Noise Policy

The UNT Libraries have an obligation to ensure that students, faculty, and other researchers find a place for quiet concentration and study.  However, the Library is also a dynamic university community center that offers a wide range of services, materials, and environments.

Thus to this end, we provide the following noise policy to benefit our users:

• General Noise Guidelines
• Noise Level Designations
• Designations for UNT Libraries - subject to change as needed
• Enforcement of the Noise Policy

General Noise Guidelines

• There are several service desk areas throughout the Libraries.  In these areas normal conversational noise levels are permitted for reference and library service purposes.
• Headphones may be used if noise from the headphones is not audible to others.
• Laptop computers may be operated, but all sound or audio features must be turned off.
• Cell phones and pagers should be turned to silent or off.  If you must use your cell phone to make or receive a phone call while in the libraries, you are encouraged to the stairwells or outside.  However, it is acceptable to use a cell phone on 1st floor, Willis Library.  Be considerate of others.  At the discretion of library staff, library users may be asked to take their conversations to the stairwells or outside.
  

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Noise Level Designations

• Low Noise Area - Minimal talking, no group study, cell phones and pagers must be turned off or set to silent.  Cell phone conversations are not permitted.  Normal conversation noise is permitted for reference and library service purposes only.
• Medium Noise Area - Low talking, small group studying, cell phones and pagers must be turned off or set to silent.  Cell phone conversations are not permitted.  Normal conversational noise is permitted for reference and library service purposes only.
• High Noise Area - Group studying permitted, cell phones must be turned off or on silent.  Cell phone conversations are permitted.
  

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Designations for UNT Libraries - subject to change as needed:

•  Willis Library

      Lower Level - Medium

      First Floor - High

      Periodicals Room, 1st Floor - Low

      Cyber Cafe - High

      Second Floor - Medium

      Third Floor - Medium

      Fourth Floor - Medium

•  Science and Technology Library

      Lower Level - Medium

      First Floor - High

      Mezzanine - Medium

• Research Park Library

      Room B112 - Medium

      Learning Center, Rm. B135 - Low

      Collection Area, Rm. M130 - Low

•  Media Library

      Entire Library - Medium

Library users are expected to follow the noise level in the area in which they are studying.  Behavior outside the noise level guidelines for a user’s location is considered disruptive and subject to disciplinary action.

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Enforcement of the Noise Policy

When groups become overly disruptive, such as playing personal audio equipment at too high of a volume, laughing loudly, shouting or any other outburst, the group or individual will be asked to discontinue the disruptive behavior or leave the library.

Enforcement By Staff: All library employees are empowered with the responsibility to approach disruptive groups and individuals and ask them to discontinue the disruptive behavior or move to the first floor. Each Department will establish procedures designating responsibility for enforcement of the noise policy.

• Personnel from the nearest department to the disruption, or the employee who first notices the disruption, should approach the disruptive library user(s) and ask them to discontinue the disruptive behavior or move to a floor with a higher noise designation.  After 7:00 p.m. during the long semesters, a library security guard is on hand if needed.
• Library users who become belligerent or refuse to discontinue disruptive behavior will be asked to show their student IDs.  If a staff member is uncomfortable asking the individual to show ID, s/he may radio the library security guard or call the UNT Police and ask them to take over the situation.
• When an individual's ID is checked, the name should be written down and brought to the Circulation Desk where a file should be kept.  This will allow staff to track problem library users.
• If a library user does not have a student ID or refuses to show an ID, he or she will be asked to leave the library immediately.  If s/he refuses to leave the library when asked, the UNT Police will be called.
  

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