The Info Commons: NOT A PLAYGROUND!!! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

vanisleflamesfan · 08-19-2007, 01:46 PM

After having been at school in England I have returned to Calgary for the summer where I am just putting the finishing touches on my MA dissertation. Unfortunately, this means that I have to do a lot of work in the University of Calgary Library. Not having been in Calgary for a few years, I have noticed an appalling lack of courtesy occurring in the ‘information commons’ section of the library. People are constantly talking loudly to others, often across several rows of computers, there are often several people gathered around one computer watching videos, laughing and talking loudly, people speaking on mobile phones, mobile phones that ring loud and long with stupid songs as ring tones. There are also the people who find it necessary to spread their belongings all over the desks, often spilling into my work area. I constantly have to move to other computers, but this rarely solves the problem as this behaviour is often occurring simultaneously in other parts of the information commons.

I know that there are many UofC students on this board and I was just wondering what you all have to say about this. There are many signs posted advising that the area is supposed to be a quiet study area and the info commons staff don’t seem to do anything about the loud and obnoxious. Is it just my imagination or has this kind of behaviour become much worse? Perhaps I am just grumpy and feeling the stress of trying to finish my thesis on time, but I am really getting annoyed. Thoughts?

Agamemnon · 08-19-2007, 02:30 PM

I think there are 'quiet' reading rooms... there used to be some in the basement of the library I think. There's also the computer room in the Social Science building, it's pretty sedate, also in the basement.

Winsor_Pilates · 08-19-2007, 05:30 PM

The info commons is always like that. People pretty much use it as a hangout, not a place to study. I'd try different locations if you're actually trying to study. I would usually go to the SS basement and zone everyone out with cubicle walls and my ipod.

Rathji · 08-19-2007, 06:31 PM

I am in Comp Sci lab and there is a ton of first years acting like morons as well as 20 guys in the laptop area playing WoW or some anime movie talking like it is a video arcade. Just find some place quite. Basement Library, or Elbow room (computer room off science theaters) are both pretty quiet.

Freeway · 08-19-2007, 06:42 PM

The lab in the basement of Social Sciences is pretty good.

rockstar · 08-19-2007, 07:20 PM

Yeah, I've always noticed it. Is it that bad at this time of year? Kinda strange.

But yeah, I can't stand it. If I can grow a set heading into my final semester, maybe I'll finally snap at some of them.

FireFly · 08-19-2007, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstar

Yeah, I've always noticed it. Is it that bad at this time of year? Kinda strange.

But yeah, I can't stand it. If I can grow a set heading into my final semester, maybe I'll finally snap at some of them.

Get yourself some good headphones and find a music that helps you study. There's one out there. You won't even notice them anymore.

I_H8_Crawford · 08-20-2007, 09:25 AM

If you need a computer, Social Sciences basement is your best bet probably.
If you just need a quiet place, I always liked to go to the law library - there's a chance you may get kicked out of the cubicle by the law student that has it, but then you can just move to another one... very quiet in there.

Cowboy89 · 08-20-2007, 09:31 AM

Check out the Scurfield Hall Basement computer labs. There's two of them and if one's too loud the other one's usually quieter. On the whole it's pretty calm even when busy; usually because the people there are there for some useful purpose and aren't there to chat and check out CP all day. Then again it's been two years since I've been there.

fredr123 · 08-20-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

If you need a computer, Social Sciences basement is your best bet probably.
If you just need a quiet place, I always liked to go to the law library - there's a chance you may get kicked out of the cubicle by the law student that has it, but then you can just move to another one... very quiet in there.

Just don't be THAT GUY who moves into the cubicle on a semi-permanent basis. I stopped using my cubicle for a while because someone pretty much moved in there: books, pens, papers, food in various stages of decomposition. When I caught the dude in there, he made a big deal out of having to move all his junk someplace else. Guess I was being a bit inconsiderate...

I_H8_Crawford · 08-20-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

Just don't be THAT GUY who moves into the cubicle on a semi-permanent basis. I stopped using my cubicle for a while because someone pretty much moved in there: books, pens, papers, food in various stages of decomposition. When I caught the dude in there, he made a big deal out of having to move all his junk someplace else. Guess I was being a bit inconsiderate...

LOL that sucks.
I never studied much anyways, but when I did it was usually just a text book and maybe my class notes out... that way makes for a quick getaway when you want your cubicle back.

Muta · 08-20-2007, 12:56 PM

Hooray for business, where most of that faculty was working in a computer lab, in group projects!

I always enjoyed studying high up in the library tower in university. There's little cubicles up there and it's usually quiet. Just make sure you can get the AirUofC feature up there for your laptop.

Flashpoint · 08-20-2007, 03:05 PM

It's funny, back in 98 I was the Humanities student rep for the U of C, and I fought (probably harder than I should have) against the creation of the Student Info Commons on the basis of exactly what you outline above. As soon as you get groups of people together in an open space, they do a whole lot of gibber jabber, and not much work.

I advocated more study cubicles.

flamingchina · 08-20-2007, 03:37 PM

Just be glad you're not trying to use the Mount Royal library... it's about as loud as the cafeteria...
If I'm in the commons it's usually later at night, and it's not too bad, but yeah, the staff should perhaps try to crack down on it a bit more...

Winsor_Pilates · 08-20-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingchina

Just be glad you're not trying to use the Mount Royal library... it's about as loud as the cafeteria...
If I'm in the commons it's usually later at night, and it's not too bad, but yeah, the staff should perhaps try to crack down on it a bit more...

Agreed, MTRoyal was much worse when I was there. The library there is as loud as Mac hall.

vanisleflamesfan · 08-20-2007, 08:22 PM

The problem with just moving to a quieter area is that I need access to the books as well as the computer. It shouldn't have to be the people who actually want to use the library for what it is intended for who have to move. Surely there is another place where people can find to talk and play games.