Maroon Opinions

Noise in Crerar

Did anyone consider the noise implications of moving the Crerar Usite cluster up to the first floor? The first floor bank of computers used to be the only place where one could work at a computer in a quiet atmosphere. Now with the increased traffic and people asking the Usite help people for computer assistance and various staff members loudly discussing the transition, it is just as noisy as every where else in this university library system. The upper floors are quiet, but the computers are not set up for convenient work because they are not placed at desks. I relocated to Crerar because of noise at the Reg. Where should I go now?

We checked with the Crerar folks, and they said: "While overall the John Crerar Library is a very quiet library, the 1st floor has always been considered a discussion area because it contains the Reference Desk, which at times can be a busy service point."

"While the 1st floor is a high activity area, the lower level, 2nd and 3rd floors are considered quiet spaces. As you mentioned the computers on the 2nd and 3rd floor are not ideal for continuous use because they are on kiosk stands and not tables, however you may want to consider using the Library computer on the lower level of the library, which is located on a table. Your other option would be to use one of the NSIT computers located further away from the Reference/Computing Assistant Desk to avoid the noise created by staff assisting patrons."

Noise

I frequently have to ask undergraduate students in the library to stop talking. Most of the time students just roll their eyes and continue chatting. Is there anything else the library can do to ensure a quieter place to study?

Generally the best tactic for individual situations is to ask students to stop talking. If you're getting ignored, feel free to point the offenders out to the nearest librarian or staff member; we're certainly willing to shush people.

More generally, we've discussed several strategies for reducing noise in the Reg (assuming this is the area of concern), including possibly establishing a "deep quiet" zone or floor. This idea is controversial, because there are many library users who prefer to study in groups that make a certain amount of noise. So we're trying to find a solution that takes everyone's wishes into account.

Construction Noise

I am finding the construction noise in the library, to be very distracting to my work. Well I am happy that the library and its furniture are being refurbished, I would like to know if more of the work could be done off-site to minimize the noise level in what should be a quite study area. Also, could more work be done after hours when the library is closed?

I appreciate that this would increase the cost of repairs and possibly the time it takes to complete them, but it might be worth it for those us who need a reasonably quite work space and need to access material only available at this library.

We ask our construction partners to conduct operations from 6-7 AM to 3-4 PM, and to schedule particularly noisy work like drilling and concrete cutting in the early morning hours when the building is closed. On long projects,  we also work with the crews to schedule quieter work during 10th week and finals week.

This being said, noise is often unavoidable. We do try to communicate where noisy areas might be via our Construction webpage (accessible from the "What's New" box on the library home page), but if there's a particular problem in your favorite study spot let us know and we'll see what we can do.

The Audience is Listening

Could the library post signs in the new TV room on the fourth floor letting people know that the glass walls don't block any sound?  It seems like people are unaware that talking in there isn't muted at all since the glass door does not completely seal the room.  Even better, could the school look into making the room soundproof?
Thanks very much!

I think you probably mean the fifth floor, where we have just opened a new multimedia classroom. We used to have signs up notifying people the room wasn't soundproof; we'll make sure they are put back. Note that the room is explicitly for group use, so there is bound to be a bit of "noise leakage" near there.

UPDATE: Our colleagues at the Law Library reminded the Suggestions Office that the DLL has a nice TV room. Unfortunately they also say there is no way to make the room soundproof.

Cellphone Noise

Hi, I'm a student at the UofC and study in the Reg often. I usually study on the 4th floor, although, my complaint is pretty uniformly distributed across the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. People seem to talk on their cell phones a lot. In addition, many people hold long, fairly loud conversations with their friends. It's actually very disturbing, and I've moved several times in one day to avoid the noise. Thank you

Unfortunately, this is not a new complaint. Instead of fleeing the scene, we recommend asking the noise-makers to silence their phones or take them outside. If they refuse, please refer them to Library staff.

Noise in RR2

Use of cell phones and excessive talking in the Regenstein are becoming more and more of a problem. To make things worse, many students believe that such behavior is perfectly acceptable and refuse to stop talking on their phones when asked. I was wondering if you could post the library's noise policy more conspicuously, especially on the second floor. Thank you very much.

Happy to oblige -- new signs are in the works. Look for them to appear in the next week or two.

