McGill Tribune

It started slowly: the clicking of a pen here, the answering of cell phone there. Then it rippled out and gathered speed: the disregard for library etiquette is growing into a tidal wave. We need to stop it before it gets there. It might just be my Spidey senses tingling without reason, but various research techniques have bolstered this feeling of impending doom. These include the usual columnist tactics (asking questions where “yes” is the only option provided and making assumptions that will provide witty writing material), but it has also included bordering-on-legitimate experiment set-ups (asking questions where “Yes” as well as “Probably Yes” are provided and making observations that are non-biased and true … and will provide witty writing material). I’ve been noticing the shit hit the fan regarding respect for others in libraries and that has to stop. Now.

First, it’s only one sense that really needs to be monitored—sound. You can move as much as you want and if you really want to touch people then by all means, with their permission, do so. But don’t bring your earphones that have speakers on the outside to the library. What is the point of that? Furthermore, there are times to express your individual charisma, but doing so while studying in the library is not one of them. I’m sorry to all you libertarians out there, but this is one place where you follow the crowd. You walk in line and do what others do (mainly, by shutting up), not because you’re falling into the hole of collectivization, but because it’s polite. It’s not about restrictive social norms, it’s about realizing there’s one specific place where people come to have quiet. It’s pure and simple respect.

The last time I was in McLennan, a student actually played a YouTube clip for a friend. She, in utmost consideration, had the decency to keep the volume low. But it still proliferated through the area and stopped people dead in their studying tracks. In order not to be “the jerk” who says something, and because the respect norm is still quite high, nobody said anything. For five minutes 20 stressed-out budding academics listened to some horrible acoustic cover of a Lady Gaga song.

I did in fact conduct an experiment of my own. Shortly after the YouTube incident I walked down one of the aisles and loudly dropped a book on the floor. I did so again. Nobody flinched. It would have made my day if somebody—anybody—had stood up, walked over, and whispered, “Dude, do you want to be thrown out a window?”

There are security guards who patrol our libraries, but they’re more interested in confiscating Tim Hortons cups than in shushing anyone. That has traditionally been our job as students. And we’ve been good at it. The library has for the most part been a place where any person is welcome, as long as he or she sits down, shuts up, and does work. The subtle twittering of rebellion that I am sensing may be the first step to losing this norm. And I suggest we squash this rebellion. I am all for walking to the beat of your own drum, but there are no drums in the library. There should never, ever be any drums in the library. Tip-toe in, get your stuff done, and tip-toe out. Maybe smile at fellow tip-toers on the way. But that’s it. End of story.