Meanings of a place can be determined by several things: activities of people, human movements, present and past experience and interpretation.

Interpretation
Library, to me is a SERIOUS place. A place for reflection of subject, learning materials, ideas and inspiration. It is a very PERSONAL space for communing with the new and old knowledge.

Past Experience
Since young, before I go to a library, I would take a few minutes to think what I need to look for in the library, the missing piece of information that I need. When I look for inspiration and idea, I would write a mind map so that I could start my treasure hunt when I go to the library.

It is fun and exciting because each section unveils a “clue”, a step closer to my “big idea”.

Activities of people
The libraries that I have visited so far were VERY VERY quiet. I always found patrons who were very quiet and in deep reflecting mode. Sometimes it was so dead quiet that a small sneeze would seem to be able to knock down the whole library.

Human movements
Patrons walked very very quietly, often seated nearest to the section he was interested in.

The keyword: QUIET.

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Present experience

Today, the school library that I have been visiting is like a big market place. Before the lift door opens, I could hear the chatters and noises beyond the door. It was that “MARKET PLACE”!

“Patrons” no longer treat the library as it was. In fact, it has become a place for afternoon nap, gossip place, playing LAN games, playing poker cards, skipping ground, dating corner, enjoying air-con and a concert hall.

These girls can’t stop gossiping while pretending to flip the books at 2 pages/second and were totally “oblivious “to people who needed to go through the aisle.

“Market place”

Despite of the “Shhh” warning signs everywhere and the reminder of possibly being chased out of the library, the noise continues on.

I wonder what library is to these “patrons” today. Do we need signs to tell us to “shut up” in a library?? Common sense is not THAT COMMON to people after all.

What kind of generation are we becoming to?

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