ADAM LAMOUREUX
Opinions Writer

While to some the library is a big room where books are kept, for the average university student the library is so much more.

Away from the distractions of televisions, comfortable beds and cool roommates, for some of us the library is the only place where school work can actually get done.

So that’s why I’m here, to speak against the people who believe the library voice still exists. I would like the opportunity to set the record straight at this point in telling all readers that using your library voice when people are trying to study is not only annoying, but downright rude.

By toning your voice down a couple levels you acknowledge the fact that people are studying around you and that your voice may bother them. Studying itself is hard enough, and now I have to deal with hearing your ongoing story of how you got too drunk last night.

There are a couple areas where talking is fine, such as the main and first floors in the Murray Library. But for places like the North Wing Murray, Natural Sciences and Law libraries, it’s too much. Going into finals there are some of us who cannot study at home. Yes this is our issue to deal with, but the quiet library is our grace.

No. 1

I understand that in your studies you may need to ask your friend a quick question about a certain page number or the like, and I have taken that into account. For every 30 minutes of study, you are allowed one minute of in-library talking. If you are interested in talking further, I recommend you take that 15 second walk and go outside.

No. 2

“Group studying” is allowable, if you do not speak to each other outside of the first rule I put forward. I understand that you need someone to help keep you motivated, but don’t be discussing the material. If you need to do this, please go to first floor of Murray. There are beautiful tables set up for you there.

No. 3

This one goes out to the chompers out there; those who blatantly eat too loudly. Potato chips are not library food, and while you eat that whole bag of jalapeno and cheddar chips, I await the glorious moment until all are gone.

No. 4

If I can sing along to your iPod, it’s too loud.

No. 5

Just because you have been “studying” in the same location all day long, this does not give you the right to speak at will. Even if I have only been there for 30 minutes, this does not change the fact that you need to stop talking.

No. 6

Being on Facebook is fine. As long as you creeping on your newest crush’s profile does not interfere with my studies, this can fly.

No. 7

This one is more of a clarification. It shall now be known that laptops are accepted in all quiet libraries (even for you loud smashing-the-keys typers). The laptop is a necessary tool for homework these days. If a quiet library studier is bothered by a loud-smashing typer, it is their obligation to move away from the typer or forever be bothered.

No. 8

Stay off your phone. The library was not made for bigshots like you.

The final point I would like to make on this issue is for everyone who has ever been bothered by talking in the library to stand up for your right to tell people to shut up. I recently watched this right exercised and I felt a pristine joy inside.

For all of you who like to use your library voice, please think of those you are bothering, especially as finals approach. And please, shut up.

I would now like to put forward the motion that the library voice is now dead (but not the band Library Voices because they are sweet).

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image: Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0