Squeaky Carts, III

the wheels on the mobile garbage bins that the cleaning people carry must be greased. they generate a very loud, high pitched squealing sound. it is very distracting, especially when these things are pushed across an entire floor in the library. thank you.

We've been at work on this for a while, and at this point we think we've eliminated all the squeaks. Let us know if that's not the case.

A Written Policy on Noise

What is the policy for talking in the library? It is my understanding that the A-Level has been designated as a talking area, and that the rest of the library should be quiet at all times. I recently asked a student to stop talking on the second floor because it was distracting my studies, but he refused and requested written proof that this was library policy. Most people are considerate and will stop talking when asked, but I would like to know the library's official policy and to know whether it is stated anywhere on the library website? Thank you.

The Suggestions Office staff is  stunned that there might be ambiguity on this point, but in case anybody's wondering: "The Library is for Quiet Study and Research." More explictly,  on the back side of the large hanging floor map (near the entrance to the second floor) are the following words:

THE LIBRARY IS FOR QUIET STUDY AND RESEARCH. Please keep conversations to a minimum. Group study and conversation should be limited to seminar rooms or the A level group studies.

The same language is on the back of the maps on floors 3,4, and 5, and on a sign taped to the entrance turnstiles. 

Please feel free to refer anyone to the signs; if they continue to trouble you please alert library staff.

More on Noisy Patrons

Follow up to "Noisy Undergrads"

I want to second this comment and state that I don't think it is merely before and during finals--there is an on-going noise problem most of the time. Nor do I think it is only a problem of undergraduates. It seems to be much more general and wide-spread.

I honestly don't understand why the library keeps saying they are trying to find ways to address this problem when I don't see any concrete changes happening ever. I know it is unrealistic to expect we will ever have total silence throughout the library. But it is clear that the stated policy of the library being for "quiet study", and the existence of signs to that effect, is simply not working. This is a huge library--what are the potential difficulties that might be caused by designating some portion of it as "absolute quiet?" Surely it must be worth at least trying SOMETHING to address the on-going complaints about library noise.

I've been watching this debate unfold for years and have yet to see anything concrete being done to address the concerns of people who need quiet spaces for their research and writing. The library offers the same response --"just ask people to be quiet"-- over and over again. Clearly this method isn't working. We need the library administration to step in and at least try to do something.

It's true that our first answer to most noise complaints is "ask your noisy neighbors to quiet down." This is by far and away the most effective technique.  Crerar, for example, is the definition of quiet—because that library's regular users actively glare at and shush noisy visitors.

As we've blogged before, "deep quiet" zones in the Reg raise problems of enforcement, location, quantity (how many zones?) and may send the wrong message about the other areas of the Reg being "noisy." There isn't any consensus on these issues, either among the Library administration or our advisory groups.

[P.S. to the suggestor (suggestors?): while we respect your decision to complain anonymously, these types of complaints are often strengthened if you at least provide your division/department when filling out the suggestion form. If you're in Classics, for instance, we may already have a solution for you...] 

Noisy Undergrads

The regenstein is completely unusable before and during finals week for graduate students. There are phd students who come to this library everyday to work and meet their own deadlines. It is extremely frustrating that that work has to be interrupted because the library staff cannot enforce policies of conduct in the library. The noise level is inexcusable. It would help tremendously if the library staff would consider either designating certain reading areas as accessible to graduate students only or if they would make SILENT study areas more clearly recognizable to undergraduate populations. Many of us trying to complete PhDs cannot afford to take two weeks off every quarter while undergraduates cram for finals. It is unfair and irresponsible. The A-Level has already been given up as a social space, why can't other areas be designated as study spaces? It is, after all, a library.

Officially the entire library—besides Ex Libris and the canteen—is for quiet study and research. There are signs at the entry turnstiles, and at least one sign on every floor (check the back of the hanging floorplan map) to remind users of this fact.

Thus, you are empowered to ask any patron to quiet down.  If they ignore your pleas,  Library staff will be happy to facilitate their departure: please inquire at the nearest service point.

Enforcing a "graduate study only" area or floor would be difficult, and unfair to those undergrads who also appreciate studying without distractions. However, we have talked about "deep quiet" zones -- although these generate other problems.

Finally, we would strongly encourage you to email the grad student representatives on the Library-Student Resource Group, as this topic often gets discussed there.