Have you ever people watched? I love to people watch and what better place to find to people watch than the local library. Being a writer I always find something to write about and the library can be a great wealth of inspiration for writers block. Peaceful, serene, and amusing. Having been a fan of libraries all of my life I have come up with some great things that I must put in my "Top Ten List" of ways to annoy other patrons in the library.
Thou shalt not rearrange the books. Nothing is worse than going to a shelf to find a book that you have spent the last 10 minutes looking up and find it not there. The reason it is not there is that some entrepreneurial youngster has rearranged it in the shelving unit. Simply going 3 or 4 books forwards or back can sometimes remedy this situation, otherwise one must simply retrace their steps and take the next book in line for their book search.
Thou shalt not play noisy video games on ones cell phone or other personal game device. Have you ever tried to sit and simply read while hearing a beep, beep beep and bing from a video game or cell phone? Chances are you re read the same sentence or paragraph at least 3 times before you either gave up and closed your book or relocated your own body to read your book.
Thou shalt not have a conversation on your cell phone either. Its very annoying to any library patron to hear about your disagreement with your kids, friends or spouse. Take it outside away from the main entrance or better yet go and sit in your car and hash it out. We don't want to hear it.
Thou shalt not emit obnoxious body sounds. Whether it be a fart, belch or the hiccups, please go take care of your private issues either in the bathroom or go outside and save us the annoyance. Be considerate.
Thou shalt not return books late. Especially if there is a waiting list for the book. There is nothing worse than waiting for a book that you have requested and the previous patron not returning the book on time or worse yet, not at all.
Thou shalt not bring noisy obnoxious children to the library and not attend to them. It is not the other patrons responsibility to reprimand your children who are running rampant in the library or to control them. Control your children and discipline them as required.
Thou shalt not chew gum or other food substances loudly with your mouth in full noisy motion. Do not snap your gum or blow bubbles and most importantly do not rattle wrappers obnoxiously
Thou shalt not speak loudly or obnoxiously in the library. Use your indoor voice. Other are reading or studying. Do not be disruptive to them. If you are going to carry on a conversation with someone in the library, keep it quiet and do not be disruptive.
Thou shalt not play music on your mp3 or other music devices so that other patrons can hear it. Headphones are fine but if you are wearing headphones and we can still hear your music, then you have it up way too loud. Please turn it down and respect our quiet desires.
Thou shalt not engage in any physical intimacies in the library. Yes, I know its quiet and your own kids are probably not at the library and you and hubby can at long last be alone, but you aren't really alone. Please save this for your own home. We don't want to watch and we certainly don't want our teen agers watching and thinking that this type of behavior is acceptable in public.
J o x
ps pix pls