There used to be a time when libraries were traditional study areas and hallways were noisy places to catch up with friends.

People were constantly shushed in the library to allow for quiet study. If someone wasn’t quiet, they would be kicked out of the library and sent out to roam the halls.

Hallways were traditionally used for student traffic making their way to their next class or to get a bite to eat.

Not anymore.

Now it seems to be the opposite, except you still stop and chat with friends... but quietly. It appears the Algonquin library is slowly being replaced by college hallways.

“There are never any tables in the library and people are always really loud and obnoxious,” said Jenna Jones, interior decorating student.

“There’s nowhere to plug in your computer in the library either,” she said.

Hallways at Algonquin are being made bigger to make room for study tables, and as they get quieter, our library gets louder and louder.

Even students who don’t attend the college notice the difference.

“I don’t go to Algonquin, but in comparison to our libraries [Algonquin] is extremely loud,” said Sky Wilson, who studies at York University and was visiting the college.

But the library still is a good tool.

“The Algonquin College library is a small component to a much larger learning resource centre,” said Jeremy McQuigge, and business instructor at the college.

“It’s pretty loud...New study areas around the campus are helping to reduce that noise level significantly. We have been working on rearranging the library to provide more table space...Most students who are seeking that more traditional quiet study area head to our SA quiet study room in A-building,” he said.