I had to walk out of the library the other day. I was wearing noise canceling headphones and listening to music at a normal volume and yet a mom with three kids drove me out due to the fact they were running around and yelling like it was their house.
I travel and this is the new normal at libraries throughout the U.S. Many libraries now have an open area children’s section where the kids can play on the floor and be as loud as they want.
I do use study rooms at the library but not all libraries have them and a closed glass door does not block all the noise from a screaming baby/toddler.
Libraries are a shared space and in the past used to be quiet. Now in the effort to be inclusive to everyone they don’t enforce any noise rules because they want those moms and their screaming kids to come visit the library.
And of course, you cannot complain to anyone about this because if you do so you are a Karen and no one will care and then they’ll tell you “if you don’t like it you can leave” This is society now…everyone does what they want with no regard for others.
Libraries are third spaces. They’re one of the last third spaces left. I fully agree that they should be quiet spaces for learning. But to accomplish that, we need to create more third spaces for other purposes.
When the universe does not align with your expectations, which is wrong? the universe or your expectations? You made the mistake of assuming the library was a quiet place. That’s wrong. Fix yourself. But if you want the library to be of quiet place, like I do, help to fix society so it can be.