It’s a cool early afternoon, the library’s desks are almost full, every computer has a body in a chair facing it. The library is filled with the click of the keyboard keys and slight murmur and cough with the occasional soft giggle.

A poor-quality speaker playing Justin Bieber suddenly blares out, splitting the silence like an earthquake tearing up a major highway, and snap, a phone opens.

“What no, I told that fool .” someone screams into his phone as every head turns to look up from what they are doing, like chickens in a field and the farmer is coming in with fresh corn.

Evil glances are delivered with astonishment that a grown man would be listening to the latest teen music, and with such fervor that the cell phone culprit quickly tones it down.
But does he stop talking on his mobile? No, the volume goes down a certain degree and the conversation goes on as if on a public street.

Moments later a librarian comes around and informs the new Verizon spokesman that we can hear him now, loud and clear.
Libraries are there for those of us that enjoy a bit of peace and quiet with which to study. They are designed to make life pleasant for the masses; no food or drink, as it is not a restaurant and librarians duties are abundant enough without having to walk around cleaning up after us.

There is an abundance of reading material; all you have to do is enjoy and place it in a basket when done. Restocking is a librarian’s duty. Leave it to them, as there is a numerical process involved in restocking.

Don’t deface or destroy property; no one cares who you are in love with. And if you love them that much, why would you write it on a toilet wall of all places?

If you forgot your area code, its either 619 or 858, tattoo it on your neck or just ask someone. You could even Google it; why you would need a reminder on the toilet wall or desk is anyone’s guess.

Please leave the kids at home; the Learning Resource Center is not geared for looking after kids, or there to remind parents that it is a sanctuary of silence.

Donovan Terblanche is a City Times staff writer