Doesn't it worry you that there's been so much discussion about
librarians 'shushing' people?
Regards
Mike
Mike Roddham
Head of Service
West Sussex Knowledge & Libraries
01243 831507or internal extn 2778
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-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bryant Mark (RHX) OLDT
Sent: 17 June 2011 05:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Library as telephone booth
Actually I think the zone idea is a really good one. It is a positive
solution to something that is not going to go away. I just seriously
disapprove of libraries full of notices saying that you can't do things.
People will always come up with something that you haven't thought of
and it does nothing to improve the stereotypical image of the librarian.
And I don't really want to feel used.
Mark Bryant
Outreach Librarian
Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust (Ridgeway Partnership)
Dermot Rowe Library
Slade House
Horspath Driftway
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7JH
Tel: 01865 228068
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.ridgeway.nhs.uk
Librarians are the secret masters of the universe
-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Shaw, Emma L
Sent: 17 June 2011 12:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Library as telephone booth
Well just to prove that I'm not afraid of confrontation this is my
response.
Like I said it depends on your users/library members ' The odd discreet
phone call' well lucky you, we get more than the odd phone call. Having
zoned areas doesn't mean we are enforcing rules, it's creating a space
that caters for all needs, whether you want to talk on your mobile, or
have a bit of quiet space, so there is no need for confrontation in the
first place, which certainly makes it a better situation for us and the
users, ah sorry I mean errrmm library members/people/humans/earthlings
whatever you want to call them. It also means that we can answer the
landline without disturbing the users, and instead of telling people who
are having long conversations on their mobiles, to stop, we can offer
them somewhere where they can continue. I to want to have a nice,
relaxed atmosphere, and that is why we did this while we had the
opportunity.
If you want to let people in with food that's fine if you have the
cleaners/funds to clean up the rubbish afterwards, or you don't have a
pest control problem, but actually we were not discussing that issue, so
I want say much more about that.
I only posted this to share a positive experience that we have had in
order to be hopefully helpful to others like Roger, I think the whole
point of this list.
I must say it would have never of crossed my mind to associate the term
'user' with fetish activity, what kind of 'users' to you get??
Emma
Emma Shaw
Liaison Librarian (Medicine)
Imperial College London
Medical Library
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital (LG Floor, Lift bank B)
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
Tel: 020 3315 8109
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bryant
Mark (RHX) OLDT
Sent: 17 June 2011 11:37
To: Shaw, Emma L; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Library as telephone booth
This is really only an issue for people who are lack assertiveness, are
afraid of confrontation and need rules and regulations to hide behind.
Of course my users agree with me because I create a relaxed atmosphere
where people feel comfortable to work, where they can take their coffee
and sandwiches in (or a three course meal if they really want to) but
where if someone is obviously disturbing other people I am not afraid to
go up to them and tell them. I don't need to have a rule about mobile
phones, playing the trumpet (I have actually had that in the library),
singing (actually I have done that) or whatever. The odd discreet phone
call really is not a problem (do you refuse to answer the land line
because it will disturb the users?)
Incidentally, don't get me going on the term 'users' - it sounds like
some strange fetish activity.
Regards to all in grumpy old man mode
Mark Bryant
Outreach Librarian
Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust (Ridgeway Partnership)
Dermot Rowe Library
Slade House
Horspath Driftway
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7JH
Tel: 01865 228068
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.ridgeway.nhs.uk
Librarians are the secret masters of the universe
-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Shaw, Emma L
Sent: 15 June 2011 12:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Library as telephone booth
Hi Roger, All,
This is an interesting subject and was discussed at the last LHL Library
Managers' Study Day last year, talking about what Libraries will be like
in the future, and was briefly discussed in the afternoon talks. You can
still see the presentations on the website
http://www.londonlinks.nhs.uk/2010-events/london-health-libraries-networ
k-event/?searchterm=None&month=9&year=2010.
I think it really depends on what type of library you are and who you
are catering for. We serve a wide range of NHS staff and Medical
students. We are very lucky in that we have space to make zoned areas
for a place for quiet study, training rooms, a place where people can
talk, and then a place where people can talk on their mobiles. The quiet
study area is very popular, by NHS staff as well as medical students and
even some students from other campuses who need to get away from the
hustle and bustle where there is no quiet space, or if there is, it's
full to bursting. Before we had divided the library up, we often got
complaints about noise, so creating this area has been a huge positive,
especially for NHS staff where there is no other space for quiet study.
So from our point of view the need for quiet space is definitely not
dying out. If you can cater for all needs then that is a good way of
dealing with it.
Obviously, this is not easy to do for all Libraries if space/funds are
limited, in which case I don't see why it is unreasonable to expect to
have it as a quiet space as naturally a lot of people still want to
study in the place where the information resources are, and particularly
if there is no other place to go to get a bit of peace and quiet. I
think that users need to understand/appreciate that people need quiet
space too. Unfortunately, some don't understand this concept and you
have to teach them, my colleague once had to ask a new user who had
their ipod on, and was unfamiliar with using a library, to stop singing
loudly as it was disturbing people (as well being painfully out of
tune!). Thankfully most of our users are very considerate and use the
zones or go out of the library to use their phones, however sometimes we
have to ask people, who usually listen. For the very rare occasion when
we have had to deal with more difficult users, I often dream for a
situation when they have an important exam to revise for, or had a
difficult day on the ward and need a quiet space to read, and I'll sit
next to them and have a loud conversation on my mobile.
So for us having a quiet space has been a real selling point. Sorry for
the essay!
Best wishes,
Emma
Emma Shaw
Liaison Librarian (Medicine)
Imperial College London
Medical Library
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital (LG Floor, Lift bank B)
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
Tel: 020 3315 8109
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roger Farbey
Sent: 15 June 2011 10:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Library as telephone booth
Probably my (albeit subconscious) original motivtion in this post was
exploring what exactly libraries in the 21st century are for. This
applies across the board not just to medical and academic libraries but
public ones too. There are few places left where anyone can find peace
and quiet in order to think and / or study outside perhaps a monastery.
Phones in libraries...the thin end of the wedge? Why not ghetto blasters
too? This isn't meant to sound reactionary, but surely libraries if they
are going to exist in 100 years time must remain the last bastion of
tranquility. A space where contemplation and thought are possible
without the distraction of music, conversation, traffic...There are few
places left where this is possible. I wonder if libraries are simply to
become another area for multimedia and social interaction, then maybe
they aren't libraries any more. Interestingly, entering the very 21st
century British Library reading room, festooned with laptops everywhere,
the thing that hits you, almost physically, is the silence. A very rare
thing. Libraries (and this goes for CILIP too if anyone is reading this
from there) urgently need to sort out their USP now. Before it's too
late.
The Trust is one of the leading providers in the UK of specialist health
and social care support services for people with learning disabilities.
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The Trust is one of the leading providers in the UK of specialist health
and social care support services for people with learning disabilities.
This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the
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disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this
communication. If you have received this in error, please contact the
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