Date: 26 January 2001

Subject: Cell Phones

To: Public Service Staff

From: William C. Robinson, Assistant Director, Public Services

We are receiving an increasing number of complaints about patron use of cell phones in public areas. The major problem seems to be loud talking as well as phone ringing. Some reference librarians have asked for a ban on cell phones in public areas. Others argue that public service staff simply need to enforce our existing policy prohibiting noise that bothers library users.

Please prepare for our next staff meeting a short list of specific suggestions designed to solve this problem. Note too that reference staff presently use cell phones in the reference room and in the stacks while answering telephone reference questions.

I appreciate your help.

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