The Battle for Silence: Why We’re Suing the British Library
Shouldn't libraries be safe spaces for focused work, especially for students pursuing higher education? The answer, resoundingly, is yes—but the reality at the British Library is far from it.
The Great Library Disruption
Noise at the British Library is not just a minor issue—it’s a daily battle. A place once synonymous with focus is now more like a public square. We’ve experienced everything from loud Zoom calls to the surreal spectacle of drinking games and even couples’ “intimate moments” in supposedly quiet spaces for intellectual pursuits. The noise? Often between 60-80 dB, sometimes spiking to an ear-splitting 90 dB. The noise is constant, persistent and continuous. The result? Missed deadlines, delayed research, inability to focus or concentrate and growing frustration among users.
Legal Grounds for Quiet
We’re not sitting back. Instead, we're pursuing litigation against the British Library, Camden Council, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (CMS). Public nuisance laws are being explored, along with potential breaches of environmental standards, human rights and even educational law. Libraries have a responsibility to maintain environments conducive to study, research and learning. By failing to do so, they are denying their users access to a public service that functions as it should.
Setting a Precedent for Libraries
The implications of this case stretch far beyond London. This could be the first case to establish a legal right to quiet work in public libraries. Students and young people, particularly those without access to private study spaces, depend on libraries to succeed in their education.
The Science of Silence
Scientific research consistently demonstrates the detrimental effects of noise pollution on mental health, productivity, and learning. Studies have shown that noise can interfere with cognitive function, increase stress levels, and impair memory and concentration. For example, a study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America found that noise levels as low as 50 dB can significantly impact reading comprehension and task performance.
A Quiet Space is Essential
A quiet space is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for success.
Shouldn't we do everything in our power to ensure that libraries fulfil their public function?
Noise Levels: A Global Benchmark
Globally, libraries such as those in Boston, New York, and Singapore maintain noise levels around 40 dB, recognizing that quiet environments are crucial for learning and focus. Why is the British Library an outlier? If other libraries around the world can strike the right balance, there’s no reason one of the most renowned libraries should lag behind.
"A library is a place of sanctuary, a place where people can come to focus and concentrate.” - Fobazi Ettarh, Vocational Awe and Librarianship
It's essential that we maintain a quiet environment to support their learning and research." - Lacey, Journal of Library Administration
"Noise pollution is a serious public health issue that can have a significant impact on individuals' well-being. Libraries have a responsibility to create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for all users." - Francis Olawale Abulude, Susan Omolade Ademilua, Arinola Oluwatoyin Gbotoso, Noise Pollution in Libraries: Impacts, Strategies, and Recommendations, Indonesian Journal of Multidiciplinary Research (IJOMR)
“there’s lots of different perspectives or aspects to a library,” … “the library can be a lively and social space, however it also needs to enable quietude for those users who need quiet in order to focus on their reading and relaxation”. - LM Jane, Journal of Library Administration
A matter of equity, equality and social mobility
The author, Raj S Bhopal, emeritus professor of public health, speaks movingly of going to the library to study in his youth as the reason for his social mobility.
Where is that at the British Library we ask?
It’s surreal. Almost on a daily basis – infact, an hourly basis – you can witness a room full of mostly young people, almost all of various ethnicities, sat quietly reading or working away on laptops. Invariably someone white, maybe middle class, mainly middle age strides into that space – and proceeds to have an overly loud zoom call, too loud group conversation or mobile phone call on speaker. People sat in quiet despair, or unsure of their rights while said offender declares “I didn’t know it was supposed to be quiet”. In a library?
A quiet study environment for learning and success is an important question that demands our urgent attention. It’s important because students and young people depend on libraries. Youth are often underfunded in projects to create change and build a better world. Youth with great ideas that can make a big difference may be overlooked for funding for core project needs like office space. By going to their library, they’ve still got a chance to make an impact for the better. In our commitment to building a better, fairer world, the main barrier is a lack of access to resources. It’s an important exercise in how communities can get the resources they need.
Libraries and the Bigger Picture: Lifelong Learning
With education shifting toward lifelong learning models, libraries are becoming even more central to communities. They are hubs for not only students but people of all ages pursuing self-improvement. As tuition fees continue to rise and technology reshapes education, quiet libraries are more necessary than ever to provide equitable access to learning. They can be key players in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4—Quality Education.
Maybe it’s urgent time to revisit the role libraries play.
The Role of Law in Advocacy for Libraries
Advocating for the right to quiet space for all in the library, requires a combined effort. In advocating for the rights of the most vulnerable in our society to have somewhere safe and quiet as a resource to study, revise, work and learn, legal professionals have a pivotal role to play. Law firms specializing in public law, human rights, and environmental law are in a unique position to enforce statutory obligations through strategic litigation. They have the expertise and commitment needed to navigate the intricate legal landscape surrounding our rights to access the library spaces we all need and deserve. Lawyers can be the linchpin in ensuring libraries meet their duty to provide a quiet, focused environment.
Through strategic litigation, advocacy, and policy engagement, these firms can effectuate meaningful change and hold institutions accountable for their statutory obligations to all members of our communities.
By upholding principles of human rights, public law, and sustainable development, and through the diligent advocacy of legal professionals, we can build a future where education is truly a pathway to empowerment and opportunity for all.
The Legal Right to Quiet Libraries
So, does the British Library have a legal obligation to provide a quiet environment? We’ll explore this very question in our upcoming webinar.
The Management at
the British Library say the library is a “public space” and
“isn’t supposed to be quiet”. This seems to be more than just
poor management and ill-thought policy. It seems to us, to be a
cynical attempt to protect from liability of a legal challenge. It’s
certainly useful to make complaining futile. But does this policy
make it more difficult to bring a claim against the library though?
We’ll delve into the legal grounds, compare the British Library's policies to other international libraries, and explore what scientific research says about the importance of quiet environments for learning.
Whether you’re a legal professional, a student, or just someone who values the sanctity of a quiet library, you don’t want to miss this conversation. Let us heed the call to action and work tirelessly to ensure that education remains a beacon of hope, rather than a source of risk, for generations to come.
Sign up for our webinar and get access to exclusive resources, including a cheat sheet of the relevant laws and data supporting our case.
In conclusion, the question of whether a library should be quiet demands our urgent attention. Libraries are vital educational resources, and their future depends on it. Join our webinar, learn more, and help protect the spaces that shape our minds and futures.
No comments:
Post a Comment