Got kicked out of a library study room for talking about a news article

Last Tuesday at City College library, I was reading a print copy of a local paper with a buddy and started discussing an opinion piece. A librarian came over and told us we couldn't talk about 'divisive topics' in the quiet study zone, even though nobody else was on our floor. I pointed out the article was just about zoning laws, but she said any political discussion was banned there. Has anyone else run into a campus rule that blocks basic conversations about public issues?

2 comments

2 Comments

hannaht295d ago

Used to think quiet study rooms just meant no talking loud, but that's honestly way too broad and kills any chance at real discussion. Definitely made me rethink where the line actually is.

terry_bailey355d ago

I've been in that exact spot at the downtown library here where the third floor is supposed to be 'quiet' but you get people whispering back and forth for an hour and it's worse than just talking normal. My rule of thumb is that if you have to lean in to hear someone or write stuff down on a napkin to show them, it's probably not the right room for that conversation. The real trick is to pick a spot that's got a specific purpose like a group study room with a door or a corner that's clearly set up for collaboration, not just a random table in the silent section. Libraries around here actually have signs now that say 'soft voices' vs 'library voices' and honestly that's helped people figure it out way better.