Proud to be loud?

(Or, at least, glad to not be a "Shhhh!" kind of Library!)

Friends of the Library and staff at the bake sale.

She stopped in to use one of our computers, an anonymous woman I didn't recognize. It was the end of Preschool Story Hour. The bake sale that's part of the biggest annual library fundraiser was going on. As she left, after using our free computer services, she haughtily declared, "This is the LOUDEST library I've ever been in, and I WON'T be coming back!"

Am I supposed to be sorry that someone with an unpleasant attitude, who used our freely-offered services and then seemed determined to hurt our feelings, declared that we wouldn't see her again?

The reality is, I am sorry! First, if this woman came back, she'd find we're not usually that loud. It should have been obvious that a special event was going on. I'm extremely grateful that our hard-working Friends of the Library group was having a bake sale -- part of their annual Death by Chocolate celebration -- to help fund our library. The extra people in the library do add a few decibels to the sound level, but that's OK with me.

Second, I'm PROUD of the loudness we normally have. I'm proud that we offer fun programs for preschoolers to play, grow, and learn, getting ready for kindergarten. I'm delighted that people connect with their neighbors within our walls. It makes me smile that elementary students come to LEGO club each week, developing spatial awareness and understanding of structure as they not-so-quietly build projects. I'm excited to talk about books with library patrons who share my love for reading. I enjoy hearing laughter coming from our Pennsylvania Room as our "The Way We Were Club" studies and sorts old photographs.

Yes, we're not always quiet. We're not a "Shhh!" kind of library. This isn't an academic library where people generally come to study in silence -- though we do have a Learning Center study room, which is often available when people need a quieter space to work. This library is, at its heart, a community center, an anchor institution of our locality. Fortunately, there seem to be a lot of people who like us just the way we are -- though most everyone agrees that we need more space, which might make it easier to maintain quiet areas in the library for those who want them.

Our Board of Trustees has been diligently working to address our space issues. There are no instant fixes, but we'll hopefully have some news on that front to share soon!