The same relaxed rules now sadly apply to museums which are turning into cattle markets, in the name of personal freedom...

This further demonstrates that personal standards and values that once shaped the rules of etiquette are being further eroded. Respect is a virtue that is now disrespected.

Nathalie Hachet, Manchester, UK

Rob, London, UK: thank you for your point of view. My comment was in the vein of we have the Internet and don't actually NEED the libraries any longer. Having said this, I like to nostalgically nip off to a local borough library occasionally, to the reading rooms there. [Full stop to discussion]...

Abdul Majeed, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

Abdul Majeed - Well some of us DO actually read and use libraries to study in. We're not all dumbos who can't see their point and think playing games and talking on mobiles is a good thing. To these people: Just stay well away and use Starbucks for eating, drinking, loud talking etc etc.

Rob , London, UK

So do we any longer need to require the taxpayer to foot the bill for such places. If they no longer fill their purpose of allowing access to books, and most folk have their own internet access or access to an internet cafe, surely we can cut our council tax bills a tad?

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

Why not.?Every other aspect of British life has been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, so whay not throw away the concept of a library for people to go to work, study and read in realtive quiet?

M smith, Bangkok, Thailand

A library is for reading ad study. How can people read and study when the morons are sitting there playing games, making phone calls,. snacking etc?

Neil Murphy, Cromer,

why does everything have to have a popularist appeal? a library is for reading. i lived in east london and the whitechapel library was great until they built some kind of open door media centre come library which is noisy, tacky and and dreadful to study in. it is a part of british life, leave alone

James, London, UK

As a retired "old school" librarian, I'm just glad I got out before chaos came to rule. My former school now has a with-it librarian who seems a disciple of the philosophy expressed in your article. My thoughts are with those poor students who will now have no place to do serious work for school.

Alice, Fayetteville , USA

Does this mean the compulsory rock music already found in garages, shops and post offices will now spread to libraries too? I guess that means only the banks are now left... But shouldn't a public service dare offer an alternative to the tacky atmosphere found everywhere else?

Steve, Sedgeberrow, UK

Young Fiona really should get out more! So, libraries are dropping their 'hallowed rule of silence'! Give me a break. Libraries are wonderfully diverse centres of community activity. If you don't believe me, hop on a train and see what's going on in Bournemouth!

Kevin Monahan, Bournemouth, UK

I think making libraries friendlier can't be a bad thing - within reason. There's a difference between sending a text message and eating a sandwich while you work, and conducting loud conversations over a Maccy D's. How about a separate room for discussion? The games are a dire idea though...

Eleanor Potten, Matlock,

We don't need libraries. Full-stop.

Abdul Majeed, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

Libaries should ALWAYS be silent places. Many people use them during their studies. I don't want some inconsiderate twat talking loudly on a mobile phone when I'm trying to read or compose an essay. If some people can't be in a library without eating or talking loudly then they should stay away.

Rob, London, UK

I am all for encouraging people to use public libraries. However, I was very shocked when I was revising for exams in a library last year to the sound of children screaming and cell phones ringing. Is it now unreasonable to expect to be able to work in a library!??!

Alice, London, UK

This is a bad idea; libraries are good precisely because they are quiet places where one can go and read a book. Were i asked why i no longer use a library, i would say because i can now afford to buy books if i want them; I wonder if this has more to do with the issue than libraries lack of games?

michael walsh, manchester,

Having worked in libraries for many years, I would echo the comment above. Vicious, year on year cuts in book funds, almost entirely account for falling numbers - nothing else.

Sue Fisher, Alcester, Great Birtiain

This is absurd. No one can concentrate or learn well with noise. The KGB and other assorted criminal outfits used noise to send prisoners crazy. Librarians have simply become panderers and babysitters to those with no critical or ratiocinative powers.

Katie, Oberbozen,

Social etiquette? What rubbish.

In my school library, any rules about noise are purely to support students, who may not haveanywhere else to study. Silence has never been enforced.
Rules are not there just because we are an inherent bunch of killjoys. They are there for a clear purpose.

Fiona Crawford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Why not just replace all the books with banks of TV screens all tuned to the likes of Big Brother and other brainlessness, and be done with it?

Nick, Rotherham, UK

No one batted an eyelid and staff appeared unperturbed when the Time's report's BlackBerry rang is probably because they are afraid to become the next London stabbing victim. That is not to say they don't care.

dominik, london,

Nothing new about this at all. Check out Hampshire's "Discovery Centres" which include coffee bars selling cakes and snacks as well as bright modern multimedia libraries.

N Smith, Gosport,

One of the reasons fewer people go to libraries is that the book stock has been steadily reduced due to spending cuts. And what was the money spent on? The "people's network", racks of CDs and DVDs, actual shops - everything except books. Oh, and another thing - libraries are no longer quiet.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

If Libraries think this is a good way of getting more people to use them then they couldn't be more wrong. What is wrong with people? Can't they go for 1hr or even just 20 mins without eating? if not then they should go and find somewhere OUTSIDE and then come back. Pathetic.

Rob, London, UK

You're behind the times (no pun intended), this has been going on for years, most public libraries will allow people to bring in food and drink (within reason) and I've not seen any institution keep things quiet except by not letting any of the public in!

Loz Pycock, London, UK

This is unconscionable. Cell-phones in a library? Everywhere else in the world, obnoxious cell phone conversations are being BANNED in many public places (like buses, for instance), not encouraged. If membership is your primary concern, why not sell out completely and turn into a Waterstones??

Brian, Iowa, USA

Why not have every insitution fall to the lowest common denominator? Another sign of the times.

Lina, Auckland, New Zealand

I really hate this. Last year I had to do quite a bit of work from my local public library and I could hardly hear myself think for the amount of noise a few of the people there were making. It definitely slowed down my work. I think talking in a library where people are working is just plain rude.

V Armstrong, Northallerton, UK

The reason why libraries are less popular is due to it being replaced by the internet as the default research tool; encouraging noise, eating and general messing about will not only fail to raise membership, but instead defeat the very essence of what a library should be.

Howard, Manchester,