Ambient Connection: The Sounds of Public Library Spaces

The SpokenWeb Podcast

During the Covid pandemic, before she had ever set foot in a classroom dedicated to learning about libraries, Maia Trotter discovered a YouTube video titled "Library Ambiance." This video didn't contain the typically fabricated sounds of a library that someone had layered over each other like book pages turning and a fireplace crackling in the background, but a live recording of the sounds of a public library out there in the world. These sounds are what helped her to get through the isolation she felt during those long months at home.

Having now been surrounded by ideas about libraries for the last two years, Maia decided to investigate the different sounds of libraries, how they have changed over time, and how they make people feel. For this episode, Maia interviews three staff members of the Edmonton Public Library Stanley A. Milner branch who work in unique spaces to get their perspectives on the way sound affects patrons and staff members alike. She interviews staff members who have worked in the Makerspace, Gamerspace, and the children's library in order to explore the relationship between feeling and sound in libraries, and how the sounds of libraries have changed over time.

SpokenWeb is a monthly podcast produced by the SpokenWeb team as part of distributing the audio collected from (and created using) Canadian Literary archival recordings found at universities across Canada. To find out more about SpokenWeb visit: spokenweb.ca . If you love us, let us know! Rate us and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts or say hi on our social media @SpokenWebCanada.

Episode Producer:

Maia Trotter (she/her) lives, studies, and works on Treaty 6 territory. Maia is a recent graduate of the Master of Library and Information Studies student at the University of Alberta. She received her Bachelor of English Honours from Simon Fraser University. Her current research interests are focused on community and feminist-driven metadata practices in digital initiatives, and the evocations of sounds of public spaces like libraries.

Episode Guests:

Charlie Crittenden is a library assistant at the downtown branch of the Edmonton Public Library. He is in the final semester of his Master of Library and Information Studies program. In his spare time, he works as an editor for local magazines, pursues various creative projects, and frequents used bookstores.

Dan Hackborn is a library worker and an MLIS/MA candidate at the University of Alberta. He lives and works on Treaty 6 territory, the land of nations including the Blackfoot, the Dene, the Assiniboine, the Nakoda Sioux, the Saulteaux, the Métis nations, and the nehiyaw.

Anna Wallace is a library assistant for the Shelley Milner Children's Library at the Stanley A. Milner branch of the Edmonton Public Library. When she's not refereeing her den of chaos goblins, you can usually find her writing, reading or baking.

Show Notes:

EPL Makerspace
https://www.epl.ca/makerspace/

The Makerspace is a hub for all things creative. The space offers patrons many tools and services such as 3D printing, vinyl cutting, recording studios, a heat press, and sewing machines. In the future, the Makerspace plans on being able to provide tools for bookbinding, video production, laser cutting, and photography. They host lots of cool events and provide certification and training for their services.

EPL Gamerspace
https://www.epl.ca/milner-library/gamerspace/

The Gamerspace at the downtown branch is only a few years old and is a source of much joy and excitement within the library. The space is open to everyone, regardless of gaming expertise or experience, and patrons have access to a wide variety of games across various platforms and consoles. The space, which is colourful and bright, has PC stations, an Xbox, a Playstation, a Nintendo Switch. and a few retro arcade cabinets.
Shelley Milner Children's Library
https://www.epl.ca/milner-library/childrens-library/

The Shelley Milner Children's Library is housed in the downtown branch of the Edmonton Public Library system. It is a bright and vibrant space for children and families and provides children with access to many materials such as books, online resources, games, and a children's Makerspace where they can experiment with 3D printing, photography, and music. The children's library hosts many events like Baby Laptime, singing circles, and Family Storytime where kids get to play, learn, and explore in new and creative ways.

Katherine McLeod, "Listening to the Library"
https://labs.library.concordia.ca/listening-to-the-library/

Citations:

Valentine, P. M. (2012). A social history of books and libraries from cuneiform to bytes. The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Peesker, S. (2019). Sounds like hard work: How the right noise can help you focus and be more creative. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-sounds-like-hard-work-how-the-right-noise-can-help-you-focus-and-be/

Buxton, R. T., Pearson, A. L., Allou, C., Fristrup, K., & Wittemyer, G. (2021). A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(14). https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1073/PNAS.2013097118

Han, Z., Meng, Q., & Kang, J. (2022). The effect of foreground and background of soundscape sequence on emotion in urban open spaces. Applied Acoustics. https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1016/j.apacoust.2022.109039