Abstract
For both library administrators and users, noise in the academic library is a constant source of concern. According to Jessica Lange et al., 1 even employing noise-reduction strategies, such as purchasing appropriately quiet study furniture, and designating official quiet zones were found insufficient to reduce the matter of noise in libraries. Noise in the individual study spaces is a growing problem, especially as the primary purpose of users in using the library is individual study.
Although students tend to adhere more to quiet policies in the presence of an authority or a monitoring figure, current staffing levels and budgetary concerns prevent many libraries from hiring security guards or requesting staff to patrol quiet areas. Over the past several years, the trend has been toward a general rise in noise levels in various libraries. To some, although the likely cause is collaboration of learning spaces by Next-Gen students, there is also the need for quiet spaces for users who want to reflect, research, and share ideas and information.
Acknowledging the problem
Academic administrators had felt that libraries would be obsolete in the 21st century, as students and faculties could study and conduct research using the Internet from the relative comfort of their homes and offices. However, contrary to this belief, the academic library has retained its success as a popular campus space. This poses a particularly perplexing question for academic librarians as to what should be done about the rising noise levels. On one hand, they want to encourage the campus community to use the library and feel comfortable about socializing there. On the other hand, they know that the library is an important space to another group of users who do not want any noisy activity in the library. The challenge, therefore, is to create a balanced atmosphere hospitable to both the groups.
The skyrocketing use of electronic devices among students has added to the problem of noise. Although the popularity of text messaging does help to eliminate some conversation, students can be found constantly talking on cell phones. Today, there is far more use of multimedia in the library, thanks to the popularity of iPods and YouTube. One would have thought the use of headphones should eliminate noise, but many students remain oblivious to the loudness of their audio.
Looking at solutions
According to Steven J. Bell, 2 some approaches that have emerged from lists of discussion and literature offering hope of confronting the noise dilemma could be the following:
Renovations or space utilization shifts that create a more noise/study friendly environment;
Constructing dedicated media or game spaces where noise is tolerated and encouraged;
Increasing the number of study and group meeting rooms;
Applying new building materials that can reduce noise;
Establishing “quiet zones” within the library;
Improving signage to elicit more courtesy among library users;
Encouraging students to police noise without librarian intervention;
Inviting student government representatives to identify solutions;
Use specific types of furniture (single-person carrels or group study tables) to create areas more conducive to quite or noise;
Marketing programs to distribute cards or notes that offer gentle reminders about being courteous and sensitive to those who come to the library for quiet.
Simple activities such as asking the offending students to be quiet are hardly a sustainable solution at academic libraries. This is because librarians want to treat students as adults, and banning cell phones and multimedia is equally ridiculous and ineffective.
Creating zones
One of the popular and less complicated strategies is creating zones within the library. The idea is to have some areas where noise is acceptable and others where quiet is protected. Establishment of zones leads to expectations that students will situate themselves in appropriate zones. However, in actual practice, students tend to ignore such demarcations.
Creating policies
Creating, following, and preparing to enforce policies and procedures for handling noise can help the library in being in control of the situation. However, this requires agreement and support from the academia administration and campus partners. In addition, the policies will need to be communicated both internally to library staff and faculty, and externally to students and other patrons.
Using signs
Apart from being instructional tools to direct users to equipment, resources, physical locations, or spaces, and to make announcements, signs can send a clear and sharp message to enforce good behaviors and in turn reduce noise.
Staff support
Members of the library staff will have different levels of tolerance for noise, based on age and experience. However, without the involvement of staff, any actions taken to reduce the noise problem are likely to fail. Unless the staff is active in supporting and enforcing policies and procedures, creating partitions, rearranging furniture, developing sign programs, or changing traffic patterns will all be useless in controlling noise.
According to Crumpton Michael, 3 following tips can help library staff deal with the issues of noise:
Develop a comfort level for addressing noise offenders through either role play or self-assessment;
Conduct training on proper techniques such as having staff members identify themselves as staff and using the authority of the campus as support, knowing what to say and not to say, and learning how to be positive firm and friendly and being consistent and confident;
Support each other in approaching possible problems with back-up plans and strategies for dealing with problem patrons;
Take ownership of the situation including being able to describe and direct problems to security or administrators when they are called to intervene.
Sound masking
Academic libraries are also experimenting successfully with improving the library acoustics using sound masking systems. While this allows staff and students to remain focused, it also allows those who want to collaborate to talk freely.
Libraries often face challenges from reflective materials such as wood, brick, and glass. Older buildings can have high ceiling clearances that allow sound to carry far. Bookshelves, desks, and tables placed close together accentuate noise problems. Finally, there can be a mix of people wanting to work in groups or read alone.
According to Cambridge Sound Management, 4 sound masking is an effective way to reduce noise distractions in libraries by emitting quiet peaceful background noise sounding like gentle air flow and focusing on covering distracting noises where people want peace and quiet.
The best way of implementing sound masking is to place emitters in the ceiling. These emitters are small and fit seamlessly into all types of ceilings.
According to Cambridge Sound Management, 5 sound masking works by
Raising the ambient noise level of an environment;
Making speech noise less intelligible and therefore less distracting.
They claim that adding sound to a space actually makes the space seem quieter. It sounds counter-intuitive but it is true. This is because the added sound reduces the intelligibility of human speech. When you cannot understand what someone is saying, their words are less distracting.