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Last fall, a 撸奶社区 reader offered up a complaint about a noisy youngster she encountered at the 撸奶社区Public Library.
After the boy鈥檚 鈥渂lood-curdling racket鈥� persisted for a period of time, the library patron eventually gathered her belongings and left 鈥撎齠rustrated that staff had not taken steps to quiet the youngster down. The patron even cited a rule posted on the wall about noise that 鈥渋s preventing the peaceable enjoyment of the library鈥� by others.
Hilary Bloom remembers reading the letter. All such complaints are taken seriously, the current 撸奶社区Public Library director said. While she admits the patron was technically correct 鈥撎齮hat loud, persistent noise is a no-no in the library 鈥� library staff is trained to treat such incidents on a case-by-case basis.
That鈥檚 partly because of the open-concept nature of Squamish鈥檚 library and because in this day and age, libraries aren鈥檛 the hush-hush places they used to be.
鈥淒ue to our design we can鈥檛 create separate spaces like a bigger library could,鈥� Bloom said. 鈥淏ut if someone is listening to their music too loud, we might go over and say something. We realize that there might be children making noises and they might be having a learning experience or a meltdown, which we will often let pass.鈥�
Said Chelsea Jordan-Makely, public services librarian at the facility, 鈥淲hen I sign people up for new memberships I tell people that everyone is welcome to have conversations in the library as long as it鈥檚 not too disruptive. Talking in a normal voice is totally great because we want you to get together with your friends or neighbours. It鈥檚 all things within reason, and we want people to know that staff is approachable.
鈥淭his changing perception of the library as a meeting place, as opposed to a quiet place, is a bit of a generational gap, and it鈥檚 taking place everywhere.鈥�
Like education, the field of library sciences is an evolving one 鈥� and that evolution is being driven to a large degree by the changing nature of people鈥檚 reading and research habits, Bloom said. As well, the materials, programs and services offered by libraries needs to be tailored to the needs of the communities they serve to a much greater extent than they did 30 or 40 years ago, she said.
For example, while part of Jordan-Makely鈥檚 job is to help patrons find the materials they鈥檙e looking for at the library 鈥� often by using online reference materials to which the library subscribes.听
鈥淲e are more than just our building holding books,鈥� Bloom said.听
鈥淲e are out in the community as well, for example, meeting with seniors groups to help them find the materials and training they need. Our library needs to reflect and be part of the community we serve in those sorts of ways.鈥�
Adding new programs and services is one way library staff is working to cater to the community鈥檚 needs. The new Book A Librarian service 鈥渋s designed for people to be able to sit down and ask questions, get advice and find what they鈥檙e looking for,鈥� Bloom said.
Jordan-Makely, who like Bloom has a masters in librarian and information services, is trained to help people find the information they need to sort through legal matters, access job training or finding materials, or take the necessary steps toward starting a small business.
鈥淭he library has recently joined the Chamber of Commerce. That鈥檚 part of an effort to forge a stronger link to that community so that they can better access the services that we provide,鈥� Bloom said.
