Dalhousie University's Killam Library starts texting complaint system

Staff at Dalhousie University's Killam Library are hoping a new texting campaign will help students get some peace and quiet a little quicker.

The SHH Text campaign launched last week and allows students to text a noise complaint in real time to the library's staff. Students can describe the location of the noise, as well as the person or group disrupting the quiet areas. 

Elaine MacInnis, the head of the Killam Library, says the program was implemented to keep track of all the complaints.

"We received noise complaints in many different ways, through the information desk or through emails to myself after the fact which, of course, are hard to address," she said.

Staff at the library's service point are now equipped with a communal cellphone that receives the noise complaints. The phone number can be found on the library's website.

Once a staff member receives a noise complaint via text, they will go to the source of the noise and investigate, said MacInnis. Security will get involved in the noise persists.

The service is available whenever the library is open, until midnight.

'Students are usually very respectful' 

While students are currently given warnings if there is a noise complaint, MacInnis says staff plan to implement a "drop card" system this fall.

The physical warning card will be given to those making too much noise. MacInnis says it's a more official communication of the complaint to the person or people being noisy.

Although the program was introduced last week, the library's service point has yet to receive any text complaints. MacInnis believes this is because of exam season.

"Student are usually very respectful during exam season, you can almost feel the silence," she said.

"The real test for the campaign will be in the fall semester when students arrive back on campus and classes are in session."