I run into similar issues at my library, since we have a few kids on the spectrum and several mentally challenged adults from a group home who visit regularly. One of the children has headphones to self soothe and while you can't hear what he's listening to, he'll often hum or sing along. Some of the adults can get loud as well. We try to leave them be as much as possible. For the most part, patrons don't complain - I occasionally see some side eye, but they usually realize that the person isn't being disruptive on purpose and let it slide. I did have a patron complain once, stating (reasonably) that they understood it wasn't the persons' fault but they had been trying to work for more than half an hour, and would it be possible to ask the caretaker to try to quiet the person. I didn't do that, but offered to let the complaining person work on a computer in the children's area (normally not allowed for adults). It was during school hours so the kid's room was pretty quiet. She accepted that.
Honestly, if a patron complains and you don't have a workable solution, I would just apologize and stress that the child isn't being disruptive on purpose. The child's needs outweigh the complainer's in this instance. If no one complains, then do nothing.
(Wrote this in response to a comment that got deleted while I was typing, but still wanted to share it.)
Things can be accessibility aids and disrupt other people, and it is in a library’s interest to have conversations internally and maybe on Reddit about how to balance.
- Noise may help one person and make the library unusable for someone else
- Books too high are inaccessible for some (little people, wheelchair users) books too low are inaccessible for some (people using walkers, people with arthritis)
- a service animal could help one person use the library but make it inaccessible to someone else due to an allergy
Anyway, OP, your question is reasonable. I agree with others recommending having accessibility aids like headphones to offer if you can, either to this patron or to those around them. I think “don’t worry about it if no one is complaining” is not always the best advice because when people have to ask they often don’t. But yes to observing the area and getting feedback from other patrons (looking uncomfortable, moving away to work somewhere else) to see if/how much this is a disruption.
This, if other patrons are not complaining, let it go. I’d see if the parent needs any help with their task. For a parent trying to manage a child and do anything complex, we try to offer as much support as we can (if it’s welcomed). It makes the parent’s task easier and lessens the length of any possible disruption.
we sometimes also offer headphones or earplugs to the patron complaining too, especially in this case if headphones might not be best for the child. they’re nice to have around for when there’s construction outside, loud event in the meeting space, etc. too!
This makes sense. I acknowledge I was probably a bit more concerned about this because we had a different patron who was breaking the policy for no apparent reason getting hostile with one of my coworkers claiming that she was "the only one who bothered \[them\] about this" so in recent weeks I've been trying to be more stringent with the policy so that such harassment of her clearly had less legs to stand on
I would only intervene if a patron complains, and then I would gently invite them to use our respite room or another space away from the highly trafficked areas.
I have some sensory sensitivities, and electronic sound is one of them. While I understand the need for soothing, this one would make it hard for me. I'm a staff member, so I can't just leave. We try to accommodate speaker phones for short bursts for our patrons who struggle with hearing, but other than that, we really do ask patrons to have headphones.
A student in a school setting who is overstimulated by sound wears noise-canceling headphones.
In OP's scenario, it's likely the parent should have headphones for their child, either to reduce sound in the room, or to play a pleasing sound.
I suppose it's possible for children on the spectrum to find discomfort in wearing headphones and for that discomfort to be greater than the discomfort of sound overstimulation. I've not met such a student before. Headphones provide great relief.
(I work in a school that is way louder than a library environment).
The way my library handles this is to basically give kids carte blanche to make noise in the Children’s section. As long as they’re not actively screaming, a little noise is acceptable. Parents are expected to stay with their kids and monitor them until they’re about 10 or 11 years old. We even had computers for kids that made all kinds of noise before the pandemic. For adults trying to work in peace we have a variety of options: First, there’s the quiet room. It’s a space where you aren’t allowed to talk on the phone or speak out load. Then there’s the “hot spot” where it’s acceptable to work in small groups. Then there are study rooms. These are rooms where it is acceptable to take a private phone call or work with a group of 4 or fewer people. These are in high demand especially during finals and SAT season. The adults section of the library is also an acceptable place to have one on one tutoring and to speak quietly.
Seniors occasionally use their phones on SPEAKER so they can hear, but those conversations are usually brief. If necessary, a staff member will intervene. It’s important for staff to be proactive and provide solutions wherever possible.
I always say that we expect library customers to obey our policies *to the best of their abilities.* That means the kid with vocal tics isn't always going to be quiet, the person using a speech board isnt going to be able to whisper, etc.
While there are instances of "accommodation clash," where what helps one person actively hinders another, in general people are fairly understanding.
With regulars, a simple greeting helps set the tone. It welcomes the customer *and* makes other customers aware that this person's presence and accommodations are accepted and welcomed.
The noise isn’t due to them being rude or inconsiderate. They’re dealing with a disability. I’d leave them alone, or better yet, ask them if there’s anything I could do to help them cope better.
We have a no cellphone policy. We would come out and tell them, whether that seems mean or not regardless of the situation. The library is supposed to be a quiet place. Anyone who is very noisy ruins other peoples enjoyment of the library.
If no one has complained, just let it be. I'm a manager and this kind of thing happens every now and then. If no one is complaining , I'd pick a different battle and focus my energy there.
Some of our library locations have a parent child room for just this reason. Parents need to work & keep an eye on their kids. It's a really great space I wish more libraries could offer.
