The time I got chewed out in the library basement changed how I study

I was in the basement of the main library at State College this past fall, huddled in a corner cubicle with my earbuds in. Some grad student walked over and told me I was 'taking up space' with all my snack wrappers and coffee cups spread out. I mean, I thought everyone left their stuff around there, but apparently there's an unspoken rule about keeping it tidy. Now I clean up my area before I even open my backpack, does anyone else have weird library etiquette stories?

2 comments

2 Comments

sean_murray10d ago

Did the grad student actually call you out in front of other people or was it just the two of you? Different vibe if someone else heard it versus just getting pulled aside. I had a librarian once slide me a note that said "respect the space" and walked away without saying a word. Creepy as hell. Still don't know if it was about my gum wrappers or my foot tapping. What exactly did this guy say to you?

sagey6910d ago

A buddy of mine had a similar thing happen at a coffee shop near a college campus. He was just sitting there reading a newspaper, not even on his phone, and some PhD student walked up and told him he was "making the space less productive for others." Right out loud, with like four people watching. My friend didn't even know what he was supposed to be doing wrong, just sipping his coffee and turning pages. He said the whole thing was over in maybe ten seconds but it felt like an hour of awkwardness.