What’s Up with the Library?

Many students have probably noticed some distinct changes in the Charlotte Latin library this year. The group tables were separated, charging phones is no longer allowed and the Middle School got their own section, seemingly taking up valuable Upper School study space. Students are concerned about finding new places where they can conveniently study in groups now that the library no longer offers that option.

“Not having the group study in the library prevents students from having constructive conversations about assignments, especially when there’s inclement weather and students can’t convene outside,” Isabel Crews ‘19 said.

“As a senior and coming back from Spain, it was kind of a shock to see how strict they’ve become,” Darby Glenn ‘18 said.  “Especially in the winter when it starts getting really cold outside, since a lot of people like to study together. People are going to have to pick between either going into hallways, which would be disruptive for certain classes because of the volume level, or the cafeteria, which can be loud and distracting for studying.”

While some students remain upset over these changes, the librarians say that they are for the benefit of the entire school.

“The short answer is that we had a problem with students when they were grouped together,” Charlotte Latin Upper School librarian Jennie Stuart said. “Students were starting to act like it was a playground, and they were perpetually messing around to the point that teachers were having to step over and break up the groups because it was disrupting their classes. We just had to break it up. We didn’t take the seating away, but we did have to break it into separate seating to try to diffuse the problem.”

“As for tables, the only tables that we took were the tables from the Carolinas Room. Seating numbers have not changed. We have the same amount of seats minus the Carolina’s Room but since that’s for seniors, we don’t need ten tables in there,” Charlotte Latin head librarian Kim Smith said. “There is one seating area that’s reduced. Those little square tables we used to put at the end of the fiction shelves, three people would sit there. Now only one can. So I would say maybe we have two, four, six less spaces.” The librarians also recommend that if students want to work together and the weather isn’t favorable, students can find empty classrooms to work in.

Despite the fact that seating numbers have not changed drastically, many Upper School students are still understandably bothered by the fact that the Middle School students now have their own section because their classes can be distracting.

“Middle School has never had its own space,” Smith said. “They’ve always had to share with Upper School. And it gets to the point that there are so many Upper School students here during free periods that it was a majority of Upper School using the library and only a little bit for the Middle School kids, so sometimes we would not be able to have space for our Middle School classes.”

For students still concerned about the noise level, Mrs. Smith said they are planning on installing taller bookcases around the Middle School area and sound absorbing panels on the ceiling, like the ones in the auditorium.

“We’ve already seen a ton of classes being taught more for the Middle School, and we’ve seen more Middle School checkout as well,” Smith added.

A major concern among students is the lack of phone charging opportunities at school now, since the phone chargers in the library have been removed.

“With the school policy now that you can’t have your phone out at all in the library, we treat it as a classroom. You can’t charge your phone because that’s taking your phone out,” Smith said. “I don’t think that y’all ask teachers if you can charge your phone in their classroom; we’re trying to create a classroom environment in here, and we wish everybody would see this as a classroom. Because even though you’re in the study carrels, working silently, that’s your classroom. If we can’t have phones out, we shouldn’t have them charging either. It’s to support school policy.” Don’t blame the librarians, blame the AUP. Students are allowed to charge their phones in the library after 3:10, and there is a new laptop charging station for students who bring their personal computers to school.

The librarians welcome student feedback and are always open to hear opinions. “I do invite anyone to come talk to me, ever, if they have an issue,” Smith said.