Students and reading adults would be able to do their work when the environment is quiet. Basic good or bad manners and the use of quietness noise will maintain this quiet without ruining the fun (Shervin, 1971). A part from this, of course, would be parents' supervising their children while in the library to make sure that they are following proper library etiquette; this will obviously prevent the librarians from having to talk with the children to ask them to lower their voices (Kirkbrisde, 1965). While an absolute quiet is no longer required of librarian, patrons, and other patrons alike appreciate proper library etiquette.
Endorsing the new second floor Learning Commons as a desirable place to study is a better step of improving quietness. The Learning Commons is intended for every collaborative study, which makes quite a business when many voices are going at once. Due to that, the design took into account methods to dampen sound (Kirkbrisde, 1965). This also includes sound insulation in the walls of the group study rooms and also in the multipurpose room. In addition, there is a sound masking system in the ceiling that creates a white noise to make individual spoken words less distinct, so two adjacent groups will less likely disturb each other. Unfortunately, it is not sufficient for instances such as what you described (Shervin, 1971). We hope students will take a very important role in self-policing when others are disruptive and seek assistance from the security officer on duty or staff at the Circulation desk.
When unnecessary sounds intrude into our environment noise exists. People may be having all experienced to varying degrees the annoyance and irritation caused by noise. Sometimes this annoyance is brought about by disruption of our studying in the library. Sometimes it may be because we have to raise our voices over background noise to be heard or because we are distracted from our activities.
Wherever a student uses cell phone, they should keep their voices at a reasonable level to eschew disturbing others. Persons using cell phones in non-designated regions of the library must be asked to move to a cell phone friendly area just within the library, to determine the call or leave the library to move on with the conversation.
Individuals or groups disrupting the study and research environment of the library should be asked to discontinue the disruptive behavior or abandon the library for a short time. All library staff should also be empowered to resolve noise complaints and disruptive behaviors in the library. Also, library staff may request the assistance of LCC, Department of Safety if at all they deem it necessary.
The main cause of problems in library is the use of the electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops (Kirkbrisde, 1965). But throughout various studies, noise has always been clearly identified as an important cause of physical and psychological stress, and stress has been directly connected with many of our most common health problems. Therefore, noise can be associated with several of these disabilities and diseases, which may include heart disease, high blood pressure, headaches, fatigue and irritability.
Noise in library is also suspected that interfere with people's learning and with normal development of the unborn child. However, most people are largely unaware that noise in library poses such significant dangers to their studies and welfare. The reasons for this lack of awareness are peculiar. Noise is one of many environmental results in stress and cannot easily be identified as the source of a specific physical or mental ailment by the layman.
Some noise really irritates to the person who is really concentrating with his studies and many students like to make unnecessary noise that creates a lot of disturbance. Move the Denali printer from outside the library doors to the area directly behind the elevator on the second floor (the fish bowl). Much of the noise heard by students in the library is created by other students huddled outside the library around the Denali printer (Shervin, 1971). This will also encourage students to use the printers inside the library, reducing the need for students to frequently enter/exit the library doors.
Place cloth/carpet door stops on the second floor library doors to reduce noise created by students entering/exiting the library. Information Campaign - Inform students of library policies via e-mail, post library rules outside and within the library, post noise reminders on library tables, and incorporate library noise within the Owen Honor Code. Assign an Owen Librarian to sit at a table upstairs (Kirkbrisde, 1965). This will hopefully discourage students from talking and moving unnecessary materials in the library. In library there must be some librarian who will work in the place to maintain silence, to organize shelves for the books, to show the visitor on how to use library accessories and the rules and regulations of the library.
In conclusion, the second floor layout is awesome! So awesome that it seems as if nobody cares to study anywhere else in the library. This means that it is loud at peak hours, like obnoxiously loud (Shervin, 1971). Therefore, I would suggest that part of the second floor become quiet study; maybe only the back corner, abandoning the rest of the floor for collaborative work. It's so important also to lounge in those comfy chairs, reading a book and researching with a lot of electrical outlets to go around, that is until some "study" group decides to join and start chatting about anything and everything completely unrelated to school.
Reference lists
Shervin, D and Henley. Noise Industry, London: John Murray 1971
Kirkbrisde, A. Crackle of Thorns, London: John Murray, 1956.
