It was easy to join even as an out-of-towner coming over from Barnet where many of the libraries are closed down to refurbishment. There were plenty of computers and a supposedly 'silent room' which I found a very impressive idea as it would separate uses with different levels of expectation about the library.
However, it didn't work out quite so well in practise: in the silent room at Ruislip manor you seem to have the World crisp munching championship - hilariously done by some guy who was wearing earphones and presumably couldn't hear himself. There was 'sleep apnoea' man who appeared to be snorting and breathing heavily most of the time and then he would tilt his head back and start snoring loudly.
Everyone else was muttering to themselves, sighing heavily, cursing ( at the computer), fidgeting, coughing, choking ( themselves), smacking their lips, slurping, groaning, packing and unpacking noisily. A character at Ruislip was eating a supermarket dip using the lid. I've never experienced such a gratuitously noisy and disgusting exhibition in my time.
Clearly, the air pollution reports are correct and everyone is permanently wheezing through the summer; Sleep Apnoea man's problem is complex to treat so I don't know what he can do but the rest of it is unacceptable. If you must break the rules ( there is a sign of the facing wall as you enter the silent room at R.M. saying 'please don't eat or drink in the room) then at least eat and drink silently.
The sign should be bigger and brighter and displayed on the door to the silent room. I did out to staff that someone was 'sucking' on their crisps and a member of staff went to check but generally no staff member is checking the silent room.
I also have a stalker troll whom I met drinking on the street who thinks it's perfectly OK to come up behind me and jab me in the ribs when I'm reading the screen; I've told him not to jab me but it won't do any good - it never does with these people. read more
