Noise Policy

The primary purpose of the Lake-Sumter State College libraries is to enhance teaching and learning. The library staff is committed to providing an environment that welcomes all users yet is conducive to study. These guidelines were developed to help maintain an environment favorable for study and research at all campus libraries.

General Noise Guidelines

• Headphones may be used if noise from the headphones is not audible to others.
• Laptop computers may be operated, but all sound or audio features must be turned off or headphones must be used.
• Cell phones and pagers should be turned off or to no-ring mode upon entering any campus library.
• Low and moderate noise zones are designated below for each of the LSSC libraries. High noise areas are not available in the Leesburg or Sumter campus library. On these campuses, student centers may be used for high noise activities. Since it serves as a joint-use academic/public library, the first floor of the South Lake joint-use campus library is designated a high noise area to accommodate children and teens.
• College policy forbids unsupervised children in any campus area. These guidelines pertain to library patrons of all ages, including supervised children. Specific guidelines for joint-use libraries are specified in the campus guidelines listed below.

Cell Phone Use

Please set cell phones to no-ring mode upon entering any campus library. If you must use your cell phone to make or receive a phone call while in the library, move to a cell phone friendly area: to a restroom or outside the library. When answering your cell phone, you should keep your voice at a reasonable level to avoid disturbing others and immediately move to a cell phone friendly area. If you must be on call and are using a cell phone, follow the guidelines below:

• Turn phone ringer off or set to a non-audible signal (flashing light, vibration, etc.) upon entering the building.
• Move immediately to a cell phone friendly area when placing or receiving calls.
• At the discretion of library staff members, library users in open computer labs who show a legitimate need to use a cell phone while consulting a computer may be allowed to hold a quiet cell phone conversation.

Enforcement

Any library staff member is empowered to resolve noise complaints and disruptive behavior. Groups or individuals disrupting the study and research environment of the Library will be asked to discontinue the disruptive behavior or leave the library. Campus security may be called to remove an unresponsive library user. Disruptive behavior may include, but is not limited to:

• playing personal audio equipment at too high a volume
• speaking or laughing loudly
• speaking loudly into a cell phone
• shouting or any other outburst

Staff Procedure

• The library staff member who first notices the disruption should approach the disruptive library user(s) and ask them to discontinue the disruptive behavior or move to an area with a higher noise designation.
• Users who continue to display disruptive behavior will be asked to produce photo identification and, for LSSC students, their X-ID number. The user will then be asked to leave the library. The library staff member should request the assistance of an LSSC security officer if a library user refuses to leave the library.
• When the user shows identification, the name should be recorded and kept at the designated library service desk. This will allow staff to track library users who continually violate noise policy.
• If a user does not have identification or an X-ID, refuses to show identification or an X-ID, or displays belligerent behavior, library staff will immediately call security.
• Students who have been warned on three occasions will be reported to the Director of Student Development as having violated the student Code of Conduct.
• Security protocols will be followed, as recommended by the facilities director and security officers. Security may notify local police if the situation warrants.
• These procedures apply to all library users, including students, faculty, staff, and community library users. Any library staff member has the authority to call security if a librarian or administrator is unavailable.

Noise Level Designations for Campus Libraries

Leesburg Campus Library

Open Computer Lab

The open lab and open study area between the lab and the government documents collection is a quiet noise zone. In this area normal conversational noise levels are permitted for reference and library service purposes only. Cell phones and pagers should be turned to no-ring mode or off. At the discretion of a library staff member, library users in the open computer lab who have a legitimate need to use a cell phone while consulting a computer may be allowed to hold a quiet cell phone conversation.

Study Area Adjacent to General Book Stacks

The study area near the general book collection is designated as a quiet zone. In this area normal conversational noise levels are permitted for reference and library service purposes only. Cell phones and pagers should be turned to no-ring mode or off.

Study Rooms

The two study rooms on either side of the emergency exit on the west side of the building are designated as moderate noise zones. Low talking and group studying is permitted. Cell phones and pagers should be turned to no-ring mode or off.

Quiet Study Room

The Quiet Study Room is an absolute quiet zone. No conversation is allowed. Noise disruptions should be reported to the Service Desk.

Library Classroom

The library classroom is designated as a quiet zone. In this area normal conversational noise levels are permitted for reference and library service purposes only. Cell phones and pagers should be turned to no-ring mode or off.

South Lake Campus Library (Cooper Memorial Library)

First Floor

The first floor of the Cooper Memorial Library, which houses circulation department, children’s area and teen area, is designated as a high noise area.

Second Floor

The second floor is designated as a quiet zone. In this area normal conversational noise levels are permitted for reference and library service purposes only. Cell phones and pagers should be turned to no-ring mode or off. At the discretion of a library staff member, library users in the open computer lab who have a legitimate need to use a cell phone while consulting a computer may be allowed to hold a quiet cell phone conversation.

Sumter Campus Library (Clark Maxwell Jr. Library)

Small Group Study Rooms

Study rooms are designated as moderate noise zones. Students can converse and work in groups. In special cases, students may ask for permission to use an empty classroom for discussions of class work.