Are quiet policies in libraries discriminatory?

[nadine_mn]

21. This is so bizarre. But I'll bite, since I was a poor Latina/Scandinavian kid who went to law school

And in no way had any privilege

Our law library had different zones - first floor was more noisy and then it got quieter with each floor. You could also check out study rooms. We also had 2 different lounges by the classrooms - one entitled the 'quiet lounge' - no food or drink or talking, just a bunch of students studying in silence.

I need background noise so I always studied (ok who are we kidding, I never studied in hs, college or law school but I did cram once a semester) in areas where there were people - cafes, the noisier floors, lounges.

Never considered it a part of growing up poor or that it was because I am Latina or that silence was for elites. Silence is for people who learn best in that environment. My husband cannot read if there is any noise going on, he is far from elite - just solid middle class.

This is just a weird conclusion to draw. "Colonizer's mentality"? Not all libraries are quiet - some just have quiet spaces. And once you get into upper levels of education, I have found that you get more serious learners and some of those learners can only study in silence - nothing to do with elitism and everything to do with learning style.