A library is defined as a place that houses books, magazines, and people looking for a quiet place to work and/or study. Lately, the library has been utilized as a place to do anything but work or studying. At Cherry Hill East this has become more of the norm throughout the duration of the lunch breaks. Lunch time at school is meant to provide students with a break from the long and rigorous school day and schedule. For the students that choose not to include a study hall into their schedule, lunch is one of their few opportunities to focus on their work and complete it. More often than not, the library is being used to meet up with friends and socialize, thus causing an issue for those who are there to utilize the library the way it is meant to be used. It is understandable that students want time to hang out with their friends, but that is what the cafeterias, annex, and homerooms are used for.

When surveyed by Eastside and asked why she thought the library should remain quiet during lunch, Lily Balanca (‘28) says, “the library should be a quiet space throughout the lunch blocks because it is one of the only breaks that most students at East have during the day,” she believes that the library is the most suitable place for studying and getting work completed. She says that, “there are multiple other places for people to eat lunch including both cafeterias, the annex, or classrooms that are opened by teachers,” using the library for socializing is unnecessary and ruins the space for other students who need the peace and quiet to accomplish what they need to get done. Balanca highlights that the library serves a unique role for the students who don’t have a scheduled study period. 

Makayla Montgomery (‘28) says, “the library should be a quiet place during the [lunch breaks] because it creates a space where students can focus, think clearly, and get their work done.” Many students use the library to study for major assessments or assignments. Noise can make it so much harder to concentrate. Montgomery says that, “many students like [myself] have trouble concentrating in a space that can be very distracted like [the cafeteria] or classrooms, but having the library is a place where [there should be] no distractions.” Montgomery emphasizes that quiet spaces like the library are not just for studying, but for thinking, planning, and managing their workload. 

While the school offers various locations to eat and socialize, the library should remain one of the few areas where students can concentrate in silence during lunch. As Balanca and Montgomery pointed out, quiet spaces support academic success. The library should remain quiet during the lunch breaks so students can get work done with unnecessary distractions.