I spotted someone enjoying a casserole supper recently at my local library.
Reviewsbylola That's hilarious! 8y
saresmoore Ha! My straight-laced heart just thrummed in my chest. Isn't that against the rules?! 8y
Lindy @saresmoore The no eating policy ended in about 1990 at Edmonton Public Library. I had a dream back then: I found a group of patrons peeling oranges and smoking cigarettes in the library where I worked and appealed to my supervisor about ejecting them but she told me everything was now allowed. (In real life, smoking is still banned.) Sometimes people ask if they can use the staff microwave. (No to that, also.) 8y
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saresmoore @Lindy That's so interesting! I can't imagine having the nerve to ask for use of the staff microwave. 8y
TeR Omg--- we are not allowed any food in our library! 8y
Simona 😲 I'm speechless... 8y
Lindy @saresmoore Scissors, stapler, lined paper, plain paper, paper cutter, ruler, tape, envelopes, coloured markers, pen with blue ink, pen with black ink, red marking pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, correction fluid, protractor, a glass for the drinking fountain... So many things get asked for, all the time. 8y
Lindy @TeR @simona @saresmoore When I gave a presentation about teen services to a conference at the Montreal public library in 2007, they were shocked at the idea of allowing food. Or even talking. They said they had to kick teens out all the time for laughter. It was very different from the rest of North America. 8y
Simona I am really shocked because I've never seen before that you can eat in the library and to put it mildly - it seems to me rather strange... 8y
shawnmooney It's a little shocking to me too, but I think it's absolutely wonderful! I have heard that more and more libraries are starting to have silent reading rooms and talking-is-allowed reading rooms. Sounds like a great idea to me. 8y
Foxyfictionista I'm making an intense frowny face at the thought of eating food in the library. And who brings a flipping casserole???? 😵 8y
Donna_sBookMinute This is wrong on so many levels. 1. Eating a casserole in the library. I'm just getting over them allowing snacking. 2. A bag that will make noise no matter how quiet she tries to be. 3. She's gonna eat from a spoon that's been resting on a table that may be reasonably clean but not sanitized. I could probably go on. But these three jump out at me. 8y
Lindy @Donna_sBookMinute And also some staff member will likely have to clean up afterwards. @Foxyfictionista Yeah, the giant bag of pretzels is not so remarkable, but an actual corningware casserole... that's unusual. I'm still shaking my head. 8y
Foxyfictionista @Lindy @Donna_sBookMinute There are so many issues here that I find frustrating. I live in a big city and the people that aggravate me the most are the people who don't think about how their actions affect others. The hygiene, the cleaning up, the smell, the bag rustling... There are so many reasons that this isn't quirky; it's discourteous to those around her. I get that she has a lot going on, but I still can't wrap my head around this. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute @Foxyfictionista -- I was outdone when I saw it at my neighborhood branch several years ago. The first thing I noticed was the noise. I was raised with the use of hushed tones in the library. No one seems to care about lowering their voices these days -- even some librarians. Then, when I saw a box of snacks for sale at the information desk, I was done. But this lady here . . . As the saying goes, "Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile." 8y
Foxyfictionista @Donna_sBookMinute that's insane! I live in Britain and have seen food in a library only once. The Barbican Library had cake to celebrate an event but the public aren't allowed to bring in their own food. I wonder if this is common in US libraries. My mom worked in a library in NC for many years and I'm sure that people aren't allowed to bring in food. I can't imagine a library selling food unless they have a cafe or something. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute Today's generation doesn't practice the same level of respect/decorum previously held for libraries. Rules are relaxed. Libraries are used for general entertainment these days. Computers and internet access are not limited to information regarding books. Some librarians don't even hold their voices down when assisting patrons. It's annoying to have to tune out. The food is just a sign of the times. Unfortunately, I'm over it. #librarycafe (edited) 8y
