The library can either be your best friend or worst enemy. You may spend hours upon hours there as a university student, or just barely inhabit it as a high schooler. It provides rows and rows upon scholarly resources, quiet study spots, computers, wifi and occaisonally, coffee. Entering the library, you instantly feel a realm of possibilities. All your work will be completed. Procrastination will not be an issue. However, there are always downfalls.
1. Wifi
The internet can be your best friend to instantly bring up information, or it can assist you in wasting time. Free wifi in the library is no different than your internet at home. It doesn’t block Facebook, Twitter or WordPress. All your favourite blogs are still a click away. The only difference is your own location.
2. It’s not always quiet.
Be it the university library or the public library, chatter is inevitable. You may be pulling out your hair listening to the laughter of the “study group” near your table. Maybe its even the librarians who are gossiping and you can’t quit eavesdropping. Beside you may even be someone who aspires to be the next Lil’Wayne (buddy, it ain’t happening).
3. The sleepers.
You would assume they were quiet. Nope. Somehow, these always end up to be the people who snore like a velociraptor. They’re loud. They have been snoring for hours. You want to go over and kick them or at the very least, roll them over. You’re begging to the good Lord that someone else will do that for you (you don’t want to lose your spot after all). Maybe throwing a book at them will shut them up …
4. Your trusty iPhone.
Oh, iPhone. Where would I be without you? At home because I would be done my work. If the wifi isn’t working in your library (or it just isn’t available), then you’ve migrated to your smart phone. With all of its fun apps. And there’s always new ones to purchase in the app store. Now that I think of it, I still haven’t completed my latest level in Angry Birds …
5. The books.
If you’re a bookworm like I am, the library itself is just one big room with shiny things. Isn’t that an interesting title. What is that person reading? Maybe if I skim a page or two, then I’ll be satisfied with the novel. An hour later, you’re sitting at your desk with piles of books. None of them relating to the topic at hand.
6. Highlighters and colourful pens.
You stopped paying attention to your reading material hours ago. Looking down, your book looks like a rainbow threw up all over it. Why did I highlight that? What was my colouring scheme again? Do I even have system going on here? Going for another key term to highlight, you realize all of your highlighters have dried out. Great, now what do I use?
7. Your study material.
You read that correctly. Maybe you actually enjoy this class that you’re working on. It is possible for your textbook to be a page turner. Once you reach the end of your book, you realize none of it was actually assigned material. And you’ve completely forgotten what the readings actually were about. Time to start again.
8. The Ryan Reynolds lookalike.
My eyes have dried out from staring. They’re permanently glued onto the hottie in the corner. When he does notice you looking (multiple times), he gets up. You build up anticipation, hoping he is coming your way. Those dreams are crushed when you see him walking for the exit as fast as possible. Damn.
9. Kids
If you’re at a public library, you know the feeling. The two-foot high creatures are running around amok. Insert some high pitch screaming. Some smashing of fists into the ground. Yelling at parents that they don’t want a book. Should there not be a library designated specifically for children?
10. The wall itself.
Notice how anything seems more interesting than the task at hand? This yellow wall in front of me sure is fascinating.
Hopefully I am not the only one with unpleasant library experiences. I know all of you have experienced at least one of these disturbances. What annoys you most at the library?
