[CALIBK12] GEN: Heloise and library behavior

[Devers, April]

And if they learn ³proper behavior² in the library who know where it could
spread next.....maybe even back to the classroom or grocery store!


On 2/14/08 3:18 PM, "ladewig" <shatz at verizon.net> wrote:

> Cross-posted to CALIB and LM_NET:
>  
> Today's Hints from Heloise column reflects a very common concern - public
> libraries that are TOO NOISY! It might be a band of rowdy latch-key kids or
> even adults ignoring the "No cell phone use" signs, and in one case, it was
> the librarians who were too noisy!
>  
> I am just wondering if I am the "lone voice crying in the wilderness" ­ I DO
> teach my students that library manners are for our school library AND for our
> public library. They understand that libraries are "quiet places" because
> people are reading or studying. They understand that running about, playing
> around, or distracting others is not appropriate behavior, even if they see
> other children behaving that way. (Obviously we're not talking about the
> organized children's activity time, just regular library behavior).
>  
> Unfortunately, lack of appropriate behavior is driving away many library
> patrons (according to the comments in the Heloise article) ­ instead they have
> begun flocking to their local book seller, where it is usually calm and
> generally not over-run with latch-key kids.  That's fine for the bookstores,
> but as the public becomes more turned off by problems at libraries, they will
> stop using them and STOP SUPPORTING THEM. Why support a new tax for libraries
> if you've had a bad experience there? Why go to City Hall and protest funding
> cuts to libraries?
>  
> I will continue to teach my students about appropriate behavior, but I hope
> I'm not the "lone voice" ­ I hope may of us will think about ways to teach or
> kindly remind our students about appropriate library behavior, especially when
> at public libraries. Sadly, some parents don't seem to realize that manners
> need to be taught, and (I say this respectfully), some of them are new to
> American culture AND JUST DON'T KNOW what appropriate behavior in public
> places is. They come from small town cultures where everyone flocks to the
> public marketplace out of doors and children often roam freely. Noise and
> playing about unsupervised isn't a problem there. Or they come from homes
> where noise is a constant, and families have gotten used to talking loudly
> over the ruckus. Or families where respect for authority does not exist. It
> seems that "common courtesy" (much like "common sense") is hardly "common" any
> more!
>  
> Hey folks, if library manners are important, then it's up to those of us "in
> the trenches" now to help our current generation understand and practice
> appropriate library behavior, at school AND in public libraries. Anyone else
> with me on this?
>  
> Joanne Ladewig (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
> Library Media Tech
> Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD
> Garden Grove, California
> shatz at verizon.net
>  
> Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD
>  
>  
> 
> 
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