We're exploring… The Sound of Silence
“What does silence mean when it’s full of ideas?”
This session begins not with a book, but with a hush. Libraries are famously quiet, but that quiet isn’t empty; it’s actually strangely charged. We’ll trace the meaning, purpose, and shifting rules of silence across reading rooms, archives, and memory. From sacred stillness to censorship, from whispered secrets to noise pollution, this isn’t just about being quiet. It’s about what silence lets us hear.
This session invites you to:
Examine the cultural and architectural roots of silence in libraries
Explore soundscapes, sensory archives, and noise regulations
Follow one irresistible detour into the forgotten history of library shushers
Step lightly between the shelves as we explore the strange evolution of silence in libraries, where it came from, what it hides, and why it still echoes in modern study rooms. Along the way, we’ll meet heroic shushers, architectural acousticians, and a few rebels who dared to sneeze too loudly.
Silence, it turns out, isn’t just the absence of noise; it’s a story all its own.
Mind the creaky floorboard. The past is listening.
Silence in libraries isn’t universal or timeless. In ancient Alexandria, libraries were buzzing hubs. By the Victorian era, silence became linked with discipline, intellect, and sacredness. Today, quiet zones compete with makerspaces, study pods, and digital chatter. Some libraries had parrots (yes, really). But somewhere along the way, a hush fell and stayed. For some, it’s a sanctuary. For others, it’s a muzzle.
What is “library silence”? Who demands it, and who defies it?
When did librarians become “shushers”? And what happens when silence is no longer neutral?
Mini Glossary:
Soundscape -The acoustic environment as perceived or experienced
Hush Zone - Designated quiet areas within shared public spaces
Acoustics Ecology - The study of sound in relation to the environment
Library Shusher - A cultural stereotype with real historical roots
Anamnesis – a sound that triggers memory or emotion
Cut-out – a sudden drop or absence of sound that shifts attention
Drift – sound that moves or spreads, changing a sense of space
Echo – Not just repetition, but how sound rebounds in cultural and physical space
Mini Timeline:
3rd Century BCE– Library of Alexandria: lively, communal reading
13th Century - Monastic scriptoria: enforced silence with gestures
1850s - 1900s - Rise of public libraries and behavioral codes
21st Century - Emergence of silent reading rooms vs. community spaces
Noise regulations are formal or informal rules governing acceptable sound levels and behaviors in public spaces.
Some libraries set decibel limits (e.g., 40-50 dB for quiet zones, akin to a whisper). Some use posted guidelines or apps to monitor noise levels. The New York Public Library designates silent reading rooms with clear signage, while allowing louder areas for group work. Noise regulations aren’t just about keeping quiet; sometimes, they are about equity and shared access. Libraries are democratic spaces meant to serve all, but sound pollution or rigid silence can exclude those with sound sensitivities.
Sound Sensitivities
Sound sensitivities vary widely but often involve heightened or adverse reactions to specific sounds or noise levels:
Why Does It Matter? 
“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?”
— Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 🐇
Discover
Augoyard, J.-F., & Torgue, H. (2005). Sonic experience: A guide to everyday sounds. McGill-Queen’s University Press.
A foundational text in soundscape theory. This book investigates the meanings and effects of everyday sounds, footsteps in a hallway, elevator dings, the hum of a fridge, or the hush of a library. Terms like echo, drone, cut-out, anamnesis (sound triggering memory), and acousmatic (sounds heard without seeing the source) are examined for how they influence perception and behavior.
Kendrick, M. (2021). Quiet, please: Dispatches from a public librarian. Da Capo Press.
Reflections on the social tensions of modern library noise.
Library Services in the Digital Age – Pew Research Center (2013) - This report presents findings from a national survey on how Americans use public libraries. While most patrons value book borrowing and reference help, a significant number also appreciate the quiet environment. In fact, 76% of respondents said "quiet study spaces" were very important, highlighting how silence remains a key reason people visit libraries, even in the digital era.
Watch
Why Silence Is No Longer Golden: The Problem With Noise Pollution
A short documentary on the rise of noise pollution, its effects on health, and why quiet is becoming increasingly rare in modern life.
Surprising Ways Sound Shapes Our Environment
This short documentary explores how sound influences the design and function of shared spaces—from hospitals to museums. It offers insight into how our environment is shaped not just by what we see, but what we hear—and don’t hear.
🗝️ The Librarian Left This Here
The Changing Rules of Silence:
Library of Alexandria
Established under the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Alexandria, Egypt, the Library of Alexandria was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. It attracted scholars from around the Mediterranean, making Alexandria a preeminent intellectual center. Reading was often a communal activity, with scholars engaging in discussions and debates, reflecting a lively and interactive environment.
