The Miller Center is not for Miller Time

I have been at SCSU for the past three semesters and I have come to the conclusion that a bulk of the SCSU student body knows nothing about library etiquette.

This sad realization couldn’t have been truer than last night, where one woman had to tell three men to keep it down as we were on the third floor, where no conversations should be taking place as this is the quiet floor.

I was even more bedazzled when I went to the second floor and a guy was listening to what I am sure was the new Jay Z song,  and I could hear it playing as far as ten feet (I wish I was  exaggerating).

I had to check and remind myself that I was at the library and not the Red Carpet.

Even more puzzling is that no one else looked as disturbed by this as I was.

A few weeks back this one guy had the audacity to eat his lunch in the library, a Subway sandwich of all things, not peanuts, chips or chocolate, a sandwich. He looked like a first year student but his behavior is still inexcusable.

There are a multitude of signs in the library that state “no eating” and “no noise” and yet students seem to be oblivious to them.

The library is a public place where people with different personalities and goals congregate. But the primary role of the library to provide us with a place to study, to do homework, and to work on projects, with as a little noise and disturbance to others as possible.

A place where your younger siblings cannot annoy you, or your roommate wanting to watch Big Brother while you want to read, a place for you to be productive in the pursuit of scholarly success. The library is our source of information when doing research; it aids us in “deconstructing” theories (to use a popular term) made up by other thinkers.

This is a place where the next “big idea” might be formulated and loud music might disturb that process.

This is a place that houses works of people who have not only helped us understand the world, but also enabled us to change it. When you enter the library you should understand that you are amongst great minds, leaders, revolutionary people and in this respect the library should be treated with reverence along with the people who use it.

The Miller Centre has rooms for group discussions, the third floor is the quiet floor and the first and second floors groups are allowed (which I personally think is too generous; they should be limited to one).

In a perfect world, the whole library would be silent. No exceptions. That is why you have group study rooms.

I am not one to advocate for enforcements anywhere, but I think the library might need them.

In recent times I find myself only really appreciating the library on a Friday night, Saturday or Sunday during the day as these are the times with the least amount of traffic and only within these times is the library a true learning sanctuary.

With that said, here are few library etiquette tips you might want to remember the next time you are in the library:

Sitting on the tables is not right, that is why there are chairs. You can do it in your room or at your partner’s house, but not in the library.

Please keep Beyonce, Linkin Park and Flo Rida to a minimum. We know they are fabulous artists, but you are disturbing me with your “Single Ladies” while I am trying to understand E=MC².

I know it is tempting to show your friend the new spoof of yet another music video on YouTube and laugh out loud, but please refrain until you get to Atwood or your room.

It is one thing for your phone to ring at maximum volume (while it should be silent) but answering it and having a twenty minute conversation is obnoxious. The gossip might be juicy, but really, we don’t care.

It is really not a hard math equation, if you want to converse with a friend, go outside.

Being hostile to someone who is trying to shush you because you are noisy (on the third floor no less, where you should be silent) is unacceptable.

Remember the library is for public use, it is not just for you. As with all public institutions you need to respect those who use it with you. Library rules are not there to stifle your lifestyle; they are there to make sure we all make adequate use of the library to ensure maximum learning. Now, I understand you might not want to learn, but please, do not disturb those us who want to.