Summer's over and my mini-me (that's what I call the young lady I mentor) is back in town. During one of our outings, we went to the library. I grabbed a stack of reading material from the adult section, then headed to the children's section with her.
After perusing the bookshelves, she decided on a few books to read. We settled down at a nice corner table, near a window. A few minutes later, 2 adults and 2 kids settled at the adjacent table. They started talking. Loudly. Really loudly.
IR-RI-TA-TING. I couldn't concentrate on my own reading.
I got the attention of a passing librarian and asked, "Are we in the tutoring section? Those people (pointing at them) are talking so loudly". The librarian laughed and said, "The library isn't as quiet as it used to be. It's more a place to gather socially, now". Then, she recommended a few quiet (allegedly) corners in other parts of the library.
Since when aren't people supposed to be quiet in the library?! If you want to be sociable, go to Starbuck's!
Moving wasn't an option -- the age-appropriate books for mini-me were nearby and the paranoid in me wouldn't let her out of my sight (good mentors are not supposed to lose their mentees). I thought about whipping out my cell phone and having a loud, obnoxious, conversation with an imaginary friend. But I didn't.
Fortunately the noisy offenders left. However, this situation made me wonder, Whatever became of your library voice?! I used that expression countless time when CJ was little -- in restaurants, at the movie theater, while visiting museums, etc. Use your library voice. Instantly, he would begin to speak in a whisper. Today, it must mean speak loudly and enunciate clearly, so that every syllable bounces off the reflective surfaces surrounding us.
Ok, I may be over-dramatizing, but am I really wrong for expecting the library to be a quite, soothing, place, where everyone speaks softly?
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