by Rick Badman

Created on: June 17, 2009

The main problem with public libraries is the general public. When I was a child, going to the library was enjoyable. There were only a few TV stations I could receive and electronic games didn't exist yet. But things have changed over the decades and patrons at times don't show library etiquette. There are at least ten things that annoy other patrons. There are more. But I find these very annoying:

(1)TALKING LOUDLY TO OTHERS AND OFTEN ON CELL PHONES

People are supposed to be quiet in libraries. But with cell phones, people think they need to be in constant contact with others. Did they come to look at books and magazines, or did they want to talk on the phone? They should go outside if they want to talk on the phone.

(2)LOOKING AT PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET

There are libraries that should be called peep shows because they allow pornography to be displayed on the computer terminals without censor filters. There is no telling how many children have seen nude women on a computer screen in a library when they would never see such things at home. They call it freedom of speech. I call it smut peddling.

(3)EATING IN THE LIBRARY

It is all right to eat while you're at home looking at books and magazines. But in libraries, people don't want to open a magazine and see that the previous reader was eating potato chips due to the grease on the pages.

(4)STARING AT OTHERS

People become self-conscious when people stare at them. So please don't do it.

(5)READING OVER PEOPLE'S SHOULDERS

If staring at people is annoying, reading over the shoulders of people is even more annoying. If you want to look at a book or magazine, wait your turn. Besides, there are so many interesting books and magazines in a library that you're bound to find something that will keep you occupied while you wait for the person to finish with the book or magazine you want to look at.

(6)ASKING LIBRARIANS SILLY QUESTIONS

If you are waiting to ask the librarian a question, it is annoying to have someone in front of you asking the person a silly question like "Should I look under water or falls for information on waterfalls?" That may not be as silly as "Is science fiction considered science or fiction?" Some answers are obvious. Sometimes you wonder where these people come from? Could they be stupid enough to think the Civil War took place after WW I? Then again, there was the Spanish Civil War which took place before WW II. But often they are asking about the American

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