Libraries carry the stereotype of being stale and silent, guarded by a predatory librarian ready to hush any conversation. This image certainly does not fit the Edmonton Public Library, which, while encouraging community building and collaboration, also provides spaces for quiet concentration.
Noise remains a concern for the Edmonton Public Library. During an EPL study, researchers found almost 40% of library visitors making sound; nearly 60% of children were creating noise. Conversation, sounds from computers, screaming and crying were all frequently recorded. The kids' section is EPL's loudest, as kids run off energy, play at interactive library stations (like the one shown below), and occasionally through tantrums.
In preparation for a new downtown branch, EPL researchers interviewed customers about how they used the space. Many requested both spaces for quiet reading and areas for gathering and collaboration. Library customers are increasingly likely to visit in small groups, and may want to work together on a project, discuss reading material, or play in the children’s area. The library must find ways to support all of these needs, and attempts to do so by designating specific spaces for different purposes.
When visiting the Stanley Milner branch, I found tables marked as quiet spaces, while others were mean collaboration. Some tables have chess boards, a clear indication that these spaces are meant for interaction. There are several other spaces scattered throughout the branches where a higher level of noise is acceptable. Round tables with several chairs encourage people to sit down together. Collaborative workspaces like the Green Room at the Stanley Milner are designed for teamwork. Most branches also have a program room, allowing kids to loudly enjoy sing-a-longs and book clubs members to hold lively discussions. These rooms can also be rented for as little as $17 to as much as $450, depending on the branch, the room, and the rental duration.
On the other hand, study rooms are one way in which the library facilitates those who want to use the space quietly. EPL’s study notes that the rooms were “highly requested by customers.” Students particularly benefit from these rooms--the report claims that about 65% of those using these spaces were young adults. When I visited EPL locations, the study rooms were always busy, and it was hard to miss the variety of academic textbooks flipped open as highschool and post-secondary students tried to study in peace.
Despite efforts to accommodate different needs, visitors do not always abide by the unwritten rules in these space. EPL’s researchers observed some customers “adapting furniture to serve their needs, or making use of furniture for activities or in group sizes that we had not expected”--including moving furniture so larger groups could sit together, and even sharing chairs. When a space made for one person or a small group is used for a larger gathering, the area will be louder than expected. Of course, sometimes a single individual breaks the library’s silence. I will not soon forget one small boy crouched on the floor in an adult section: despite attracting the attention of nearby visitors, he energetically pronounced every syllable in a children’s book he’d picked up.
In smaller branches, managing noise can be especially difficult. The EPLgo locations don’t have program rooms, hosting sing-a-longs, storytimes, and other group meetings in the open library space. These branches don’t offer the full schedule of programs that can be found at other branches--if they did, it might be very difficult to find any quiet time--but during my visits to the West Henday Promenade EPLgo location, I noticed several visitors immediately leaving once they noticed a program starting.
EPL doesn't always perfectly manage the balance between quiet and collaborative space, and visitors don't help by transgressing the boundaries between marked and unmarked areas in the library. However, by offering quiet rooms and varied furniture, the library successfully caters to the needs of those looking to get lost in a book or dive into an intriguing conversation.
