My closest public library is actually quite noisy, people chatting in normal conversation levels and so on, not hushed at all. I was a little surprised, but the

My closest public library is actually quite noisy, people chatting in normal conversation levels and so on, not hushed at all. I was a little surprised, but the staff clarified that it's a "public library", not an "academic library". It's funny though: I don't mind a loud cafe. Maybe it's because there are many voices, and it becomes a white-noise/hub-bub. But just one conversation is very distracting. iPod helps, but it's not always enough.