> I just wondered if we are being over-cautious -
> does everyone else have windows in student
> areas of the library locked?
For a very long time now I think that, at least in the
U.S.A. and certainly in many other places as well,
libraries are built with windows that were not made
to be openable in the first place. But when I was a
(graduate) student at Princeton University back in
the sixties, even then the windows had been bolted
shut, and we were told that this was a measure
aimed at eliminating at least one means of stealing
books.
On the other hand, when I was employed ( until late
2009 ) at an academic library in The Netherlands, we
had windows in areas frequented by students that
could be easily opened ( and often were, since we too
had heat problems ) and there was never any mention
of locking them in connection with possible thievery.
That such thievery took place I have no evidence, but
I suspect that it surely did from time to time ( e.g.
when I recall how many books actually went missing ).
- Laval Hunsucker
Breukelen, Nederland
----- Original Message ----
From: alan doherty <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, May 16, 2011 11:52:38 AM
Subject: windows in academic libraries
Hello all,
Here at LSBU we have really bad (and apparently unsolvable) issues with
stiflingly hot temperatures in the Library in summer. This is exacerbated by
the fact that we have all the windows permanently locked shut to stop users
stealing books this way. I just wondered if we are being over-cautious - does
everyone else have windows in student areas of the library locked?
thanks,
Alan
Alan Doherty
Perry Library Site Manager
London South Bank University
250 Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 6NJ
T: 020 7815 6626
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