New rules regarding the use of the library classroom were presented at school meeting on Tuesday, August 28.

As detailed in a Powerpoint, the library classroom will be a collaborative work space only during class periods when it is not used for instruction. During other times, such as before school, extra help, lunch, and after school, the classroom will be a quiet zone.

“We’ve always struggled with what we [should] do with the library classroom space when it’s not being used as a classroom,” librarian Lauri Vaughan said. “It’s really been three years of, ‘Okay, let’s just give [the students] warnings, let’s just start assigning detention, and then make them sign in.’”

The library staff convened at the beginning of the year to change the library classroom rules. According to Vaughan, the new policy stems from years of the classroom being noisy and “getting kind of trashed.”

“I think it had gotten to the point where even if you wanted to sit down and do work together, you found a different place to go because it was just kind of a zoo in there,” she said.

Students like Allison Kiang (10) were disappointed by the announcement.

“While I totally support the library’s cause to maintain a quiet studying environment because often I am also frustrated by the lack of a [quiet] area,  I also think that it’s a bit frustrating, given that I like to study with friends and oftentimes we need library resources,” she said.

Although the new policy may limit students’ use of the library classroom, Vaughan wishes that it would not “drive people away.”

“The message is we want you here. […] I want my library to be lived in, used, and enjoyed,” she said.

So far, Vaughan has seen students use the space respectfully and hopes that trend will continue throughout the year.