Cell phones blaring musical ringtones and discussion groups swapping stories about last night's drunken escapades isn't exactly the scenario that comes to mind when one envisions a university library.
"I think a lot of students study in a noisy ambiance," said Carolyn Dusenbury, university librarian. "I think some people can work in an environment that seems more chaotic to others, and they should be more considerate."
Although the library etiquette acquired in elementary school most likely didn't provide guidelines for proper MySpace usage and cell phone manners, remembering to use "inside voices" could not have been forgotten.
"(The library) has a nice atmosphere until people screw it up," senior Ryan Hooker said.
Generally students do a good job of abiding by library rules, but there are some exceptions, Dusenbury said.
"Some 'social groups' or 'study groups,' mostly in the evenings, are extremely loud," she said. "They are here because their (organization) requires them to be, but there isn't much studying going on."
Library staff receives a lot of complaints from students about the fourth floor, she said.
"The fourth floor is the hang out zone for the who's who of Chico," senior Jahan Karimaghayi said. "You have to know a spot in the library to actually get things done."
Students don't seem to know the library code of conduct.
"When people are talking quietly, it's no problem," sophomore Laura McPherson said. "People shouldn't yell, sing or whistle, but I don't think people do that a lot."
The rules outlined in the Meriam Library Public Use Policy are for students that just don't seem to get it, Dusenbury said.
"I think it's very inappropriate to use your cell phone," senior Alan Burwell said. "The library is supposed to be a professional environment, which is why I don't use it very often. It's not as laid back as at home."
People should keep their personal devices relatively quiet and set phones on vibrate, Dusenbury said.
"You should only talk on your phone on the first floor," Karimaghayi said. "You should text otherwise."
Prohibiting cell phones might seem like a simple solution but it isn't an option anymore.
"It's not just a phone now," Dusenbury said. "It's e-mail, music, calendars, it's everything."
Thanks to the growing popularity of text messaging among students, the number of complaints about cell phone use has declined, she said.
The library is a place to read, research and study, Burwell said.
Campus computers aren't always used for scholastic purposes, either.
"It drives me insane when I have to wait an hour to use the computer because some guy's on MySpace," Hooker said
Students who need the computer lab for university-related business have priority over those who are using it for social networking, Dusenbury said.
"If there's a lot of people waiting in line, I try to get my work done and leave," Hooker said. "I might check my e-mail, but I won't spend four hours chillin' and looking at every YouTube video I can find."
However, students are often reluctant to ask other students to leave or quiet down.
"I'm not a confrontational person, so I either move away or I wait 'til they stop," McPherson said.
Staring is also a tactic used by both Burwell and Hooker.
"I give them the death look," Hooker said.
Generally, students approach the library staff to handle noise or computer complaints, Dusenbury said. However, once the staff is out of earshot, whatever was going on before usually starts again.
The unspoken rules of library etiquette are the same as they have always been, with a few minor adjustments to accommodate new trends.
"I think the library has well-established rules, but people just don't follow them," Hooker said.
Despite well-known codes of conduct, noise is inevitable in any public place, but students try to avoid it.
"I have my secret spots," Burwell said. "But I won't tell you.
Nicole Williams can be reached at nwilliams@theorion.com
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