tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post8944688470708872423..comments2024-03-14T04:35:06.209+13:00Comments on Beattie's Book Blog - unofficial homepage of the New Zealand book community: Here Come the Rules Police - silence in the library pleaseBeattie's Book Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-22189351716006786862012-02-06T11:42:03.588+13:002012-02-06T11:42:03.588+13:00The issue of noise is less clear cut in public lib...The issue of noise is less clear cut in public libraries, which cater for a diverse range of interests, than in academic ones, which are the focus of Steven Bell's article. I agree that it is important to be able to find a quiet place in a library - but if you want public libraries to be silent throughout and at all times, you may be wise to choose noise cancellation headphones. <br /><br />Noise is not new, either (see my latest post at http://librarylatitude.blogspot.com), though cellphones seem to bring it to our attention. The inappropriate use of cellphones is relatively recent, however, and more about rudeness than noise - and it happens in many places, not just libraries.Claire Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17549609289169890919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-39633785533466592652012-02-06T10:32:09.762+13:002012-02-06T10:32:09.762+13:00Oh dear. This is a step too far. Pursuant to these...Oh dear. This is a step too far. Pursuant to these definitions, there's no place for modernists in libraries.<br /><br />Such groups can organise their social lives, dates, whatever, in cafes, on sidewalks, or basically anywhere outside libraries. Whereas libraries are the one single place where an individual should be able to have peace and quiet.<br /><br />It's a complete no-brainer.<br /><br />It's as obvious as people who don't turn off cell phones in movie theatres or restaurants are ignorant brutes who don't deserve the fellowship of civilised people.<br /><br />In summation: in a library I don't want 'balance'; what rot. I want glorious silence because that has become the rarest commodity of all, and a library should be the one place it can be expected as of right, until the end of times – which seem to be coming faster all the while.Mark Hubbardnoreply@blogger.com