I REFER to the National Library Board's (NLB) reply last Thursday, 'Library board prefers to educate rather than punish errant users'.

Two weeks ago, I was at Choa Chu Kang Community Library at around noon. While working on my laptop, I could hear a toddler throwing a tantrum from afar. Even when the mother was right in front of many library staff, none of them 'educated' her.

There was also no announcement on the public address system. After some gestures by other users to minimise the volume, the mother took the toddler and walked off.

Quiet was restored but this did not last long. A large group of students in school uniform strolled into the library. They were not reading but giggling and chatting.

Some were even playing hide and seek. There were at least two library staff members present, but neither took the initiative to 'educate' the students.

As suggested by the NLB, I would love to approach the library staff for help. But there are two things I need to consider. First, I would have to switch off my laptop, and pack up my belongings and the books I was researching on.

I believe that the moment I move away from the power point, someone else will take my place and I will have to wait to use it again. Two, given the 'thuggish' attitude of students these days, I am not sure if I would not be in trouble with them when I stepped out of the library.

In addition, during my five-hour stay at the library, I did not see any librarians on patrol, except to put books back on the shelves.

Charissa Yvonne Yip (Ms)

This article was first published in The Straits Times.