This summer I was asked to lead a committee of staff members to outline procedures for handling behavior issues that arise in the library. By behavior issues, I mean incidents such as loud conversations on cell phones in the library, eating in the library, running, loud levels of noise, throwing materials, on so on, escalating to major issues of safety. I was wondering, what is your experience with these sorts of incidents? When working in public service areas of your library, do you ever have to approach patrons about their behavior? Are there certain behaviors, activities that are not allowed? Do you post expectations about library behavior? Or is this something you think is largely unecessary or uneeded in your environment? I’m especially curious about those of you who work in academic libraries, and how your experience might be different from the public library world.
1 Comment for Behavior in Libraries
Dave | September 5, 2005 at 2:26 pm
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Ginger -
A complication to policing library behavior comes when our own policies and facilities are obviously at loggerheads with themselves. A case in point: academic libraries are beginning to install cafes or coffee carts in their libraries. At the same time, libraries often require patrons to eat only in designated areas and only allow covered drinks in the research areas. This constitutes a tug-of-war between what we say and what we do. Here’s food; don’t eat it.
I think when access staff begins to re-evaluate policies, they need to be able to view the library from a patron’s perspective. Is there anything we do that seems contradictory?
This might sound absurd, but it’s true: I once had to stop a professor from entering the rare books reading room with a muffin and coffee from the library’s cafe. We’ve also had to routinely ask researchers to step outside of the reading room to talk on their cell phones; while most instinctively do it without asking, some just think that chatting quietly is okay.
The most recent behavior that needs evaluation is digital photography of library materials. At what point is the copyright being violated? The library, of course, usually has no knowledge of what the patrons are doing outside of the building, but inside is another matter.
I’ll be interested in whatever documentation you guys come up with!