Question:

Quiet on 2nd Floor--what is "quiet"?

Details:

Hi, so in the Quiet Zone of Level 2. Is it suppose to be quiet, even if there is a group sitting in the group study. Because if it is suppose to quiet, then the group doesn't understand that other people can hear them too. So I suggest posting a paper on the door to say to be quiet because other people can hear you outside the room.

Answer:

Thank you for the comment.
We will consider posting signs on the inside of study room doors to note that second floor is designated as the quiet floor and ask groups to be considerate and work with lower voices best they can in their group work. Quiet on the second floor does not mean silent nor does it mean no talking. It is inevitable that study rooms on second floor will draw groups, and that groups will have conversations in those rooms. Generally speaking we hope that users in open areas of second floor use soft voices and that groups in rooms respect the fact that noise from their voices can go through walls, the door, and the glass windows. The rooms in the library are not sound proofed in any special fashion.

There is not a picture perfect solution to noise control in an academic library like ours in my opinion. It takes a combination of user self-control, awareness and courtesy, administrative staff monitoring and "policing", and perhaps enhanced and more notable signage. Currently part of the library's approach is to ask students to speak to other users and let them know they can be heard and ask if they can quiet down a bit. That said, you can always report noise problems to the service desk on our first floor and library staff will look into the situation, make some assessment, and help if we can by alerting users they are being too loud according to others in the area. Some users react well to this; other users on occasion do not. The library staff can inform and at times warn users about loud voices but on the other hand, staff cannot truly police these matters all the time with success. It depends. If you speak to a user or group about them being too loud and the problem continues, please report it to the service desk and staff in the library can take a listen and try to intervene. 

The library is working to fix some of the acoustic masking system in the library--some of it is not working and in need of new parts. We hope getting that system back online will improve things a bit, but it is unclear whether group work and conversational noise in the rooms will be contained better and not bleed out. We will have to see once the system is fixed and reset.
Thank you.
Douglas Stehle, Head of Access Services, douglas.stehle@ucdenver.edu