----------------------------Original message----------------------------
ursula
we can talk about this at length in toledo, if that is not too late,
but since we are a museum library as well as a departmental library,
i would like to reply:
for about 15 of our 25 years department of art history faculty and
elvehjem museum of art staff had after hours access (via a guard
unlocking the door - no possession of keys) at any time. far too
many books were missing and found in offices (when the department
chair and the museum director agreed).
bingo.
no more after hours access. very few faculty/staff were upset and
their irritation lasted for no more than an academic year. everyone
got used to it. no one is in the library after hours. it was quite
easy to convince most people - everyone in fact, when they were not
in an embarrassed position - that a well staffed museum library with
excellent hours open (yours are better than most. ours are monday-
thursday: 8 - 10; friday: 8 - 5; sat-sun: 1-5 because we have a student
body as well) is not the personal fiefdom of a few (often very scattered
and disorganized) staff at the loss to other staff.
on occasion, i do make exceptions, but this is with a letter to the
security staff and with an injunction to security and faculty/staff
that no books leave the library - that they work in the library.
with open staff access, no matter how well intentioned the individual
staff might be, the library collection is just a killing ground.
hope your administration see the (fiscal/staff time) wisdom of this.
bill
|