Concordia Journal Home > Archives > September 17, 2009 issue >

Study culture is changing 

Library campaign meets new needs

By Karen Herland

Being shushed used to be synonymous with being in the library, but things are changing. As of this term, the libraries have two levels of noise management: silent and quiet.

“We live in a cell-phone culture and more and more students are being expected to work in groups,” acknowledges University Librarian Gerald Beasley.

In other words, study is not necessarily a silent, individual pursuit any more.

With study space at a premium across the campus, libraries need to serve a variety of needs, and find a way for those needs to effectively coexist.

The librarians have long been aware that noise is an ongoing concern for library users. Last winter they formed a working group to examine the situation. They polled several hundred students for their input.

In the end, the decision was made to establish two different zones. In Webster, the Bishop side of the library is designated for silent study. The Mackay side (4th floor) and central tables (3rd floor) may be used for quiet discussions of group projects with cell phones set to vibrate so important calls are not missed. Similar distinctions apply at Vanier as well.

The areas are colour-coded (blue is silent, orange is quiet) and library personnel will be circulating more frequently to reinforce the distinctions.

Beasley hopes that users will let the librarians know how the new system is working. So far, feedback from students returning to Concordia has been positive.
Beasley is also taking advantage of the We Value program to publish four values clearly shared by the vast majority of library users: courtesy, a quiet atmosphere, a clean environment, and the preservation of resources.