The worst people to sit next to at the library
Sorry, are you trying to study, or something?
First things first, it looks like we can just about all sigh a big breath of relief. We’ve made it through THAT dreaded time of the academic year. The stress, the endless procrastination, the exhaustion, the exams and deadlines, and of course the endless hours spent hunched over a library desk, (well, if you managed to find a space).
So, now that you are beginning to see that beautiful light at the end of the tunnel, or just enjoying your first taste of sweet, sweet freedom, let’s have a quick look back at your time in that dreaded building, shall we?
Now, if you’ve ever spent time in a library, you will have noticed that there are a lot of different types of people there. Many are hard at work cramming a year’s worth of knowledge into their heads.
And then there’s the few who don’t seem to understand proper library etiquette at all.
You know who you are.
1. The Muncher
If you’re anything like me, this person sitting next to you in the library is pretty much your worst nightmare.
You’ve come to a place literally made for silent concentration time, you’re all set up and ready to focus, focus, focus, when…CRUNCH.
Somehow, the person beside you has deemed it appropriate to take out an apple and start merrily chomping away. They don’t seem to have any regard for the library rules, nor do they have any regard for your ‘peaceful learning environment’, and you end up forced to spend the next half an hour listening to them munching their way through an entire Tesco meal deal!
Enough to make your teeth grind, right?
2. The Gossipers
We’ve all been there, sitting quietly, working away at that gruelling dissertation, when the gossipers arrive. These people move in packs, arriving as a minimum of two and often growing in size.
Sometimes it even seems as though they’re working in shifts. At first, you think they might be perfectly reasonable library fellows, setting up their laptops and opening up the appropriate documents…and then they start whispering.
One hour later, you realise that what started as one gossiper asking another for a pencil sharpener, has turned into the annual general meeting of Gossip Incorporated and the only thing you’re learning is about their most recent night out at FAB. Why, God, Why!?
3. The Lurker
This library goer seems to have forgotten what the term ‘personal space’ means, and for some reason they seem to have decided that it’s time for you to finish your work and leave so that they can take your space.
They don’t ask whether you will actually be done soon. Instead, they LURK. This generally entails them breathing down your neck as you desperately try to ignore their looming presence at your back.
How many people crack under the pressure of the lurk? It’s never enjoyable to have someone all up in your grill for no reason.
To all lurkers out there, a word of advice: if you think someone might be leaving soon, just ask them politely when they think they’ll be done. Make a polite enquiry to find out whether you might be able to come back and take their place. Chances are they’ll be happy to oblige.
4. The Tapper
Last, but certainly not least, is the tapper.
These people always seem to find a way to be making some sort of obnoxious tapping noise. Whether it’s them drumming their pen on the desk or typing like you’d imagine Donkey Kong would.
Wherever you sit you can’t escape the tapping.
Tapping.
Tapping.
TAPPING.
Even now, if you close your eyes and concentrate you can probably still hear it.
But I don’t recommend you go to that dark, dark place.