Cell Phones

Why isn’t there a rule against using cell phones in the library? More than once I have been annoyed to the point that I can’t concentrate on my work because of constant loud talking by people sitting around me or walking by using their phones. Even a designated area for people to talk on their cells would be better than it is now.

STAFF REPLY
We have gone round and round about cell phones and whether a policy would help police the inconsiderate folks talking loudly on their phones.  We've decided, though, that the problem is the loudness and not the fact that they are on a phone, and that we should approach the problem as a noise issue.  We expect everyone to be conscious of their voices in the library, whether it's someone on a phone, parents with noisy children, friends socializing, or even our staff.  Although we don't expect people to whisper here, we do expect that people will be considerate of others around them.  If someone is being too loud, we encourage others to ask them to lower their voices.  If you aren't comfortable doing that, let one of our staff know, and we will talk with the loud person.

Comments

Cell phone reception in the library is patchy and it is frustrating when people are constantaly repeating "What?", "I didn't hear you"... If cell phones were banned or at least designated to the lobby it would cut down on the disruptive talk in other areas of the library. Plenty of libraries have already banned cell phone use.

[Marsha]

What I don't understand is why you don't say something to the person who is annoying you by talking on their cell phone. I think that's much more effective than the library posting a sign that people won't read or pay attention to.

Please please ban cellphones except in the lobby. They are not fair to others trying to work!

Please please ban cell phones from the library!!

[Michael Adams]

There ought to be a designated area -- such as the lobby downstairs where the telephone is -- for cell phone use. And the policy should be that cell phones should either be turned off or set to vibrate only; every cell phone ring I've ever heard is annoying and distracting.

As far as the decibel level of cell phone conversations, it seems that even when users are trying to be quiet, their voices are louder than a quiet conversation between two people actually present.

Somehow, we all got along just fine until a few years ago without cell phones. Restricting use to a designated area would be no great burden.

[Ann]

So why don't you say something to the person if their noise is bothering you? Maybe they don't know they're loud until you tell them.

There should at least be a policy to silence the phones, or put them on vibrate only, the sudden interruption of of a phone playing a jarring tune is most unpleasant.

Why not limit cell phones to the coffee cart/book sale area?

Cell phone talkers drive me crazy. They think we can't hear them.

It is always nice to have the luxury of being able to call someone while standing in front of the books to ask what book they wanted, but unfortunately people are not always quiet and considerate when using their cell phones. I think they tend to talk louder. I see this in the grocery stores, as well. I would hate to see the library ban cell phones altogether, but I like the idea of a designated area for use, or perhaps a sign reminding people to be considerate of others.