I had to walk out of the library the other day. I was wearing noise canceling headphones and listening to music at a normal volume and yet a mom with three kids drove me out due to the fact they were running around and yelling like it was their house.
I travel and this is the new normal at libraries throughout the U.S. Many libraries now have an open area children’s section where the kids can play on the floor and be as loud as they want.
I do use study rooms at the library but not all libraries have them and a closed glass door does not block all the noise from a screaming baby/toddler.
Libraries are a shared space and in the past used to be quiet. Now in the effort to be inclusive to everyone they don’t enforce any noise rules because they want those moms and their screaming kids to come visit the library.
And of course, you cannot complain to anyone about this because if you do so you are a Karen and no one will care and then they’ll tell you “if you don’t like it you can leave” This is society now…everyone does what they want with no regard for others.
I’m sure the local community does value quiet. But unfortunately we don’t have any feedback from the local community. We only have OP’s points of view. So I’m left to wonder whether this family was actually being disruptive by the local community’s standards or if OP is blowing this out of proportion. If it’s the former, then OP could have done everyone in that library a favor by politely bringing it up with the library staff instead of just complaining about it online. If instead the problem is that OP has different standards than the community does, then that’s just too bad for OP because they’re not the one actually paying for the library.
I 100% agree that people should use their words when bothered by others. I also think that we can give OP the benefit of the doubt.