ON MAY 6, I visited the Children's Section at Bishan Community Library with my toddler. To my dismay, I was assaulted by noisy laughter and chatter among a group of secondary schoolboys in uniform. They were sitting on a bench meant for cosy reading by parents and kids.

Also, one of two small tables with small chairs was occupied by a group of secondary schoolgirls, also in uniform. They were engaged in casual talk, glancing and giggling occasionally at the boys.

Nearby, in one of the aisles, were a boy and girl, yes, in school uniform, sitting on the floor and getting acquainted.

Oblivious to this were the library staff, who were pushing trolleys and shelving books. Frustrated, I chose the books I wanted to borrow for my toddler and shelved the idea of sitting down to read with her. I decided to leave the library as soon as possible as I did not want my toddler to learn ungracious behaviour from her older 'brothers and sisters'.

Can the National Library Board (NLB) look into this unbecoming attitude of some library users? If it is not nipped in the bud, it could create a generation of ungracious adults. While aiming to nurture a nation of readers, NLB needs to keep these uncultured individuals off its premises.

Vasanthan Kanmani (Mrs)

This article was first published in The Straits Times.