Officials have become proactive about noise and disturbances in the library ever since schools reopened this fall.

Students who walk into the library after school, many of them from Redwood Middle School, are being asked to behave themselves when they are inside the library.

When students walked into the library last week, they were greeted with a notice that specified a list of rules. They were asked to speak quietly, leave furniture where it belongs and respect the people and facilities. They have also been asked to eat and drink in tiled areas only.

The notice also said that if rules were not observed, the person or even an entire group of friends might be asked to leave the library for the day. The same instructions were also handed out to children in the form of a leaflet.

Librarian Dolly Barnes has been facing a problem ever since the library reopened last year.

"It gets pretty hectic after school hours. Sometimes the kids are mean to each other and rude to adults," said Barnes. "Sometimes they do unsafe things like shooting rubber bands or trying to trip each other or indulge in general rambunctious behavior."

Barnes said that library staff had met with representatives from the Saratoga Union School District and city staff over the summer on how to control rowdy behavior at the library.

"They were very responsive. With their help, we set up our rules and guidelines," said Barnes.

"We were brand new last year. But the kids should be more careful now and know what their boundaries are," said Barnes.

She said that the library had more staff on the floor to cater to the needs of children.

"It is taking up a lot of staff time, but the problems are more persistent at the beginning of the year," said Barnes.

She said that the kids were trying their wings and it might be normal behavior under some circumstances. "We welcome the kids, but we want to make it work for everyone," said Barnes.

Lane Weiss, Saratoga Union School District superintendent, said that he is going to personally walk around the library to check on the kids. "We are going to support positive behavior," said Weiss. "Students should be made aware and value the library as a resource," he said. "They need to be aware of other people's rights."

Weiss said that he had been communicating with parents and making announcements through the newsletter and school district website.

Alex Chapman, vice principal of Redwood Middle School, said that he too would be personally checking on kids at the library.

"We have included in our student handbook a whole page of behavior expectations. In our morning announcements, I have mentioned to the entire school about our behavior expectations from them," said Chapman.

He said that Redwood Middle School was lucky to have the library so close to them.

"If we have students with recurring problems, we are going to talk to their parents," said Chapman. "We need to support the families but also support the library staff."

He said that he was aware that many students from Redwood go to the library right after school hours to do their homework. "The library should be and can be a safe place for students," said Chapman.

Barnes said that though the library staff was trained to deal with people of special ages, it was not possible to give any special supervision to the children.

"But if we have a problem, we deal with it," she said.

Barnes can often be seen walking around the library keeping an eye on the children as they troop in after school. Last week, on Sept. 1, she had to ask 12 children to leave the library because of unruly behavior.

The children could be seen huddled around a bench discussing the problem. "I wish I was given a warning before I was asked to leave," said one. "I would like to be able to eat in the study room," said another.

Kathy Forte, whose son attends Redwood Middle School, said that she was worried that this was happening in the library. "Maybe a meeting with the kids can help," she said.