Ray Palin, librarian at Sunapee Middle High School in Sunapee, New Hampshire describes what it takes to make the school library a space for those looking for "peace and quiet." Palin begins this article by noting that much has been written about the advantages associated with the learning commons model of library design, however less has been written about its drawbacks. The open, technology-rich, and collaborative atmosphere of a commons nicely supports teaching, group work, and digital communication; however, for some tasks and for some students, the commons atmosphere limits the library's usefulness for tasks requiring concentration, such as reading and problem solving, as the active nature of the commons can be distracting. For the more introverted student, a loud and busy room might seem uninviting. Palin suggests some common strategies, that can be applied in the learning commons, include masking or buffering sound, zoning activity areas, and controlling traffic flow. Overcoming noise with other sounds such as white noise or environmental soundscapes, a technique typically called masking, might be as simple as playing sounds of rain or soft classical music. This background sound does much to mask noise emanating from the center of the room. In an effort to make concentration in the school library easier, an area for silent study (silent zone) could be created in a part of the room farthest away from the entrance. The room is rearranged for easy access for book browsing, but is clearly identified by a sign: "Silent Study: No Talking, No Noise, No Exceptions." As school librarians know, serving a school full of individuals means meeting a host of different needs.