Phones and Library Etiquette

Needless to say, the cell phone is now a way of life.  Most people (including myself) have them and use them everywhere: the store, the restaurant, the park, and the library.  Yes, even the library, that temple of quiet and shushness has been impacted by the ringtones of Linkin Park and Taylor Swift, not to mention the conversations that follow.  Although I can understand the need to be reachable, what I can't understand is the rudeness that sometimes comes with cell phone use.

Rudeness Feature #1:  People talking loudly.

Alright.  You're waiting for an important phone call while you're in the library.  You finally get that call and take it, but what do you do?  You talk so loudly in the computer lab that you are disturbing others who are trying to work; you're oblivious to the people around you as well as the signs that ask you to turn off your cell phone.  Sometimes, I can clearly hear on the perch every word of a phone conversation taking place clear across the library.

Etiquette Fix--Please talk quietly or even better, take your phone call in an empty study room or outside the library so you do not disturb fellow patrons.

Rudeness Feature #2:  Talking on the phone when you're checking items in or out.

The other day, a patron comes in with a stack of DVDs to the perch.  She's talking on the phone.  She places the DVDs in front of me and waits (she's still talking on the phone).  I wait for her to pause her conversation and tell me what she wants me to do.  Finally, she tells me that she's returning the DVDs.  As I check the items back in, she continues her conversation while looking for more DVDs, and returns to the perch with a new stack.  Again, she puts the cases in front of me and doesn't miss a beat with her conversation.  I assume she wants me to check out the DVDs to her, and so I do just that.  She then takes the DVDs and leaves the library.  I can only wonder that if the roles were reversed and I was the one talking continuously over the phone while trying to help the patron, she would most likely be offended that I did not give her the courtesy of my undivided attention.

Etiquette Fix--When you're coming to me or anyone else at the perch for service, please refrain from talking on your phone.  We find it incredibly impolite and frustrating to work with distracted patrons.  Please give us the same courtesy you expect from us.  We do appreciate it.

Although cell phones are useful tools for functioning in today's world, please don't use them as an excuse for disrespect.  Let's all honor each other and keep the library a welcoming, quiet sanctuary for people to accomplish different things.

Just my 2 cents from the perch.