Libraries and noise…

I spend a lot of time at libraries reading, studying and connecting to the web. When I was being brought up by my parents, I was taught that when you were in the library, you ONLY talked when you had a problem, and then to the librarian (or parents) in a VERY low voice. When I went to school, the same thing was said to us.

I use to go to the Pompano Beach Library here in Broward County, but it started to get noisier and noisier. I then moved to the “Beach Front” Library, but it didn’t have very good network connections (it was quiet though), so I went to the North Regional Library at the Broward College. Initially it was quiet. And easy to work with.

Even last year during the school year when I came in. This last two months has been a different story. It has been SOOOOO noisy that I’m about ready to give up internet access and find a more quite place to go! Today, as I type in the library, there are two VERY loud groups VERY near to me, talking as if they are in a stadium, with their loud voices, talking over each other. Add to that, across form me is a man and his 7 year old son (no school today) doing the son’s homework. In a VERY loud manner.

What happened to a Library as being a place to be quiet in? A place to study and read in peace?

Now, I can understand students getting together at a library to study together. This being a library at a school, they have SEVERAL rooms for groups to get together and work on projects. I just walked around. All but two are empty, and both of those two are single people trying to get away from the sound (I’m betting!). Why aren’t these folks heading to these rooms? Mind you, I’d LOVE to say, “these kids”, but adults my age or older are even talking loudly! Have they given up and “gone over to the dark side”?

I think I ranted on this before here, but I think it is getting worse! MUCH worse.

Oh, and don’t forget the cell phones! I just had a lady sitting one seat over from me, talking on her cell phone like she was at home in her bed room. (She was talking about making out, etc, with her boyfriend. (I could hear his voice and some of the words, I learned a thing or two there, let me tell you!!))