A new policy aimed at reducing distractions to students studying in Middleton Library seems to be working already.
The LSU Libraries has put up numerous signs throughout Middleton Library stating their new policy on cell phone use. The policy asks students to “Please turn off cell phone ringers upon entering any of the LSU libraries.”
The new policy comes as a result of numerous complaints from library patrons, said Reference/Outreach Librarian Mark Sanders.
People are complaining about the ringing phones as well as people holding conversations in the reference area and in the stacks, Sanders said.
Since the new “table tents” holding the fliers were put up at computer desks and at service desk points, there seems to be a decrease in the number of distracting occurrences.
During a 30-minute period on Wednesday afternoon only two cell phones went off, both on vibrate, in the study area in the Reference section of Middleton.
“I don’t hear as many phones as last year,” said Keith Underwood, a mechanical engineering junior. “I usually turn my ringer off. If it goes off, it’s because I just forgot to put it on silent.”
The primary purpose of the signs is to make students aware of the new policy in hopes of eliminating the problem, Sanders said.
“Hopefully it won’t come to where we have to ban cell phones outright,” Sanders said. “We want to make allowances for patrons.”
The new policy also says the lobby area may be used to make short, quiet phone calls, but asks people to move outside of the library for extended calls.
Sylviane Ngandu-Kalenga, an African and African-American studies junior, said, “People are preoccupied with studying; they just forget to turn them off.”
Originally the library only had a few signs near the entrance and nowhere else in the building, Sanders said.
Cell phones became a big problem this past spring semester, and the library started creating the policy during the summer, Sanders said.
Cell phones aren’t the only thing prohibited in the library. The library also does not allow food or drink because of the distracting smell, Sanders said.
Students have varying opinions about the new policy and cell phone usage on campus in general.
“I think it will make a little difference, but I don’t think all people will comply,” said Maxine Foster, a mass communication freshman, of the new library policy.
Sean Young, a computer science senior, said, “It doesn’t bother me that much. It’s funny watching people in class scrambling around for their cell phones.”
The library recently put in a comment box at the entrance to the Reference Department which people use to issue complaints, Sanders said.
The library usually gets two complaints per day, and 10 complaints per week regarding cell phone use, Sanders said.