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Libraries are places to read, to study, to enrich oneself. They aren’t malls. They aren’t hang-out spots for you and your loud, obnoxious, inconsiderate friends. Is library etiquette dead? Did it die between the time the Spring Garden Library closed and the Halifax Central Library opened? I’m conflicted on which should be the quietest floors. On the one hand the second floor (the children’s floor) is currently, constantly and tragically filled with screaming, rioting, flailing children. WHY? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? This is the time and the place for them to be taught not to be a screaming ear-terrorist. This is the place and time for them to learn respect for libraries. But, on the other hand, EVERY OTHER FLOOR is filled with adults (or people old enough to be acting like them) and for the LOVE OF GOD, those people should know by now the proper way to act in a library. As much as I love to see the new Halifax Central Library filled with hundreds of people—to see it brimming with life and activity—I honestly cannot wait for the glossy honeymoon popularity of it to wear off and the dedicated, respectful, quiet die-hard academics, bibliophiles and otherwise courtesy-quiet to give the space the respect it deserves. And for me to be able to read a god damn book without wearing headphones. —Where have the shushers gone!?
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2015.
This is what they planned; this is what we got… this is the “new” library norm. Enjoy!
Yeah those fucking 2 year olds with the lightbright!
It’s like shut the fuck up already! OR kids who have yet to reach the age of reason are probably too young to be expected to care about you, motherfucker. The adult part is reasonable, but the kid part of this bitch ID’s you as a moron. Children are basically drunken midgets. It’s the children’s floor. Let them be children on it.
You’re cut too shushy.
Seriously, this is why I haven’t gone yet, I’ll get around to it someday
THE TIME OF DEATH
“Is library etiquette dead? Did it die between the time the Spring Garden Library closed and the Halifax Central Library opened?”
The short answer to your question is, “Yes, yes it did.” What is unusual here is not the fact of its death but rather the precise time at which it died. It died between the time the Spring Garden Library closed and the Halifax Central Library opened.
However, it must be pointed out that there is no necessary causal relation between the death of library etiquette on the one hand and the closing of the Spring Garden Library and the opening of the Halifax Central Library on the other. In other words, one cannot coherently maintain that library etiquette died BECAUSE the Spring Garden Library closed and the Halifax Central Library opened. These are just two fortuitous events for which no causality can be ascribed. They are contingent. They just happened. To ascribe causality would be to enter into the realm of superstition and omens. This must be avoided at all costs. We must keep a firm hand on the rational tiller.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
OB, I guess you didn’t read about what’s allowed in the new library.
Hahaha Ob’s surprised the children’s section’s filled with children doing child things. Might also be why you’re allowed to check out these books and take them home, or two a coffee shop or anywhere you want as long as you return it on time.
It is simply unrealistic to suppose that any modern public establishment allowing all walks of life should adhere to our personal standards of behavior. If you would like quiet and agreeable circumstances, perhaps a public establishment might not be suited. Its simply the egos need to feel superior, making somebody ‘wrong’ so it can then become ‘right’, assuming an imagined moral high-ground and delusionally seeing itself as ‘better than’. Anger issues.
its a changing world, libraries are changing. different users are driving the changes.
not my idea of a cosy library either op, but there are not enough of us to justify keeping it the old way.
noise in a library is something they want now. personally, I think its because too many people now don’t want to be hindered in any personal way, do not want restrictive behaviour, do not want to speak quieter, learn to spell, step aside, hold doors, return greetings, leave coffee cups outside the store, hold bags on their laps, allow someone to go before them, hold in farts until alone, wash their bums before a date lol.
we seem to have become a society of large, rampaging children. phones in one hand, sippy cups in the other. make way for the emperor!
Get with it, Gramps, this IS what libraries are now.
The gals at the local Lynchmobery hold regular luncheons there now. Next month, they are erecting (pardon the calculated use of this word) a permanent gallows in the Halifax Living Room!
I would spell it moBBery, what say you?
The etiquette you’re looking for OP involves discipline, consideration for others and an attention span. Keep in mind this is 2015.
There are a gazillion more people using Central Library than ever used the old Spring Garden Library, so you really can’t compare. I think the “noise” is just the general hum you would expect to hear in a place that is indeed to popular. Except for the 2nd floor – you really would have to expect that that area will be noisier, right? For the amount of people in this place I’ve been impressed at the low noise level. “Die-hard academics” can go to academic libraries – we have many of those – maybe you should try one.
I’ve been in Central many times when it’s been busy and have managed to find several quiet areas. Change out of your cranky pants and take a look.