Library etiquette and life in a YA novel

The years of 2020 and 2021 have been a bit like a YA novel, if you think about it.

In 2020, the world was under siege by a massive threat that shook the very foundations of civilization. Now, in the wake of the apocalyptic threat, society has begun to rebuild itself. Some of us emerge from our homes, tufts of self-cut hair jutting from our scalps and faces like a neolithic chia pet to discover a world that’s … not quite the same as we remember it.

In the past year and a half, we’ve all had to make some pretty serious changes to our behaviors — some for the better, and others for the worse. Some people wear these bad behaviors as a badge of honor: “I survived the end times, a rebellious soul that won’t be held down or impeded by anything!” In the midst of the apocalypse, these were useful tools to have, but we’ve made it to the second book of the YA novel — the external threat is waning, and now it is time to rebuild society one brick at a time.

That first step begins with a simple tenet: respecting those around you. Mutual respect is a core belief of every library — the library respects you as a patron, and trusts that you will return the items that you check out, showing respect for the other members of your community that would like to enjoy what the library has to offer as well. The library staff works tirelessly to maintain a quiet environment, showing respect for those that need to concentrate when studying for a vital test that could alter the trajectory of their entire life — and when you work hard to help build that quiet space, you let the library staff know that you respect them in the pursuit of that mission.

Conversely, being disruptive, or allowing your children to run, scream, bang on the doors and windows or throw items makes the library staff feel as though you don’t respect the hard work we do to cultivate a great experience for you- and that doesn’t feel very good. Behavior like this runs contrary to the library’s code of conduct, which exists to set a basis for a sense of mutual respect and to build a center for the community that every member of the community can enjoy peacefully.

We understand, with children in particular, that bad moods happen. Sometimes you just want to scream or blow off some steam and sometimes this happens unexpectedly in the middle of the library. It’s perfectly all right to step into the lobby, outside, or even visit us another day — we’re open for you six days a week and we’d be happy to have you any time.

Sometimes, we all just have a little too much energy pent up for the library; and as tempting as it is to climb the shelves like King Kong scaling the Empire State Building, the library is just not the place to do that. Fortunately, you can easily access Centennial Park just a few blocks east (If you’re coming from downtown Sandpoint on Cedar, pass the library until the street ends), where you can freely release any of that excess energy before coming back to visit us.

Everything we do here at the library is in service to you and your neighbors — including the occasional shushing. We hope to see you soon.

Brenden Bobby can be reached at the East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., Sandpoint, by phone at 208-263-6930, or email at brenden@ebonnerlibrary.org .