Fired-up about phones: Looks like the old days when people went
to the library to study are over.
”
I’m calling about the library. I’ve been spending a lot of time
at the library this summer since I’ve been off and I’m appalled at
the library etiquette in there and that the librarians do not
enforce any kind of etiquette.
Fired-up about phones: Looks like the old days when people went to the library to study are over.
“I’m calling about the library. I’ve been spending a lot of time at the library this summer since I’ve been off and I’m appalled at the library etiquette in there and that the librarians do not enforce any kind of etiquette. I was at a computer doing some research and this woman was across the computer from me on a cell phone yaking away for about 20 minutes. She would not shut up and I kept giving her dirty looks and she just didn’t get it. What really bothered me was that several library employees were walking back and forth witnessing this. I don’t know if cell phones are against the rules or if that kind of loud talking is against the rules, but if it is it’s not being enforced.
“And when I went to find the books, which were next to a big table with a sign that said “Quiet, study area,” people were sitting there as if they were in a bar or restaurant, yaking loud, socializing, giggling, laughing. I felt like I was in an … I don’t know what, but certainly not a library.”
Dirty looks being given in the library? We’d hate to meet you down a dark alley, caller. Well, the Red Phone contacted the Gilroy Library and spoke with Community Librarian Lani Yoshimura. Though there are no specific policies regarding them, Yoshimura said, “We do not encourage cell phone use in the library, but it does happen. And people tend to get really angry when we say something about it. … We try to encourage people to go outside if they need to use a cell phone.”
Yoshimura added, “People think of the old traditional libraries where people would just say, ‘SHH!’ and that’s not really what some libraries are today. They’re more like community centers with computers and teen areas and such.”
If a library patron encounters a loud cell phone user, or anything else that may be interrupting their visit, Yoshimura encourages him or her to talk to a staff member and they will deal with the situation … minus the dirty looks. And cell phone users, c’mon, don’t get sassy, give the library staff a break.
strong opinions: We have had a huge positive response to the new design, but there have been a few callers no so happy about the change. Many of them had to do with the font and print style change.
• “I’m just calling you to let you know how much I dislike the new printing and new format of The Gilroy Dispatch. I’m in my late 80s and I find The Dispatch very difficult to read. I wish you’d go back to the way you were printing The Dispatch before.”
• “I like the Dispatch, however it seems to have gotten a lot lighter. Do you think you could use a little more ink in your paper so that we can maybe read it a little easier? And actually, I’m glad Shoe is gone and Dilbert can go next. It would be lovely if you brought back Marmaduke and Dennis.”
• “This is a customer for the Gilroy Dispatch and I was wondering why the print is so small that it’s so hard to read even with glasses on. Before I knew just what columns to look for and now everything’s the same print and I just don’t enjoy reading it anymore. Even the obituaries and stuff.”
One caller is interested in more national news and coverage on Iraq.
•”I don’t like the format … I’ve got a son in Iraq, there’s no news on that. I don’t care about sports, treasure hunter’s delight, health and earth. I don’t really care about any of this. There’s no substance.”
We invite this caller to contact the newsroom with further information on her son’s situation as that is an issue of local interest and we’d like to write about.
Thanks to everyone who has called the Red Phone with input, both positive and negative. We have darkened the print and are still adjusting the print and styles. Please stay tuned and continue offering your observations.
