Libraries
Of all the quiet places in the world, libraries are the most sensitive to background noise – even quiet conversation is frowned upon. The very thought of adding sound systems to the interior of a library was considered absurd, until they tried the Audio Spotlight.
New York Public Library (NYPL) was faced with the challenge of catering to the increasingly multimedia-centric senses of today's youth, without adding noise or distraction to the quiet library. Several Audio Spotlight speakers were installed over an open-air media center, right in the middle of their Hamilton Grange Teen Center location. Their young patrons can now watch movies or rock the afternoon away to Garage Band on the Wii together, while others study peacefully, and quietly, just outside the isolated Audio Spotlight sound eld.
At their Science, Industry and Business branch, NYPL installed a set of video screens to display a wide variety of news sources from around the world. Because of noise concerns, the original specication called for no sound at all, but Audio Spotlight technology allowed them to provide all the sound they needed, while maintaining the quiet.
Ontario’s City of Mississauga Library was able to add a TV right next to the reading area in the graphic novel section of their facility. Audio Spotlight systems provided sound for those interested in viewing the programming, while it remained quiet enough to read only a few feet away.
