So You Want to Be Shushed

Last week Salon featured an article by Laura Miller titled Bring Back Shushing Librarians. Miller presents the findings of the recent PEW Research Poll "Library Services in the Digital Age"  and pleads for librarians to return to offering spaces in libraries that offer what she calls "refuge from this cacophonous world." As a library student, I am completely hooked on viewing libraries as civic spaces that offer the space and resources for knowledge creation. As an educator, I know that sometimes knowledge creation is loud and messy, and I also know that there are times that knowledge needs a serene space in which to blossom.

If we are truly serving the needs of our members, we are listening to our community. If our community is asking for more quiet spaces, we should not ignore them as outdated or as not understanding what libraries are all about "these days." While there are challenges to providing quiet spaces, especially in small community libraries like mine, where a tiny floor plan means programming takes place where everything else does, it is certainly not impossible to accommodate your members who are looking for a quiet reading space, tutoring space, or even just peace from the outside world. Figure out who wants quiet and when they come to the library. If your members express a need for quiet, suggest to them a time they could come in that there are no programs planned, offer a block of quiet(er) hours, or consider rearranging your space to offer a nook or two that are not as affected by the noise of other activities. 

We want our library members to expect more of their libraries. If the "more" our members want is "more quiet spaces" then we should find a way to provide them that.