{"id":42825,"date":"2015-10-29T16:31:48","date_gmt":"2015-10-29T20:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/?p=42825"},"modified":"2015-10-29T21:46:46","modified_gmt":"2015-10-30T01:46:46","slug":"eli5-libraries-edition-library-meeting-room-policy-that-omits-business-uses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2015\/10\/29\/eli5-libraries-edition-library-meeting-room-policy-that-omits-business-uses\/","title":{"rendered":"ELI5 Libraries edition: Library meeting room policy that omits business uses."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Libraries,<\/a>

Libraries, the original co-working space cc-by lemasney<\/p><\/div>\n

Explain like I’m 5: is this library meeting room policy a reasonable representation of librarianship?<\/h3>\n

(Some) policies exist in (some) NJ libraries that prevent a patron from walking in\u00a0and requesting a room because of the content of the meeting, e.g. the meeting is for the purpose of conducting business (defined as the exchange of money for services).<\/p>\n

Under this policy, co-working in the library, for instance, is prohibited.<\/h3>\n

The reason: “if we were to allow anyone in to use our facilities for any purpose, we would be overwhelmed and inundated with people who were not paying for the service. Small businesses should support themselves elsewhere”.<\/p>\n

Agree, or disagree, and why?<\/p>\n

Contingency case details<\/h3>\n

Public Library system, municipal, large facility with many (at least 10) open, observed as generally unused meeting rooms, all of which fit between 10-50 people. I am interested in other cases.<\/p>\n

The conflict<\/h4>\n

I would go to this library out of mutual convenience for a quiet, neutral, clean space to work with an elderly client. I have been meeting at least twice a month for months there. Surreptitiously.<\/p>\n

We would meet quietly, in one of the vast, empty general community spaces (e.g. gallery) on a bench, I was chased from the bench twice, so started meeting in the empty meeting rooms, from which I was chased to sign up for the room, because someone might see people in the room and assume there was a conflict with their room reservation.<\/p>\n

I explained that in that case I would simply relocate to one of the other huge empty rooms without bothering staff or patrons with paperwork or a request. I got a rolling-eyes response. They have heard this before.<\/p>\n

And then, I complied. Well, really, I just lied.<\/h3>\n

I gave in and went thorough the multipage form, presenting identification, reasoning and content for the meeting (meeting with a friend to discuss technology<\/em>), and time required. I came away from the process with serious philosophical reservations about the policy. After several sign-ups, essentially a initial signature in subsequent visits, I still was confronted with questions and doubts about my intentions.<\/p>\n

My generalized response was “What business is it of yours, exactly, what I talk about in a private meeting?” I was told that it was a policy driven series of questions, and that I should not be offended or concerned unless I am doing something wrong. I was very clear that I was not doing anything wrong, but still breaking policy.<\/p>\n

Money is exchanged in the meeting for consulting work, the key element of dismissal of the request: e.g. no meetings for the purposes of business.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I argued that everyone in the library at the time is there for the purposes of productivity and that the exchange of money has little influence on the use. I am a member of the library essentially for this purpose, co-working. It is a long standing tradition, as I understand it, in libraries. Providing space to do work safely and quietly. I was told that those people were not requesting rooms. This is when I rolled my eyes.<\/p>\n

There is no cafe there. There is a quietude policy cast over most of the floor. You walk into the 1970s upon entering. I am not saying this to disparage the library, but rather to give you a feel for the atmosphere. Lots of stacks, a few old PCs, no windows to speak of.<\/p>\n

I go for the free wifi and the (fairly uncomfortable) chairs.<\/h3>\n

Those exist elsewhere, including other libraries (problem solved<\/em>), but also in any cafe, fast food restaurant, bookstore, many parking lots, and of course, at my office. However, those are not neutral, freely available spaces. Neutrality is a gift of libraries.<\/p>\n

At the predictive idea that those interested in the use of the library for business could easily go to a McDonalds and get exactly the same service (or demonstrably better) without signatures and with cheap coffee, I was told by the director to go do that.<\/p>\n

And so, I will. In particular, I will quickly go to other libraries as i do now in order to have these kinds of meetings.<\/p>\n

