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April 30, 2008
Ban a baby, ban a phone
Aaron Schmidt makes an apt comparison between banning babies and toddlers in the library and banning cellphones. They're both small, loud, and annoy people trying to concentrate. Aaron is being facetious, but personally? I'm so baby-unfriendly that I might actually ban babies if I ran my own library and was beholden to no one. And it's probably a good thing that that will never happen.
April 30, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
Churchs and movie theaters have (had?) crying rooms. Why can't libraries? More to the point why can't they have "twittering cell phone idiots" rooms?
Nope, I'm not baby friendly either.
Posted by: Lara H. | April30, 2008
There's a big difference between a baby and a cell phone--one can't control itself when it needs attention, and one can be turned off. I get frustrated when I'm trying to concentrate (at work or at play) and a parent ignores the baby's needs, but I know that is the only way for the baby to express itself and I'm more intolerant of the parent's inaction. Cell phones, however, have a power button and a vibrate option specifically for settings where use of a cell phone is prohibited or is rude. I just wish more people would turn off their electronic leashes in the library.
Posted by: Melanie D. | May 1, 2008
Ive had my 1 1/2 year old daughter in work with me and she was perfectly well behaved. Her shelving was a bit erratic to say the least howeever.
Posted by: John King | May 1, 2008
I'm all for vibrating or quiet ring tones Melanie, and I understand where you're coming from. But the "electronic leashes" are now part of the library experience--accessing library services online, collaborating with others while in the library, and more. Those mobile devices are becoming more like PDAs, and even laptops, every day. We'd never ban laptops or PDAs - so why smart phones? Is it the ring tone? Is it the "loud talking"? If so, then those two issues are addressed not by banning the phone, but by using existing library policy prohibiting disruptive behavior (which being loud and obnoxious is). Don't ban the tech - address the underlying behavior problem.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton-Jan (LiB) | May 1, 2008
We've gone to having cell phone zones in our library. We ask you to speak on them only while in certain areas, and while in the no-cell-phone-talking area to please turn them to vibrate or off. While in other areas of the library you may use them. You may use them to check your messages or to text anywhere in the library. Just don't let them ring forever and don't talk on them in the selected area, which is heavily used by people studying and working (and concentrating heavily).
Since the area includes our Computer Center, we do make the occasional exception for people who have to use a cell phone for something directly related to what they are doing on the computer, with the understanding that they speak very quietly and finish as quickly as they can.
Reaction to this policy is mixed. You would think that with more than half of the library to talk in (and other patrons threatening violence), people would understand. Unfortunately, a part of the population will argue their right to talk on their cell phone in all parts of the library. Yes, even while standing next to the silent study room sign, where we don't even let people talk. Most people are pretty good, though.
And for the record, I've asked people with crying babies to leave the library. It depends, of course, on how loud the baby is, how long it has gone on for, where the baby is, and the effect it's having on other users of the library. But frankly, one pissed off kid doesn't get to ruin the use of the library for everyone in it. If you don't calm them down or step outside within five or ten minutes and the whole library can hear you? Yeah, I'll ask you and the bebe to leave. I think that's more than reasonable. (And considering that I've received a standing ovation from patrons left in the library, some of them do too.)
Whooo. Ahem. *puts her soapbox away*
Posted by: Meg | May 1, 2008
Hey, I'm not against banning cell phones, but can I just remind that that baby will 1) not end up in a landfill after 3-5 years and 2) will grow up to become regular patrons not to mention pay our salaries in the future?
Cell phones are a convenience, but we *need* babies in libraries. They need us too. I can't say I really like this comparison.
Posted by: Ryan | May 2, 2008
We have a rule in our computer lab that covers disruptions--be it babies, cell phones or anything else. The issue is not really about noise. It's about the entitlement generation. 20 years ago you did not see as many loud and obnoxious people. If a mom had a baby with her and it cried, she stepped out. People seem to be more self-centered in the instant access, instant gratification world the Internet has created.
God I feel old.
p.s. Sarah you would not want to visit my house right now :)
Posted by: Lori Reed | May 2, 2008
We avoid across the board "bans". The general principle is that no one should be allowed to make the library unusable for anyone else. We have many patrons who are very respectful on their phones, use vibrate instead of ringers, and move to an isolated spot to talk. We also have many parents who remove their babies immediately when they become fussy.
HOWEVER, there is a big difference between approaching a person with a loud phone and one with a loud baby. The phone user can modify his/her behavior and continue to use the library: the ringer can be turned off, the person can move to a different area, and as a rational being, be asked to talk more quietly.
A baby can not be reasoned with. Unfortunately the mothers, (and yes it's almost always mothers) who are in the library with a baby are usually the very people with few other options; they may be desperate to finish an assignment for their GED class, or trying to submit an online job application before the deadline. I've dealt with mothers who were in tears because if they had to leave the library, they might fail a class or miss a job opportunity.
In such cases we compromise: I'll ask other patrons to be a little patient, I'll ask the mother if there's anything I can email her, or anything else we can do to help her get done faster. And yes, I've even held and soothed babies myself occasionally!
We talk a lot about invisible barriers to library service: an inability to serve women with crying babies is definitely a barrier.
Posted by: Lesley | May 5, 2008
Oh LIB, I thought *I* was the only one who was so baby unfriendly! LOL I'm with you!! --TIL
Posted by: The Illustrated Librarian | May17, 2008
