Library Safety
Sometimes it is necessary to remind students about library rules and regulations, to make sure there is a safe and quiet atmosphere for reading and study. If English-speaking students are making a lot of noise, for example, either by speaking loudly in a group or playing music or other noisy content on their portable phones or tablets, library staff may need to get involved. The challenge is to do so while remaining polite and friendly. It is best to ask these students to lower the noise before there are any complaints from other students. Ways to express this in English without offending anyone might be to remind them:
People are trying to concentrate.
All English-speaking students should understand that the noise they are making might bother others. Most will quiet down. If they do not seem convinced, then our staff may add:
There are meeting areas for students just outside the library entrance.
If you need to have a conference with your classmates, study rooms can be reserved.
This way, we offer alternatives, instead of just reminding students that it would be more considerate if they made less noise. If for some reason it is necessary to see a student’s identification card, this may be asked for politely:
May I see your university ID card?
No student should refuse this request to see an ID card, if a library staff member asks. If a student’s computer is making too much noise, playing music or videos, we may suggest to them:
If you do not have earphones, it might be better to work in a separate study room. Others are trying to concentrate.
Since students choose to study at the TU Libraries because they are less noisy than their dormitory rooms or homes, we should try to preserve the atmosphere of quiet study as much as possible. It is natural that students will wish to speak to their friends, but if they are clearly distracting others nearby, then we can gently suggest that they move their conference somewhere outside study areas or reserve a conference room for group discussions. Students using portable phones should also be reminded that areas outside the reading rooms, for example the courtyard on the U3 level of Pridi Banomyong Library, are used for phone conversations. Some students may wish to have phone conversations in the reading rooms. If this happens at the Pridi Banomyong Library, we can politely inform them:
Phoning is allowed outside the library reading areas. Try the outside courtyard on the U3 level, or just outside the library entrance.
If a student’s phone is ringing loudly, we may tell them:
Phones should be set to silent mode in the library.
If students are taking photos inside the library, we should remind them that permission is needed for photography and filming in the library. If students wish to leave overcoats, raincoats, umbrellas, bags, cases, and other personal belongings in the lockers inside the entrance to the Pridi Banomyong Library overnight, we may remind them:
For security reasons, lockers must be emptied every day before the library closes.
It is useful to add the phrase for security reasons, so that students will understand that the rules were made for a good reason. If they understand why a rule is in place, it is likelier that they will follow the guidelines. If our staff sees English-speaking students enjoying meals inside the library, we can tell them:
Food is not allowed in the library for hygienic reasons.
Food can be eaten in the café area at the library entrance.
Since we explain why food is not allowed inside the library, and offer alternative places nearby, most students should agree to follow the rules. Fortunately students rarely try to smoke inside the library, but if one does in the courtyard at the U3 level of the Pridi Banomyong Library, for example, we may inform them:
For safety reasons, smoking is not permitted anywhere in the library.
Lately some students may be using e-cigarettes, and may want to know if this is permitted. We should answer:
The no smoking rule includes e-cigarettes.
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)