Monastic scriptoria
In medieval monasteries, scriptoria were designated spaces where monks meticulously copied manuscripts. Silence was strictly enforced to maintain focus and spiritual discipline. Silence was tied to discipline, humility, and reverence. To facilitate necessary communication without speech, monks developed complex systems of hand signals, allowing them to convey essential information without breaking the vow of silence.
Rise of Public Libraries
The 19th century saw the establishment of public libraries, particularly in Britain and the United States. These institutions adopted strict behavioral codes, emphasizing silence and decorum to promote self-discipline and moral improvement. The environment was designed to be orderly and quiet, reflecting the societal values of the time.
The Great Divergence
Modern libraries have evolved to accommodate diverse community needs. While some areas are designated as silent reading rooms, others serve as vibrant community hubs offering various programs and services. This shift reflects a balance between preserving spaces for quiet study and embracing the library's role as a center for community engagement.
The philosophy of silence traveled with the written word, from monasteries to universities to public libraries. Over time, silence became the default behavior in places where reading and reflection mattered.
The image of the "shushing librarian" has been perpetuated in various forms of media. One notable example is the 2003 release of the "Nancy Pearl Librarian Action Figure," which featured a librarian with a finger to her lips, ready to "shush." While intended as a lighthearted tribute, it sparked discussions about reinforcing outdated stereotypes of librarians.
In film, the 1940 movie "The Philadelphia Story" showcased one of the earliest portrayals of a shushing librarian, further embedding this image into the cultural consciousness.
Anamnesis Soundscape Generator – myNoise
Experience a customizable soundscape. Perfect for quiet reflection, writing, or wandering into the past.
Press the 'Play' button - Adjust the sliders - Enjoy!
Reel Librarians
This roundup from Reel Librarians highlights notable portrayals of librarians in film from 2013. The blog explores how librarians. especially the “shushing” stereotype, appears in the media. It offers a mix of analysis and humor, showing how pop culture reinforces or reshapes public perceptions of silence, authority, and the role of the librarian. A great resource for connecting the library’s real-world quiet with its louder screen version.
Famous Librarian in Literature
The Librarian – Discworld by Terry Pratchett
A wizard transformed into an orangutan who refuses to be turned back. Says only "Ook" but is deeply devoted to the magical books of Unseen University.
Status: Beloved. Bizarre. Iconic.
Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) – DC Comics Universe
While more famous as Batgirl, Barbara Gordon also served as the head librarian of the Gotham Public Library.
Status: Superhero librarian. Literally.
Irene Winters – The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
A spy-librarian who collects dangerous works of fiction from alternate realities.
Status: Steampunk intellectual with magical stealth.
Rupert Giles – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (book adaptations & TV tie-ins)
Buffy's Watcher and high school librarian. A fountain of obscure knowledge, occult lore, and British reserve.
Status: Cult classic mentor figure.
Aurora Teagarden – Real Murders series by Charlaine Harris
A small-town librarian who moonlights as an amateur sleuth.
Status: Cozy mystery meets cataloging.
Evelyn Carnahan – The Mummy novelization (and film adaptation)
A clumsy but brilliant librarian and Egyptologist who accidentally awakens ancient evil.
Status: Bookish chaos and courage.
Mr. Atoz – Star Trek literary tie-ins (from the episode "All Our Yesterdays")
A time-traveling librarian in charge of the Atavachron archives.
Status: Sci-fi archivist with interdimensional access.
Flynn Carsen – The Librarian book/TV/movie franchise
Though known from TV, the character appears in related fiction. A relic-hunting librarian with brains, brawn, and a passport.
Status: Indiana Jones, but with a library card.
Henry DeTamble – The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A librarian who involuntarily travels through time. His job as a rare books librarian is one of the few stable things in his life.
Status: Tragic, tender, and literary.
Malachi – Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco
A scholarly librarian caught in a spiraling conspiracy of esoteric secrets and false patterns.
Status: Postmodern paranoia meets cataloging precision.
Madam Irma Pince - Harry Potter Series
She is characterized by her strict demeanor and unwavering dedication to the preservation of the library’s collection. Known for guarding the books as if they were precious artifacts, she enforces silence and order with a sharp eye and sharper reprimands.
Status: Stern, shushing librarian; maintains order and respect within the library.
“I would like to apologize for you and any other librarians present here today and my get-out clause is always if they'd had a pleasant, helpful librarian, half my plots would be gone. 'Cause the answer invariably is in a book but Hermione has to go and find it. If they'd had a good librarian, that would have been that problem solved. So ... sorry.” - J.K. Rowling
