I have already responded privately to Roy Killey regarding his comments,
but as this is causing wider discussion I have expanded my earlier
e-mail below.
We face a wide variety of users with different social habits, and study
needs. For users who require peace to study we designate areas clearly
for quiet study, and are firm about enforcing that. However, other areas
are designated as noisy - adjoining photocopiers, thorough fares and IT
areas. In these we allow discussion by groups engaged in joint study as
long as it is not too disruptive (wild laughter, horseplay, etc), and
within those areas responsible use of any technology is permitted as
long as in our judgement it is not too disruptive. Mobile phones are so
prevelant that to strictly enforce a universal ban would leave us little
time for learner support, which is our primary role, and merely
encourage the perception that we are an unapproachable police force.
Hence my earlier e-mail.
Donald
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Denise Flowers [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 18 February 2000 09:04
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Mobile phone detector?
>
>Date sent: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 19:36:52 +0000
>Subject: Re: : Re[2]: Mobile phone detector?
>From: "Roy Killey" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Mitchell, Donald" <[log in to unmask]>,
> "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
>Send reply to: "Roy Killey" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>> If I go to a library to study, I expect to be able to do that in peace
>> and quiet. Indeed some students may only have the library as a quiet
>> place to work. I find it very hard to concentrate on complex ideas when
>> other people constantly have their phones ringing and my experience -
>> both as a user and an employee has been that phone owners have no
>> consideration for others wherever their phone happens to be to ringing.
>
>I agree, you must be able to expect peace and quiet in a library, in
>a lecture theatre during a lecture, or in church!
>>
>> One of the reasons why I never reserve a seat on the train is that I
>> could be sat next to some selfish business-person who thinks that the
>> whole world wants to know about their affairs for the whole of the
>> journey. The sooner mobile phones are banned in public communal areas
>> the better.
>
>Now this is where I disagree - when I am on the train (usually trying
>to work or read) I find any conversation annoying and distracting,
>not just phone conversations; people shouting at their children;
>people telling everyone about what they did the night before; people
>spoiling the end of the film you were about to go and see that
>weekend....
>
>So unless you can ban people talking in public, you can't really
>ban mobile phones everywhere - although libraries are appropriate
>places to do so.
>
>The other point about banning phones on trains is that on the few
>occasions I have used my mobile phone on a train, it has been
>when I was on my way to a meeting and I rang in to say that I
>would be late as there was a delay on the train!
>>
>> As a general comment, it's quite obvious that some people are unable to
>> exist WITHOUT noise. it iued to be a stereotype that this was something
>> found on the factory floor but it has now permeated to other areas. It's
>> interesting to be in Hyde Park in London when the football players
>> arrive with their ghetto-blaster. They're not actually listening to it.
>> They just need background noise.
>>
>> I am glad to be a philistine - I've been called much worse!!!!!
>>
>> > At the risk of sounding like a Philistine aren't we running the risk
>> > of confirming some rather hackneyed stereotypes about ourselves?...By
>>and
>> large most of
>> > the students met halfway like this respond fairly positively.
>
>
>
>
>Denise Flowers
>Quality Assurance Co-ordinator
>Information Resources Centre
>St. Mary's College
>Waldegrave Road
>Strawberry Hill
>Twickenham
>TW1 4SX
>
>Tel: 020 8240 2304 (direct)
>Fax: 020 8240 4270
>Email: [log in to unmask] (work)
>[log in to unmask] (home)
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