My favorite libraries are vibrant spaces where visitors are welcome to explore as well as plonk down in a comfy chair for some silent or shared reading. I suspect they’ve long been these kinds of dynamic spaces, and the stereotypical tight-lipped, bun-bearing librarian icon who can't bear the sound of a stifled guffaw is unjustified. Personally I don’t know any of these monolithic shushing types and I abhore the dreaded "Shush!"
Those of us who love and linger in libraries offer highly evolved methods for keeping our libraries on the quiet side. I have adopted an array of shushing strategies that have varying degrees of effectiveness. Below are three of my favored shushes.
1. MENTAL SHUSH
Stare intently at the computer screen and mentally emit a prolonged, "Shhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuusssssssssshhhhhhhhh!”
Effectiveness rating: 2 of 10. The amount of energy applied to the mental shush does block out a certain amount of patron noise.
Note: To date, computer screen unharmed by laser vision.
2. GLARING SHUSH
Stare intently at noisy patrons with smile slightly askew.
Effectiveness rating on children: 7 of 10
Effectiveness rating on adults: 5 of 10
For some reason adults view the Glaring Shush as more of a deranged plea for help than a reprimand, the result of which is often a prolonged conversation between adult patron and librarian that begins, “Are you okay? You look stressed.”
3. JOKE SHUSH
Rush in from an adjoining room with a startled look and exclaim, “Oh! What a relief it’s just a bunch of first graders. I thought the zoo keeper let the hyenas escape to the library!”
Effectiveness rating on first graders: 8 of 10
Effectiveness rating on adults: 0 of 10
After confusion/laughter subsides, students will generally maintain an acceptable volume for a duration equivalent to their age, i.e., six seconds for six year-olds, etc.
Note: Don’t try this with adults. Using the Joke Shush on adult patrons really is a cry for help.
Please feel free to apply any or all of these shushing techniques in your library. But remember: shush with panache!
Those of us who love and linger in libraries offer highly evolved methods for keeping our libraries on the quiet side. I have adopted an array of shushing strategies that have varying degrees of effectiveness. Below are three of my favored shushes.
1. MENTAL SHUSH
Stare intently at the computer screen and mentally emit a prolonged, "Shhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuusssssssssshhhhhhhhh!”
Effectiveness rating: 2 of 10. The amount of energy applied to the mental shush does block out a certain amount of patron noise.
Note: To date, computer screen unharmed by laser vision.
2. GLARING SHUSH
Stare intently at noisy patrons with smile slightly askew.
Effectiveness rating on children: 7 of 10
Effectiveness rating on adults: 5 of 10
For some reason adults view the Glaring Shush as more of a deranged plea for help than a reprimand, the result of which is often a prolonged conversation between adult patron and librarian that begins, “Are you okay? You look stressed.”
3. JOKE SHUSH
Rush in from an adjoining room with a startled look and exclaim, “Oh! What a relief it’s just a bunch of first graders. I thought the zoo keeper let the hyenas escape to the library!”
Effectiveness rating on first graders: 8 of 10
Effectiveness rating on adults: 0 of 10
After confusion/laughter subsides, students will generally maintain an acceptable volume for a duration equivalent to their age, i.e., six seconds for six year-olds, etc.
Note: Don’t try this with adults. Using the Joke Shush on adult patrons really is a cry for help.
Please feel free to apply any or all of these shushing techniques in your library. But remember: shush with panache!