Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about library etiquette…


For the regular library patrons among us: do you have your own idea of what constitutes proper library etiquette? Is there anything you always try to do? Anything you hate when others do?



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.



Between work, friends and my own borrowing I spend a fair amount of time in libraries. In fact I'd probably spend around eight hours every week in various libraries. As such, I see how a lot of people behave in libraries and have developed some very strong pet peeves - and now I'm wondering if I'm the only one!
There's the usual, of course - people being too noisy, dog-earring books, never returning them - but there's other things that I've come to dislike that I never thought would bug me. Like people returning books to the shelves with the spine facing in. I realise that not everyone is library-saavy, and that they may return it to the wrong spot - but back to front? really? It bugs me.
Another thing is when people leave their searches open on the collection computers. You only have to press one button ('New Search') to get a fresh page, but people NEVER do it. And then when the next person steps up, you're met with their search terms - and people look up some odd things.
And lastly - the people who wait until the 'This library will be closing in five minutes' call to come up to the desk with a question that's going to take five hours to answer. And they do it, every time.
As for things I try to do - well, firstly the opposite of all of these, because I know they bug me. I always try to keep the book tidy, returning it without the receipt or envelopes being used as bookmarks. I use the self-check machine and split my returns up in the tray (NF, F, YA) so they're easier to shelve, and usually take most of them back myself.
What about you? Any pet peeves?

25 comments :

La Coccinelle said...

The spine facing in? I can't say that I've ever come across that. Are you sure it's not just pranksters?

My answer is here.

wendy elizabeth said...

all I ask is that youread the signs please

fredamans said...

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2009/12/musing-monday.html

Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker said...

Musing Monday @ Fire & Ice

Ladytink_534 said...

I hate it when people let their kids run like wild banshees through the library (or anywhere actually lol).

Susan said...

I love the library!

http://wellmanneredfrivolity.blogspot.com/

Michelle said...

http://www.michellesmastermusings.com/2009/12/musing-mondays-and-library-etiquette.html

Pam said...

Being that I work in a library, my view is from the other side of the circulation desk. Anxious to see what patrons dislike about library staff. Good thing I have a thick skin.

http://pamperspective.blogspot.com/2009/12/musing-mondays.html

Pam said...

Me again. I have a technical question. How do all you super smart commenters get your blog post to be a link? Thanks.

Erin said...

I haven't used a library in some time, but I do remember when I did. Should be some interesting responses.

The Wobbly Bookstack

CeeCee said...

Here's MINE

Anonymous said...

http://emeraldfiresbookmark.blogspot.com/2009/12/musing-mondays_07.html

CMash said...

My first meme that I have joined!!!! Posted on my site

http://cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com/

Nise' said...

My Musing.

zetor said...

Mine is here, http://zetor-mogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/musing-mondays.html

Tim said...

Here's my rant.

Matt said...

My gripe is mostly with noise.

My Musing is up. :)

It's snowing in San Francisco today!!!

caite said...

I want snow too!

But since we don't have any, I finally wrote my post!

crestina said...

Here's mine

http://addlife21.blogspot.com/2009/12/pssstsilence-please.html

MizB said...

I'm late 'cause I was away for the weekend (got home at 'Noon on Monday), but here's mine:
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/musing-mondays-dec-7/

~MizB

Marie Cloutier said...

The spine facing in thing is one I haven't seen! Oy. My pet peeves? All of the above and more. Actually these days if people aren't bothering me and aren't doing anything arrestable, I'm fine with whatever.

joyh82 said...

I know I would like to say to those people who come in at the last minute "Hey where do you work?" and then do the same to them come in at the last minute and dawdle.

fredamans said...

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2009/12/musing-monday_12.html

fredamans said...

We mused while you were gone.

Here's today's: http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2009/12/musing-monday_21.html

Anonymous said...

I'm late for this one, but what the hey. It was a good question

Here