Librarians, please explain like I’m 5. Am I overreacting, or is this a part of the death of libraries?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Librarians, please explain like I’m 5. Am I overreacting, or is this a part of the death of libraries?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[22,7,18,16,21,23,27,29,32,5],"tags":[679],"class_list":{"0":"post-42825","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-professional-affiliations","8":"category-consulting","9":"category-cv","10":"category-libraries","11":"category-professional-activities","12":"category-professional-experience","13":"category-references","14":"category-research-interests","15":"category-teaching-experience","16":"category-technology","17":"tag-public-libraries","18":"czr-hentry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/libraries_coworking.png?fit=1000%2C800&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3h6y2-b8J","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1388,"url":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2013\/05\/07\/libraries-the-original-co-working-space\/","url_meta":{"origin":42825,"position":0},"title":"Libraries: the original co-working space","author":"lemsy","date":"2013-05-07","format":false,"excerpt":"I have recently had some discussions with people considering co-working spaces and thought\u00a0immediately\u00a0of how many times I've used the library for this purpose. Thanks to Janie Hermann for the idea to make a quick graphic on it. Libraries have community, technology infrastructure, comfort, services, facilities and amenities. If you have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "brand"","block_context":{"text":"brand","link":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/category\/consulting\/brand\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Libraries, the original co-working space by John LeMasney via lemasney.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/libraries_coworking.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/libraries_coworking.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/libraries_coworking.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/libraries_coworking.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1323,"url":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2013\/04\/29\/on-a-new-jersey-library-technology-assessment\/","url_meta":{"origin":42825,"position":1},"title":"On a New Jersey library technology assessment","author":"lemsy","date":"2013-04-29","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I did one of my favorite consulting tasks: library technology assessment. I sat\u00a0down as part of a team with the administrative and technology staff of a New Jersey library system to help them to find out where they've been, where they are, and where they want to go with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "affiliations"","block_context":{"text":"affiliations","link":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/category\/cv\/professional-affiliations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Conversation","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/4159943702_12df56b307_m.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7759,"url":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2014\/04\/07\/57-365-call-libraries-devise-policy-regarding-patron-consumer-devices\/","url_meta":{"origin":42825,"position":2},"title":"57 of 365: A Call to Libraries to Devise Policy Regarding Patron Consumer Devices.","author":"lemsy","date":"2014-04-07","format":false,"excerpt":"I recently\u00a0had the opportunity via LibraryLinkNJ to speak on the topic of Consumer Device Support in Libraries at several of their Tech Speed Dating gatherings, in which librarians from across the state of New Jersey come together to learn about the technologies they might love. It is a platform for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "affiliations"","block_context":{"text":"affiliations","link":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/category\/cv\/professional-affiliations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"phone by John LeMasney via lemasney.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4427943277_448104ca95_m.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7167,"url":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2014\/02\/06\/resources-staff-day-training-woodbridge-public-library\/","url_meta":{"origin":42825,"position":3},"title":"Resources for Staff Day Training at Woodbridge Public Library","author":"lemsy","date":"2014-02-06","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I'm presenting on behalf of Library Link NJ on the topics of eBook borrowing and the Basics of Graphic Design. In this session, we are going to look at using Overdrive to borrow eBooks, a very common method in libraries today. We will spend the rest of the time\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "affiliations"","block_context":{"text":"affiliations","link":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/category\/cv\/professional-affiliations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Libraries, the original co-working space cc-by lemasney","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/libraries_coworking-375x300.png?fit=375%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7854,"url":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2014\/04\/17\/65-365-library-design-problem-solved-perhaps\/","url_meta":{"origin":42825,"position":4},"title":"65 of 365: A library design problem solved, perhaps.","author":"lemsy","date":"2014-04-17","format":false,"excerpt":"I was alerted to Toby Greenwalt's great blog theanalogdivide by Sophie Brookover of Library Link NJ, in which Toby just proposed a series of design problems as they relate to libraries. I love a good design problem. Here he introduces the first problem, and below I answer it in my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "affiliations"","block_context":{"text":"affiliations","link":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/category\/cv\/professional-affiliations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"nowhere placemark geolocation by John LeMasney via lemasney.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/20110815.png?fit=500%2C809&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":840,"url":"https:\/\/lemasney.com\/consulting\/2010\/10\/27\/tedx-and-libraries-a-partnership-for-community-engagement\/","url_meta":{"origin":42825,"position":5},"title":"TEDx and Libraries: A Partnership for Community Engagement","author":"lemsy","date":"2010-10-27","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the slide deck for our talk: TEDx and Libraries: A Partnership for Community Engagement, Presented by Peter Bromberg, Janie Hermann and John LeMasney for the Pennsylvania Library Association Conference, October 27, 2010.\u00a0 (Download the powerpoint deck and look in speaker's notes for content.) 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