Library Manners for Students

This is the day and age of the eBook and, as such, it might seem that the library is now redundant. However, the fact of the matter is that a library is still very much a relevant public space whether it is located in the confines of a college campus or school or is a public library servicing your city or town. For one thing, there are plenty of books that are not available in the form of electronic media. For another, when someone is being introduced to reading material there is nothing quite like the charm of an actual book to hold. Think about the expressions on your toddler’s face when he looks at the pictures in the Finding Nemo books.

If you want to introduce your children to the world of books, you won’t find a better place to do so than the library. The same applies if you are a student and need to go to a quiet place to get all your studies done. Nevertheless, one thing that you need to keep in mind is that you aren’t the only one using the services of the library. In order to ensure that you do not inconvenience the other users, here are a few etiquette lessons that parents can teach their children or that students can utilize while in the library.

For Parents

1. Sharing – When you explain the concept of the library to your child, one of the first things he or she will learn is that they won’t be the only ones using those books. Others will be reading them too. This teaches young children the concept of sharing. As a side benefit, they will also learn that they need to keep the books in good condition since others will be using them as well.

2. No Food or Drinks – This is a very important library rule. When you teach your children about library etiquette, this particular rule must be emphasized upon. The reasoning behind this is simple. No one wants the books to get messy. After all, your children wouldn’t like to read books that have food stains or are sticky because of food that fell on them.

3. The ‘Inside’ Voice – Whether it is the school library or a public library, one of the reasons a lot of people come here is that they can sit and read in peace and quiet. Therefore, you must tell your children to use their inside voice – a soft whisper. This also means that they shouldn’t run around in the library or jump or run on the furniture.

For Students

1. Phone Calls – The library is not the place for you to make or receive phone calls. Remember, your fellow students are here so that they can work quietly and not be disturbed or distracted. Try not to answer your phone while you are in the library. If you absolutely must answer the phone call, go into the lobby and answer it. Don’t answer it wherever you are sitting.

2. Phone on Silent – This again goes back to the library being a place for peace and quiet. Even the vibrate option can be quite noisy. Ensure that your phone is on silent so that it doesn’t suddenly blare out and disturb everyone in the vicinity, including you.

3. No Talking – A lot of people take this rule to mean that it is okay if they converse in whispers. The fact is that whispers are as disturbing and distracting as a conversation being carried out in a normal voice. Unless you absolutely have to, try not to engage in conversation while you are in the library. If you have to talk to someone, keep it as short as possible.

4. Limited Food – Unlike public libraries, some college libraries do tend to allow some types of food in since they realize how much time the student has to spend studying. In this, you need to be considerate. Foods that have a strong fragrance or that are noisy when being eaten should not be brought in as they can be very distracting for the others using the library.

A library is a public space and by teaching your children to respect it, you teach them to be civic-minded people. Even as a student, when you follow the rules of the library, you show consideration for your fellow students. Library manners may not sound very important, but in such a widely used public space, they tend to show others who you are.

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