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I use to visit many of the Wake County libraries on a regular basis. However recently I have been keeping away because I find it very difficult to do reading and research in such a loud and often disruptive environment. I realize they have many family oriented programs at the library but lately it is starting to feel like more of a daycare center than a library with dozens of small children running about screaming and crying at the top of their lungs.
I understand stay at home moms want to get out of the house too, but I thought a library was supposed to be a place of relative peace and quiet. Aren't there better places suited for entertaining small children?
Maybe it just depends on the library. The one we go to (West) has the kids section divided from the adult section and also has quiet rooms. I think it is great to have so many kids taking advantage of the libraries.
I agree that it depends on the library, and also on the time of day. I don't know for sure, but I'd think that from about 1:00 - 4:00 would be quieter - toddlers are home for rest/nap time and older kids aren't out of school yet. Most of the kids' programming is scheduled in the mornings. Of course, there are always homeschooled kids and year-round kids who are tracked out, but I still think afternoons would be the quietest time.
When I was a kid our local librarian (and there was only 1 woman who worked in that little branch) used to "shush" us if we talked too loud. We learned early that you don't run around and make noise in the library. Parents enforced that rule too--going was a privilege that one would lose if one didn't behave. I don't ever see today's librarians enforcing such a policy--not that it's their job to police things, but it does help if the librarian says something rather than just let the kids run amok. Everyone seems to think that kids should do whatever they want, whenever they want or it 'stifles their creativity and freedom' if they're made to behave when they don't want to. <cough>bull</cough>
I agree that children should not run and make lots of noise in a library, but I really hate the "no talking in the library" culture from decades past that some people still cling to. Muted tones, sure - but like it or not a library today is a place of much activity, and expecting nothing but whispers or less is silly, and in my view creates a rather funerial atmosphere.
Kids aren't taught appropriate behavior for various different places these days. The culture of letting the precious little snowflakes express themselves however they want whenever they want is leading to a society of rudeness in our youth. Children SHOULD be at the library. They should also learn that it isn't a place to run and yell - and the parents are the ones that should be spoken to when they aren't controlling their young. All children can learn appropriate behavior - but only if their parents help them to learn and sometimes be tough in removing them from the situation when the children can't cope or behave.
And, FWIW, our north Raleigh library is definitely not quiet and does have the feeling of a daycare at times. I just avoid those times.
I find that it is more quiet at Barnes and Noble and used to just go there and plop down in a chair. On my last trip there I noticed they had removed all their comfy reading chairs. The only place you can sit now is at the Starbucks cafe at a table. The libraries are letting various clubs (moms clubs, twins groups etc) use their space for meetings. Growing up our local library was 3 stories and the top floor was the childrens section. That said even the childrens section was quiet because that is what was expected library behavior.
My mother has been a librarian for about 30 years now and she regularly says that the days of libraries being "quiet places" are over. Most local libraries want to be seen as more of a a bustling, activity center. Many of them also offer "quiet rooms" or "quiet zones" in a diferent area for people needing to study. Now, that doesn't mean children need to act like it's a playground or something with running and screaming, it's still an "indoor voice" place, but I think it's pretty well expected that plenty of children/families will be there and aren't expected to be silent.
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