How to keep the noise down without using the ‘Shush’ word!

In autumn 2005 Leeds Metropolitan University’s Civic Quarter Library began a pilot to ‘zone’ study space to meet the differing demands of students. Requests asking for increased group study areas as more assignments require collaborative work had to be balanced by silent areas to support more traditional use of the library. Previously staff had often found themselves in an unpleasant situation trying to keep noise levels down on the floors: we hoped that by offering students somewhere else to go within the library it would be less stressful for all concerned.