Is your day peppered with the beeps and sounds of tattle tape tattling, HVAC systems droning, or your Teams call ring? Do you tally how many times someone asks where the bathroom is during your shift at the desk? We are collecting audio recordings of the background noise at your library! Library ASMR if you will.
We invite you to take a 15-30 second recording of the specific noises or soundscapes around you at your workplace. For example:
HVAC HVACing
Moveable shelves moving
Desensitizer thunking
Gate beeping
Clock ticking
Whiteboard marker squeaking
Tables and chairs rolling
3D printer printing
A recording of your most-asked question at the desk
Any other background or repetitive noises around you (please no eavesdropping)
Send your brief recording in any file formats to us by email hcabullo@umn.edu and ssparrow@umn.edu. In your message please include the following details:
Subject line: Library Table Talk audio submission
What sound(s) are we hearing in the recording?
Where was this recorded in the library? (e.g stacks, first floor reference desk etc.)
What is your library’s name and institution?
Library Table Talk will be compiling a brief podcast episode from these submissions. Individual sound clips will not be identified, but we’ll be including a list of all the libraries represented.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, February 27, 2026.