Evidently this does not apply

to the staff. Today I was in the library with my two elementary-school-aged

children. The staff was so loud that my daughter could not do her homework.

After my daughter's repeated

complaints, I asked the staff to quiet down. Now, I want you to understand

that this was not a boisterous staff meeting debating the pros and cons

of banning books. This was chitchat about what costume they were going

to wear for Halloween! The staff was so loud, in fact, that they didn't

even hear me trying to get their attention. I was standing a mere 12 inches

away and the staff couldn't even hear me the first three times I said,

"Ladies."

But wait, it gets better. Picture

two children and an adult with five reference books, and homework spread

over a small table, hard at work on a science project. A few moments later

a librarian approached us insisting that my children and I move to another

location. She insisted because "the staff would be getting loud again."

I am glad the staff can joke,

laugh and has time for the team-building that comes with chitchat. I am

only asking that they stop being hypocrites and take down the signs threatening

to beat us with in an inch of our lives if the patrons raise their voices

above a whisper.

It is sad that an elementary-school-aged

child has to complain about the adult staff and then is penalized. So

now, ladies, can you rise to the challenge and take down the signs, or

will you continue to be hypocrites?

Kelly Carter

Peachtree City

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