2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the editor 1
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Opinion
To whom it may concern,
I am writing today to share my opinion on the WIU library and its inability to be an efficent study location.
I am a first semester graduate student and each of my classes requires that I access WIU online. I have to go to a location on campus to access my online courses because my PC will not load the program. I also have a syllabus that requires the use of the library. However, the WIU library is the absolute worst place to study. Granted this building is a work of art, but it does not absorb noise or function as a place to hide when it is time to focus.
The open levels carry sound from every angle, especially from the food cart and the entry at the bottom all the way up the stairs. Last week after listening to two guys from the level below me talk about California, money, and getting drunk, I asked a librarian on the gov't level where the quietest place to study in the library was with computer access. She replied, "This is about it. Sorry about the noise."
I was appalled. Sorry about the noise?? Shouldn't she be saying instead to the noisy people, "Sorry, could you keep it down. You are in a library." It should not be my responsibility to enforce library policies.
Later the same librarian aproached me and referred me to a computer classroom, unfortunately there were classes in each. I had to start all over at another location sitting next to a guy who had his Ipod cranked to damaging ear levels, probably to drown out the obnoxious sounds of the library and the girl next to us on her cell phone.
Who should be held responsible for the noise polution? What are the standards of the WIU library? Are there any?
-Ashlyn C.
I am writing today to share my opinion on the WIU library and its inability to be an efficent study location.
I am a first semester graduate student and each of my classes requires that I access WIU online. I have to go to a location on campus to access my online courses because my PC will not load the program. I also have a syllabus that requires the use of the library. However, the WIU library is the absolute worst place to study. Granted this building is a work of art, but it does not absorb noise or function as a place to hide when it is time to focus.
The open levels carry sound from every angle, especially from the food cart and the entry at the bottom all the way up the stairs. Last week after listening to two guys from the level below me talk about California, money, and getting drunk, I asked a librarian on the gov't level where the quietest place to study in the library was with computer access. She replied, "This is about it. Sorry about the noise."
I was appalled. Sorry about the noise?? Shouldn't she be saying instead to the noisy people, "Sorry, could you keep it down. You are in a library." It should not be my responsibility to enforce library policies.
Later the same librarian aproached me and referred me to a computer classroom, unfortunately there were classes in each. I had to start all over at another location sitting next to a guy who had his Ipod cranked to damaging ear levels, probably to drown out the obnoxious sounds of the library and the girl next to us on her cell phone.
Who should be held responsible for the noise polution? What are the standards of the WIU library? Are there any?
-Ashlyn C.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Sodexho
posted 3/05/08 @ 8:28 AM CST
Thank Sodexho for thinking that the library needed a food court.
agree completely
posted 3/06/08 @ 7:00 PM CST
I agree completely! I've had to ask people in designated study areas to please be quiet. . . and they look at me like I'm being rude. People think nothing of talking to each other or on their cell phones while others near them try to focus. (Continued…)
adam a
posted 3/06/08 @ 11:01 PM CST
Give it a few more years and all libraries will have cell phone blockers installed in them. I work at a movie theater back home and we are getting one for our theaters. (Continued…)
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