"Library etiquette..."

Wild chickens gather in front of the Kapa'a public library....
This blog ran 02-09-12 in the Kaua'i Garden island news as an opinion article titled;" At the public library..."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-thursday-february/article_def3f12c-52fc-11e1-bce1-0019bb2963f4.html

The public library is a wonderful place. When we were children we were taught to not talk in the library and if we absolutely had to talk we communicated in a silent whisper. It was a respect thing.

Homework, study and research were the primary reasons for going to the library.

...Fast forward 50 years and public libraries have turned into cheap DVD rental stores along with free computer and Internet access.

Last but not least it's a safe haven for homeless people to catch a nap with a book in their lap as they doze off and when they wake up they use the restrooms supplied with toilet paper, soap and paper towels.

Library etiquette has changed dramatically since I was a child, in fact when I shushed a group of teenagers as a sign to keep their voices down they looked back at me with blank stares and continued clucking like a bunch of chickens.

I  looked at the kids and said," just wait until your my age," they all looked back simultaneously and said "Shhhhhhhhhhhh!"