Following the implementation of the cellphone policy at Wayland High School, the number of students attending the library has dramatically decreased since last school year. The new cellphone policy prohibits any use of cellphones in the library and student learning centers, which are small work places in each wing for students to use during free periods.
In past school years, the library was used by students to socialize and study during frees. Now that the cellphone policy has taken effect, attendance at the library has dropped. According to statistics taken by Librarian Kitty Smith, in the first six days of the 2024-25 school year, there were an average of 421 students per day in the library. However, this year, it has dropped to an average of 199 students, less than half of the previous year.
“I think kids have become reliant on having their phones, whether to check their social media, their schedule, to access their music or a variety of other reasons,” Librarian Jennifer McGillis said. “So I think that [the cellphone policy] is causing more kids to not want to be in the library.”
According to McGillis, the library should be a place where students should be able to get their work done, but as a result of the cellphone policy, a number of students are avoiding the library entirely.
“I think with all of the new policies, it does not seem as student friendly,” McGillis said.
The library was a resource students used to discuss group projects, collaborate for school work and complete assignments. However, with the new cellphone policy in place, this resource is now a less popular option amongst students. Students have received the changes with mixed opinions, with some believing that the policy is reasonable and others disliking it.
“I feel like it’s pretty fair,” junior Grace Oppenheim said. “Because last year we were supposed to put phone in phone holders, and we’re doing that [again this year], so it doesn’t seem like it’s too hard of a test to follow.”
While there are students who do not find the new policy to be a hindrance, others feel as if the policy is restricting them.
“There are definitely assignments where I need my phone to scan notes or do things like that,” sophomore Archie Baker said. “I’m not going to leave the library, go to the commons, scan my notes and then come back. They should just allow us to do that in the library.”
And while the commons are an alternative option where students are allowed to use their phones, some find it to be too distracting.
“The library is a nice quiet place to work,” Baker said. “The commons can get really loud.”
According to Baker, the library is a resource that students should be encouraged to use. He also stated that the new policy restricts the freedoms that students are given during free periods, and that the library should not be a place where students are driven away from.
Part of the Cell Phone Working Group’s goal was to eliminate the use of personal electronic devices in academic spaces, such as the library and student learning centers. The devices that have been restricted include cellphones, smartwatches and earbuds. However, this raises the question of whether or not the issue with the library is really the ban on cellphones, or if it is another problem.
According to the Guiding Principles for the Cell Phone Working Group, part of the reason for limiting cellphones was to “ensure cell phones do not distract from learning by maintaining a clear focus on education.”
However, according to Baker, the library should not just be a place for academics, but also a place where students can socialize.
“Sometimes kids don’t want to be productive and use their free [periods] for homework,” Baker said. “They wanna goof off, and the library was a place to do that.”
Baker added that because of the limits on socialization amongst students, the new policy is actively driving students away, when instead, efforts should be made to try and encourage kids to use the library
“If you don’t want to use the library, great, but don’t purposely try to scare kids away,” Baker said.
