HOUSTON — Around the country, more and more public libraries are providing designated quiet rooms to take the edge off their transformation into chaotic hubs, which was done in part to draw more visitors and keep pace with the demands of frenetic, technology-driven lives.
While adding toddler playtime and teen dances, library officials discovered many patrons still longed for a traditional, quiet atmosphere.
“People wanted a place for quiet study. It takes them out of the hustle and bustle in buildings that are very busy,” said Rhoda Goldberg, director of the Harris County, Texas, public library system. “We’re going to be putting in quiet rooms as much as possible.”
In Westlake, Ohio, the public library features a gift shop and a cafe, mimicking the atmosphere of a bookstore, said Mary Worthington, the assistant director for public services. But it also has a quiet room, where visitors who talk too loudly are gently reminded to tone it down.
