The Aliso Niguel High School library is a place for students to study, print or relax in between class periods; however, many students have described it as being an uncomfortable experience due to the hostile environment.
The ANHS library is managed by Librarian Monique Cortez and Librarian Clerk Amanda Stauffer. While there has been a change in librarian clerks often throughout the months, Cortez’s management of the library has been fairly consistent.
Cortez has implemented various rules within the library that are questioned by some students. Firstly, students are not allowed to move seats in the library around. Although this can be a potential safety hazard by misplacing chairs, most of the time students just want to sit by their friends at the same table which should not be considered a hazard.
“We operate not just as a learning environment, but as a place for students to meet up with each other, to create together, to find and develop new interests, and have someone there to discuss and engage with them about their discoveries,” says a message by Cortez in the ANHS website.
If students are expected to be allowed to work with one another, it should not be prohibited to move freely around the library without fearing being told to find a seat and being unable to move a chair in order to collaborate.
The sofas in the library are also limited to a certain number of students. Typically only two or three students can sit on them without it becoming a problem under the library’s rules.
Additionally, when the library closes at 4 p.m., the Librarian is quick to turn off all the lights in the library and urgently tell students to pack up and leave the library.
A tenth grade student who wished to remain anonymous said, “I remember there was this one time when a student fell asleep in the library after school. Then the librarian impatiently attempted to wake up the students so that she could leave right away, but her frustration with the students made me feel bad for him.”
Even during passing periods or lunch, the librarian tends to warn students to leave the library despite them being busy with homework or just wanting to sit down for a little longer before class.
Students have admitted that she never seems happy at school, or she seems indifferent to other students or staff. Although nobody is required to force themselves to be joyous at work, when it is pointed out by multiple people at ANHS, then it might mean there is an issue.
On the other hand, students still acknowledge that the library can be a helpful and nice atmosphere to work in.
Many students at ANHS might have experienced uncomfortable behavior or attitude in the library, but as long as it does not become a serious or harmful aspect for people, then the library will continue to go on with the same rules and regulations under the current librarians.
