FLITE Noise Policy
FLITE is a place of research, study, collaboration, teaching, and learning. To facilitate an environment that is conducive to learning, users of the Library should respect the rights of others and refrain from disruptive behavior such as making excessive noise while in the building. Certain areas in FLITE are designated as Quiet Zones; however, please be considerate of those working and studying around you in all parts of the Library.
Cell Phones and Other Devices that Generate Noise
- When you enter the Library, turn OFF the ringer and musical tone on your cell phone, PDA, pager, and similar devices.
- Cell phones may be used to make or receive calls in the extended hours area, the lobby entrance, the elevator corridors on each floor, any of the enclosed stairwells, or in a study room.
- If absolutely necessary, cell phones may be used to make brief, quiet calls from the Information Commons or other areas, but should not be used in Quiet Zones.
- Headphones may be used in the Library, but the noise level should be kept low enough not to bother others.
- Headphones should be used with personal computers or laptops. If it is necessary to use the speakers, please go to a study room or the extended hours area.
Information Commons (1st Floor)
- The Information Commons is designed to facilitate both individual research and collaborative projects, thus quiet conversation among people working together in groups is acceptable.
- Groups congregating in the Information Commons for the purpose of socializing will be asked to move to the extended hours area.
- When you enter the Information Commons, the ringer or musical tone on your cell phone should be turned OFF. Brief, quiet calls may be made from the Information Commons if necessary (e.g., to call for computer assistance).
- Phone calls should not be received while in the Information Commons. Calls may be taken in the FLITE lobby entrance, the extended hours area, the elevator corridors on each floor, any of the enclosed stairwells, or in a study room.
- Headphones should be kept at low volume so as not to disturb other library users.
- When listening to the audio on a personal computer or laptop, please use headphones. If it is necessary to use the speakers, please go to a study room or the extended hours area.
Extended Hours Area
- During the daytime and evening until the main part of FLITE closes, the extended hours area may be used for socializing, eating, and passing through from the parking lot into the main part of FLITE, and thus tends to be an area with high foot traffic and noise.
- When the main part of FLITE is closed, the extended hours area becomes a Quiet Zone since it is the only area of the Library available for studying and computer access.
Quiet Zones
- Quiet Zones are intended for library users requiring a minimum of noise and distraction. Please refrain from conversations and group study while in the Quiet Zones (although brief, whispered conversations are permitted when necessary).
- Absolutely no cell phone use in Quiet Zones.
- Designated Quiet Zones include:
- 3rd Floor seating and computer areas
- Lower Level seating area
- Extended hours area (only when the main part of FLITE is closed)
- In addition to the Quiet Zones, there are other places in the Library where there is not as much traffic, activity, and noise: the seating area next to the Reference Collection on 1st Floor, the 2nd Floor Reading Room (room no. 240), and study rooms.
- Library users whose quiet study is disrupted are encouraged to ask the noise-makers to be quieter and/or to inform staff at the Check-out Desk.
Study Rooms
- Normal conversation is acceptable in study rooms as long as it does not bother other Library users.
- Television and videos may be viewed in study rooms so equipped; however, please set the volume at normal conversational levels or use headphones.
- Keep in mind that study rooms are not soundproof. Please be considerate of people studying in adjacent rooms.
Seminar Rooms and Instructional Studios
- Please keep the doors closed while conducting activities in these rooms; people may be studying in adjacent areas.
- Student groups that are unduly noisy or disruptive may forfeit their right to future use of FLITE rooms.
Conference Rooms Area (Rooms 438, 442, 446)
- Please keep the doors closed while conducting activities in these rooms, since sound tends to travel via the atrium down to the 3rd Floor quiet study area.
- Quiet conversation is permitted in the corridors outside the conference rooms, but bear in mind that excessive noise may be disruptive to people studying on the 3rd Floor.
Customer Service Areas
- It is expected that normal conversation will occur at customer service areas (Information Point, Check-out Desk, Reference Desk, Periodicals Information Desk, North Service Desk). Nevertheless, Library users and staff are expected to keep noise levels to a minimum in those areas.
Cooperation
- All FLITE users are expected to abide by University and Library policies and will be asked by staff to comply if necessary. Users who continue to violate the noise policy may be asked to leave the building.
- If there is excessive noise or conversation in your vicinity that you consider to be disruptive, you are encouraged to ask the noise-makers to be quieter. You may also report the disturbance at the Check-out Desk or to other Library staff members.
- Library staff may request the assistance of the Department of Public Safety should a Library user continue to be disruptive or become belligerent.
- The FLITE Noise Policy is based on the University's Code of Community Standards, also known as the Student Handbook. According to the Student Handbook, the policy on personal misconduct prohibits "disorderly conduct that interferes with teaching, research, administration, or other University or University-authorized activity or that disrupts the university environment either during the event or incident or as a result of an event or incident" (Section III, item B-8).
- The Student Handbook identifies as personal misconduct the "failure to comply with the directions of authorized University officials in the performance of their duties, failure to identify oneself when requested to do so, failure to comply with reasonable requests of other students, or failure to comply with the terms of the disciplinary sanction" (Section III, item B-9).
- Library staff, including student employees who are carrying out assigned work responsibilities, are considered to be University officials.
Approved by FLITE Library Administrative Council: November 1, 2006