IBA’s Mian Abdullah: The Talking Library

Reading Time : 4 minutes

The Talking Walls at IBA Library

Contrary to the tranquil air of the City Campus library, when you walk into the Main Campus IBA library, you’ll notice that instead of the infamous saying the walls have ears, the walls of Mian Abdullah library, apart from ears, possess another peculiar human ability: mouths.

Now, if the walls of the library had ears, I would be able to compromise. Since, even though they would hear me muttering with the lyrics of Atif Aslam while typing in a long report of the fieldwork done in my Anthropology course, they would not creep silently near to my ears and let out a bone-rattling order, somewhere along the screech of chup hojayein (stay silent).

Then, as a reflex, I would not hurriedly yank out my headphones and assault my phone’s screen to close my Spotify only to discover that luckily, the walls were not talking to me. They were addressing the stranger sitting at the opposite side of the table I was sitting on.

The poor guy looked pretty stressed on the phone as he offered solace to a hysterical voice on the other end of the call. I could not hear him over the banger high notes of Doorie sahi jaye na, so I assume he must be talking in a low voice.

But, I could hear the piercing voice of the walls, loud and clear.

Now, I wonder if the walls were louder than the frazzled stranger sitting opposite to me, shouldn’t they be the ones to stay silent?

The Talking Library

Before I get any heat, I would like to clarify a few things.

Firstly, there is nothing wrong in approaching students and asking them to be quiet in a library, it is the right of the library’s administration as they have an etiquette that needs to be maintained. According to the rules and regulations of the IBA library:

The library is a quiet study place and students are advised to ensure the quietude of the space.

IBA library’s official website

However, it must be understood that the quietude of the library is not being broached by the IBA students. Students who are in their university years, and are of sufficient age to understand that libraries are not places to holler in.

For example, both of IBA’s campuses have state-of-art libraries. They are under the impeccable care the hardworking staff working day in and out. I claim this as an avid reader and observer of the libraries.

But it is important to note that the library in Aman Tower does not have any issue of discipline. The walls of that library, although quite observant, are soft-spoken. They do not roar across the length of the library to ensure tranquility.

So then, the question arises, are students the only ensures of quietness in the library?

The Talking Threats at IBA Library

One unfortunate day, my headphones were out of power so I was typing the long complexities of a Speech Communication assignment in the company of the chattering talking walls. Apart from being witness to several interruptions every 3 to 5 minutes, I came across a concerning incident.

A student on the lower ground of the library was having a conversation with someone sitting at his table. But suddenly, one of the talking walls heckled him from the upper level. I or anyone else on the upper floor could not hear his voice, so he wasn’t causing a disturbance. It’s strange that he was not only asked to be quiet but also threatened to be thrown out of the library.

Was it the place of the talking walls, to threaten a student, when he wasn’t creating enough noise to breach the definition of quietude?

According to IBA’s official code of conduct for students:

Retaliation can take many forms, including continued abuse, violence, threats, and
intimidation. Any form of retaliation is not tolerated at IBA and may result in severe disciplinary action

IBA Student Handbook 2023-24

Perhaps, the IBA administration should consider their rule of Retaliation beyond the student conduct book as well. Since, clearly, the students are being threatened.

Similarly, the definition of intimidation is:

It is the action of frightening or threatening someone, usually in order to persuade them to do something that you want them to do

Cambridge Dictionary

Many students have witnessed the bullysome nature of the talking walls. Especially when they force the students to sit down. This passes for the definition of intimidation.

This leaves me to wonder, is there a rule IBA library where that mandates all students to sit down? What harm to the decorum of the library does a student cause whilst standing?

Most importantly, are students the only ones who should be mindful of their behavior?

To Talk, or Not to Talk at IBA Library?

As a usual traverser in both of IBA’s libraries, I have noticed a solemn difference. Which is the reason why I am writing this piece.

Although the City Campus library is host to the freshmen, on busy days it brims to the last seat. But rarely, there is a need for the talking walls of the library to approach them to lower their voices.

Unfortunately now that I am not a freshman, I visit the Main Campus library. Which, instead of providing me with the stillness of silence I desire, condemns me to the constant jabbering of the talking walls.

Talking about Middle Ground

When the administration of the IBA library was approached concerning the talking walls, they said that the talking walls do not affiliate with the library and are employees of the security staff.

Due to the increasing thefts on campus, a myriad of security measures are taking place. This includes the recent strictness on carrying original ID cards. Perhaps, this is the reason why the security staff is present in a greater number in the Main Campus library.

However, it is the responsibility of the administration of the Library and IBA to ensure the students are being respected. The only purpose of the security staff is to monitor the safety of the students’ belongings, any other action is unnesesary.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Library to consider the behavior of the security staff that causes a hamartia to its decorum. Pulling responsibility from their actions does not lessen their responsibility.

To end, the walls talk, not the students.

This distinction must be made, and it should also be talked about.

*Credits for header image: Maarij Imam