New York City is home to fantastic set of libraries, including the the mothership of libraries, the NYPL. My favorite library is one that is much smaller, located in the north of Manhattan on the campus of Columbia University: East Asian Starr. Quiet and compact, there are tall ceilings, dark wood, stained class windows, and reading nooks. When I enter, it feels like I step back in time (if I ignore the laptops, at least). When I was an undergraduate there, it was my library of choice and I logged many hours there and have yet to find a library I so love.
I also was fond of the place because of their discreet open door policy. When I was a student there, over a decade back, they were supposed to ask for you ID but they never did. When I returned back to NYC in 2007, I was thrilled to find this practice of ethical inattentiveness was still followed by the student works behind the desk. I always wanted to find out more about what sustained this practice but I never dared or was too lazy to do so.
So I was pretty saddened when I popped in the library on Friday to discover a new security system that requires you to scan your ID to get in. There were large signs also indicating such, clearly seething with some passive aggressive anger expressing disbelief that this library had managed to evade security for over decade. So while it is a real shame that this gem is no longer a place that one–anyone–can enter at will, it is nice to know that it took so long for someone to notice.
I was puzzled for 5 minutes trying to figure out what a discrete policy was, and then realized that you meant discreet.
Comment by Marius Gedminas — April 5, 2009 @ 8:13 am
Indeed. Thanks for the heads up!
Comment by Biella — April 5, 2009 @ 8:34 am
well, while I know that the libraries require swipe, I’ve never actually had a major issue with it. People let you tailgate all the time (I’ve done research in law library that I can’t swipe into, but people have just swiped me in on their card).
Also, I haven’t been in the engineering library in a bit, but last I was there, it didn’t require a swipe. (though the b-school’s library does, but somewhat surprisingly, allows non b-school students to enter).
Comment by debian maintainer + cu phd — April 6, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
freedom being withdrawn in tiny increments. Death by 1,000 papercuts. I expect it was part of a campus-wide overhaul of campus security that required homogeneity.
Comment by Kevin Mark — April 6, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
Possibly it wasn’t terrorism, but actual stolen books, that led to the tightened security. Libraries do have a real problem with this (another argument in favor of e-book readers?
). Not sure whether checking IDs really has any effect on it, though. Maybe more surveillance cameras? That’s just what we all need…
Comment by Karl Fogel — April 7, 2009 @ 6:32 am
I was so shocked to see the contraption, I did not even try to get in. Perhaps it is the same old thing as before… And tailgating: there is not so much traffic in and out of this quiet library but certainly worth a try! I guess it is time to get my alumni card.
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Comment by Biella — April 7, 2009 @ 6:49 am