Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Whose indoor voice?

Saturdays, our little branch library has fully scheduled computer time as the kids come in for homework, help, and such research as is possible for a young 'un. Saturday, lately, is also the scheduled time for our Origami class which I have to admit is better attended than the book discussion group was.

The kids make children-ly noise, some of them, with the occasional meltdown and removal from the premises by an embarrassed parent. But two Saturdays ago, a parent came to our table and asked us to lower the volume. Her daughters, she said, were complaining that it was difficult to concentrate with the noise we were making.

Were we making a din? Consensus led to our using the verbal dimmer switch. And last week we kept shushing ourselves.

Maybe we should take it outside . . .

6 comments:

Zeta said...

Just wait until their daughters attend Senior High Schools or colleges. The protective parents will hear music while their children do their homework. Yes, I too listen to music while warming up with finger drills in the morning. Well, quiet for now, noise for the older years.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't the library have a little room somewhere close-by where the group could adjourn and make a bit of noise. I mean, it must be hard for kids to concentrate with all that paper rustling. I know it drives me crazy here at the office :P

RANGER said...

01 Doc, do you recall the old Concord library which was in a freestandng building? It was torn down and a small mall was put up in its place. A few years later, the library returned to a remodeled store in that mall which is a double sized space at the most. No private rooms are included. Are you remembering the regional-sized library on Coral Way? They have the amenities like private rooms.

Zeta, I remember the days of which you speak. These kids were pre-teen. They, themselves, were the actual complainants. Parent was the relay messenger. Ah, wait for the day when they complain that they can't do homework without the noise. You are so right!

BTW, the head librarian said to me later, in private, that it was the only time she had ever been shushed in her own library. I had her verify the parent for me and the went over and apologized again for the sound intrusion. The nice lady was flustered and almost sorry she had said anything.

Still . . .

Anonymous said...

Guess I'm recalling the Regional - Can't place the Concord branch. What mall was built there? I remember (fondly) the 2-for-1 paperback bookstore. I need to find someplace like that in this area. My books runneth over and also amok. I found Light from Heaven by Jan Karon and had myself a good cry. I think it's the last in that series altho she promises some future Father Tim books and I'm looking forward to reading them.

RANGER said...

01 Doc, I did read "Light from Heaven" and also had my weepy moments with it. I wish for at least one more book in the series. I felt this one ended too abruptly. It was almost as if the publisher had said they would not pay to bring out another volume and she had better tie up the loose ends in this one. Did you get that feeling, too?

The *new* Concord Branch Library is located on the edge of Concord Shopping Center. The section housing the library branch is at a right angle from Home Depot and Winn Dixie (WD is in the same building where the X-Tra used to be). SunTrust Bank is toward Bird and that (very) small part of the mall is near it.

Anonymous said...

I rather got the feeling that she is ready to move on - Even Harry Potter came to a halt and was wildly more popular a set of novels. I liked that all the children are found, even if not together. And what a great exit line, "We've been expecting you." !!!!

I guess the series she plans on Father Tim will include other characters from the books. Kavanaugh. Miss Louella...

Be kind of awkward otherwise. Kind of like having to ask for a description on where a library is from a place you used to traverse frequently. :)