Lindy @Donna_sBookMinute Yes, libraries have changed a lot, and noise level tolerance has long been contentious. When I started work in 1989 at the busiest branch library in North America, there was a big sign over the reference desk: NO SILENCE. We have quiet rooms for studying, but the rest of the library space tends to get loud during busy times. I personally prefer quiet spaces, so I don't hang out at the library now that I'm retired. 8y
Donna_sBookMinute @Lindy -- "NO SILENCE"? Well alrighty then! Quiet rooms. Okay. One of the libraries I use has them too. And I have used them. I've also seen small groups hold meetings in them. These days, I'm usually in-and-out -- picking up or dropping off books. It's still a great place to be. But "remembering when" will never stop for me. Sometimes I feel like "the ghost of libraries past" when I watch the goings on. ????????????? 8y
Lindy @Donna_sBookMinute "the ghost of libraries past" - I like that. Like you, I usually make a quick stop at the library. It's so much easier now, with placing holds online plus book displays near the door for quick picks. 8y
MrBook @saresmoore @Lindy @TeR @Simona @shawnmooney @Foxyfictionista @Donna_sBookMinute Wow! That's over the top. I agree with all of you regarding maintaining standards via rules. To my irritation, our library has gotten a bit lax. Snack bars and close-containered drinks are allowed. We tell patrons not to use their cell phones, but they keep doing it anyway. Reference gets asked for things all the time: scissors, staplers, glue, white-out... 8y
MrBook Rubber bands, string, etc. We provide library-only USBs & headphones too. We had a lady on Thursday complain loudly to the Director (whom I was working with at the moment) that patrons were complaining she was running up & down the main staircase to get exercise (she said she has to stay with a group that meets in the building every morning--but she "wasn't at liberty" to provide her name or the group's name ???♂️?). 8y
MrBook We've had to call the police because one patron didn't want to pay a $2 fine and got physical. We've had to call the police because another patron's card from another library wouldn't work in ours. Lol, it's amazing. Oh, & @shawnmooney , we have a quiet room and 2 group-meeting rooms. We're about to remodel & add a cafe, a separate YA Department, extra bathrooms, 2 more quiet rooms, & 2 group-study rooms with media. 😊 8y
Foxyfictionista @MrBook @lindy @Donna_sBookMinute I work across the street from a library and I go there almost every day to read during my lunch hour. It's so peaceful. It's my haven from my corporate job. There have been a few times when a ring tone has gone off or the one time I heard a man loudly declare, "I will NOT be called a wanker!" but otherwise it's quiet and it restores my calm. I can't imagine it being noisy. Guess I'm old school too. ? 8y
Donna_sBookMinute I figured if these things were happening at my library it was standard practice. But it takes a while for it to spread. I once quietly answered my phone (on vibrate) to let the Michigan caller know I'd call back because I was at the library. In that short time, he heard enough background noise to exclaim, "The library? Sure is noisy." And @MrBook, please tell me the lady was using an exterior staircase for exercise?. Still inappropriate. ⬇️ (edited) 8y
Donna_sBookMinute Oh wow, @MrBook! Sounds like you've seen it all. I've noticed librarians have a great deal of patience. Since I've been on Litsy, however, I've gained a more personal advantage from your, @Liberty 's, and @Lindy 's posts. Please pardon me for not naming them all. And I'm sure I've made a strange inquiry or two, myself. Thanks, guys, for what you do. "Ms Balboa" "wasn't at liberty" because she knew she was out of line. ⬇️ 8y
Donna_sBookMinute @Foxyfictionista -- I'm glad your library is still the "oasis" it once was for all of us. Now that I think of it, it probably doesn't get loud until after school. And I actually enjoy seeing kids trying to use their inside voices while doing homework. The adults mentioned in this thread are exceptions. ? Some of their shenanigans are outrageous! But the police? Wow. I'll bet there are a lot of YouTube posts from libraries ?? THE ? (edited) 8y
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