Lesson 2: "At the library"

My feeling is that the library is something that got in to the locals' lives pretty recently and they don't know what it implies.
Is not that a library is something new in US, more probable the people that form the my library's public are newcomers and where they came from, "the library" was only a pub's name.

Ok I am mean, but based on my experience with the Redwood Shores library, it seems that many don't know that a library should be a peaceful environment.


Whoever designed the floor plan is to be blamed first. The kids' reading rooms are placed in such a way that every kid must cross the entire main reading/computers area to reach there.
As there is no much fun for nannies/housewives/grannies in Redwood Shores, the library is a pilgrimage place and there is a constant traffic of toddlers, babies and kids going in/out their areas, and being obviously -- hello! they are kids! -- not quiet at all.

There is no sign on the wall about the mobile phone usage or keeping noises to minimum. Consequently, many readers speak freely between them, some answer the phone. To my complete dismay, even the curators are speaking full voice with the readers that ask for information, and the front-desk is really close to the main reading/computers area.
To top all of these, last time I was there one lady started a loud "Can you hear me Melissa??" phone conversation mistaking the place to an internet cafe. Luckily the phone coverage was poor and "Melissa" couldn't hear much, otherwise the high-heels-dressed but bare-feet-under-the-desk lady couldn't be bothered by some readers' angry staring.

Add to this that most moms/nannies/grannies do not want to stunt their kids' personalities and never "shush!" them. Sometimes they even escape in the main area, running, laughing and crying while their supervisors run and shout after them.
Funny enough, I have seen also grannies brought from their native country that do not master English at all and show no interest in library's content; they practically just accompany the kid to the "playground", dozing off in a corner for one hour or so whilst the kid is doing whatever he wants, then suddenly they reactivate, quickly collect the kid and head home for lunch.

Finally a bit about the library content. I am for freebies myself and really happy that they have a borrowable DVD section in the library.
Still, beats me how e.g. "Transformers" could be classified as "cultural" and included in library's stock. (Besides, it's surprising that the movie industry, well known for their strong hand and attention to their profits, has no problem in having all these movie available to the public for free.)

Anyway, I filled in a complaints/suggestions form about the noise level and sent it to the director few weeks ago;  no answer yet. Maybe I am just retrograde.