I had to walk out of the library the other day. I was wearing noise canceling headphones and listening to music at a normal volume and yet a mom with three kids drove me out due to the fact they were running around and yelling like it was their house.
I travel and this is the new normal at libraries throughout the U.S. Many libraries now have an open area children’s section where the kids can play on the floor and be as loud as they want.
I do use study rooms at the library but not all libraries have them and a closed glass door does not block all the noise from a screaming baby/toddler.
Libraries are a shared space and in the past used to be quiet. Now in the effort to be inclusive to everyone they don’t enforce any noise rules because they want those moms and their screaming kids to come visit the library.
And of course, you cannot complain to anyone about this because if you do so you are a Karen and no one will care and then they’ll tell you “if you don’t like it you can leave” This is society now…everyone does what they want with no regard for others.
Bad parents are a thing. Children screaming loudly in an indoor environment should be corrected.
I don’t think your opinion is unpopular. There are lots of people who will agree with you that libraries should be absolutely silent.
But I don’t agree. There should be space for kids to learn to love books. They might noiser that you would like, but kids who love books are a benefit to our world.
Libraries are a community meeting place, one of the last good third spaces left. If you want perfect silence go home.
Libraries are not your unpaid office space.
Remember that you said that the next time you go to a movie theater and there is a baby crying or people who will not shut up.
Yeah, I had to pay to go to the movie theatre. The library is free.
One of the many reasons I haven’t been to a theater since 2012.
At the end of the day, there will always be stupid people who make bad decisions. This comes down on the theaters to either enforce a “no babies” policy, or have one of those little sound proofed side rooms like churches.
I agree that there should be space for kids to learn to love books, but I don’t think OP is at all unreasonable for wanting there to be a part of the library that’s quiet.
I agree, they are a space OP pays for. They aren’t an office space, but they ought to be kept suitable for tasks like reading, research, note taking, poetry writing, and math homework.
Aren’t libraries mostly funded by local taxes? Since OP is traveling around the country, they’re probably not paying for the local library. Or at least a much smaller portion than the local kids’ parents.
It’s unfortunate if a library cannot provide both a space for children and a quiet area for adults, but if they have to choose they should prioritize the local community’s needs over the out-of-towner’s.
Granted I missed the part about OP traveling all over the country. But don’t you think local community members also value quiet?
It’s not true that libraries can’t provide both, most can and do. Some can’t, but that’s a design flaw that’s reasonable to complain about.
I’m sure the local community does value quiet. But unfortunately we don’t have any feedback from the local community. We only have OP’s points of view. So I’m left to wonder whether this family was actually being disruptive by the local community’s standards or if OP is blowing this out of proportion. If it’s the former, then OP could have done everyone in that library a favor by politely bringing it up with the library staff instead of just complaining about it online. If instead the problem is that OP has different standards than the community does, then that’s just too bad for OP because they’re not the one actually paying for the library.