group study. Here we ask students to be very conscious of each other: quiet talking is allowed, but it must not be disruptive.
- On the stairwells and in lobby areas, normal-voice talking and cell phone use is allowed, but again only to a reasonable level.
During the school year, full-time staff members patrol our stacks and study areas regularly. These scheduled walks, between one and three hours apart depending on the time of day, allow us to educate students about the need for quiet, and to enforce our rules.
All staff members, including Student Assistants, are expected to enforce Library rules. if you need assistance, or if your intervention is ignored, refer the problem to your Supervisor right away.
Occasionally, one of the sources of noise in the Library is needlessly loud conversations among staff, or between staff and patrons. Normal conversation should be quiet, and all staff members are asked to contribute to our helpful library-like atmosphere.
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