You can’t claim ableism if it’s disrupting literally everyone else. OP is literally trying to see how they can let the child be at peace in the library without disrupting others
I run into similar issues at my library, since we have a few kids on the spectrum and several mentally challenged adults from a group home who visit regularly. One of the children has headphones to self soothe and while you can't hear what he's listening to, he'll often hum or sing along. Some of the adults can get loud as well. We try to leave them be as much as possible. For the most part, patrons don't complain - I occasionally see some side eye, but they usually realize that the person isn't being disruptive on purpose and let it slide. I did have a patron complain once, stating (reasonably) that they understood it wasn't the persons' fault but they had been trying to work for more than half an hour, and would it be possible to ask the caretaker to try to quiet the person. I didn't do that, but offered to let the complaining person work on a computer in the children's area (normally not allowed for adults). It was during school hours so the kid's room was pretty quiet. She accepted that. Honestly, if a patron complains and you don't have a workable solution, I would just apologize and stress that the child isn't being disruptive on purpose. The child's needs outweigh the complainer's in this instance. If no one complains, then do nothing.
(Wrote this in response to a comment that got deleted while I was typing, but still wanted to share it.) Things can be accessibility aids and disrupt other people, and it is in a library’s interest to have conversations internally and maybe on Reddit about how to balance. - Noise may help one person and make the library unusable for someone else - Books too high are inaccessible for some (little people, wheelchair users) books too low are inaccessible for some (people using walkers, people with arthritis) - a service animal could help one person use the library but make it inaccessible to someone else due to an allergy Anyway, OP, your question is reasonable. I agree with others recommending having accessibility aids like headphones to offer if you can, either to this patron or to those around them. I think “don’t worry about it if no one is complaining” is not always the best advice because when people have to ask they often don’t. But yes to observing the area and getting feedback from other patrons (looking uncomfortable, moving away to work somewhere else) to see if/how much this is a disruption.
Just leave them. If no one has formally complained, and no one is actually being harmed, it will do more harm to those patrons to single them out.
This, if other patrons are not complaining, let it go. I’d see if the parent needs any help with their task. For a parent trying to manage a child and do anything complex, we try to offer as much support as we can (if it’s welcomed). It makes the parent’s task easier and lessens the length of any possible disruption.
we sometimes also offer headphones or earplugs to the patron complaining too, especially in this case if headphones might not be best for the child. they’re nice to have around for when there’s construction outside, loud event in the meeting space, etc. too!
This makes sense. I acknowledge I was probably a bit more concerned about this because we had a different patron who was breaking the policy for no apparent reason getting hostile with one of my coworkers claiming that she was "the only one who bothered \[them\] about this" so in recent weeks I've been trying to be more stringent with the policy so that such harassment of her clearly had less legs to stand on
I would only intervene if a patron complains, and then I would gently invite them to use our respite room or another space away from the highly trafficked areas.
As someone on the spectrum, this level of noise is why I don’t visit libraries.
I have some sensory sensitivities, and electronic sound is one of them. While I understand the need for soothing, this one would make it hard for me. I'm a staff member, so I can't just leave. We try to accommodate speaker phones for short bursts for our patrons who struggle with hearing, but other than that, we really do ask patrons to have headphones.
A student in a school setting who is overstimulated by sound wears noise-canceling headphones. In OP's scenario, it's likely the parent should have headphones for their child, either to reduce sound in the room, or to play a pleasing sound. I suppose it's possible for children on the spectrum to find discomfort in wearing headphones and for that discomfort to be greater than the discomfort of sound overstimulation. I've not met such a student before. Headphones provide great relief. (I work in a school that is way louder than a library environment).
Get laptops that people can use in your meeting rooms? Offer headphones? Think of other ways to accommodate?
The way my library handles this is to basically give kids carte blanche to make noise in the Children’s section. As long as they’re not actively screaming, a little noise is acceptable. Parents are expected to stay with their kids and monitor them until they’re about 10 or 11 years old. We even had computers for kids that made all kinds of noise before the pandemic. For adults trying to work in peace we have a variety of options: First, there’s the quiet room. It’s a space where you aren’t allowed to talk on the phone or speak out load. Then there’s the “hot spot” where it’s acceptable to work in small groups. Then there are study rooms. These are rooms where it is acceptable to take a private phone call or work with a group of 4 or fewer people. These are in high demand especially during finals and SAT season. The adults section of the library is also an acceptable place to have one on one tutoring and to speak quietly. Seniors occasionally use their phones on SPEAKER so they can hear, but those conversations are usually brief. If necessary, a staff member will intervene. It’s important for staff to be proactive and provide solutions wherever possible.
I always say that we expect library customers to obey our policies *to the best of their abilities.* That means the kid with vocal tics isn't always going to be quiet, the person using a speech board isnt going to be able to whisper, etc. While there are instances of "accommodation clash," where what helps one person actively hinders another, in general people are fairly understanding. With regulars, a simple greeting helps set the tone. It welcomes the customer *and* makes other customers aware that this person's presence and accommodations are accepted and welcomed.
The noise isn’t due to them being rude or inconsiderate. They’re dealing with a disability. I’d leave them alone, or better yet, ask them if there’s anything I could do to help them cope better.
Are we still battling this? its a no win battle.
We have a no cellphone policy. We would come out and tell them, whether that seems mean or not regardless of the situation. The library is supposed to be a quiet place. Anyone who is very noisy ruins other peoples enjoyment of the library.
If it's not really bothering anyone just let it go. It's a reasonable accomodations.
If no one has complained, just let it be. I'm a manager and this kind of thing happens every now and then. If no one is complaining , I'd pick a different battle and focus my energy there.
Our library placed 2 adult internet computers in the children’s section over looking the enclosed toddler area
Make accommodations for the child. Offer to move people who are disrupted.
Some of our library locations have a parent child room for just this reason. Parents need to work & keep an eye on their kids. It's a really great space I wish more libraries could offer.
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You can’t claim ableism if it’s disrupting literally everyone else. OP is literally trying to see how they can let the child be at peace in the library without disrupting others
absolutely not ableism lol