Got yelled at by a librarian for talking too loud in the quiet zone

I was at the downtown library on Tuesday just trying to find a book about gardening for my mom. I asked my friend a quick question about which one looked better and this old lady librarian came stomping over. She told me I was disturbing the whole floor and that the quiet zone was clearly marked. I mean yeah there were signs but I was barely whispering you know? Now I feel like I gotta tiptoe around any library I go into like I'm in a funeral home. It was just a 10 second question and she made me feel super bad. Has anyone else had a librarian go full hall monitor on them for just talking?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim19119d ago

Wait, did they actually say "the whole floor" was being disturbed? That part is hilarious in a sad way. I've had librarians give me that look before, but never a full on stomp over. Honestly, that lady probably just has a power trip going on, like she lives for that moment of shushing someone. Don't let it get to you too much, most librarians are way more chill and would have just given you a quick "hey keep it down" nod. You definitely don't need to walk on eggshells forever because of one grumpy old lady.

hill.andrew19d ago

I actually read a study a while back that said librarians deal with noise complaints way more than people think, something like 60% of their job is managing behavior not books. So this lady was probably just having a bad day and took it out on you. Still, stomping over is such a dramatic move, I bet she practices that walk in her spare time. You'll be fine, just avoid that corner of the library for a bit.