Libraries
Sound Masking in Libraries
Libraries are a place of reading, learning and studying. Sometimes students collaborate and can make noise, while others want to read quietly by themselves. Let us improve your library’s acoustics with a sound masking system from Cambridge Sound Management. Keep your staff, students and teachers focused, while allowing those who want to collaborate to talk freely.
“Our library was so acoustically lively, the students were shushing the librarians! Now, our space is as appealing functionally as it is visually.”
– David Pilachowski Director of Libraries Williams College
Acoustical Challenges in Libraries
- Sound reflective materials such as glass, brick and wood
- High ceiling clearances that allow sound to carry
- Mix of people that want to work in groups or read alone
- Close proximity of book shelves, desks and tables
How Sound Masking Works in Libraries
- Sound masking emits quiet peaceful background noise that sounds like gentle air flow
- Sound masking is focused on covering distracting noises where people want peace and quiet
- Sound masking is placed in the ceiling with emitters that are small and fit seamlessly into all ceiling types
Benefits of Sound Masking
- Cater to different reading and studying styles
- Sound masking allows for those who want to read and study in quiet to not be disturbed by those who want to collaborate and talk
- Increase Speech Privacy
- Professors sometimes meet with students in libraries, and may share information that is confidential such as grades
Applications
Challenges
- Noise distractions from other areas can carry far in a library
- Students or library patrons may have a hard to concentrating with noise
Cambridge Sound Management sound masking systems
- Help readers concentrate by covering conversations from far away that may disturb their reading
Challenges
- Sometimes students need to collaborate and go into rooms meant for groups
- Conversations that happen in these rooms may carry far and disturb other people in the library
Cambridge Sound Management sound masking systems
- Sound masking will help cover these conversations in the group room so they do not have to worry about distrurbing other people in the library
An Effective and Budget Friendly Solution
Read more to see how a Cambridge Sound Management sound masking system compares to other acoustic treatment options.
The table below shows the effectiveness of common types of acoustical treatments. The office environment in this example features 8’ ceilings and 10’x10’ cubicles. After implementation, direct-field sound masking is the most effective and budget friendly solution for delivering increased privacy while reducing conversational distractions.
