New library rules.
Michele Myers sent an email to students last night detailing new standards of conduct during the 24 hour study period. Read the text of the email here. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
posted by Emily Drabinski at 10:04 AM
10 Comments:
The text of the memo follows:
"April 27, 2006
To: Sarah Lawrence Community
From: Michele Tolela Myers
General Committee
Re: Standards of Conduct in the Library
The last few weeks of the school year are intense and students have a great deal of work to do. To provide students with an environment conducive to research and study, the library has shifted to a 24-hour/7-day per week schedule during the close of the semester. While the great majority of students have used the expanded hours productively, some have engaged in activities that are destructive and disrespectful of other students, of library staff, and of the library itself. The unacceptable actions have included:
• Littering the library with food and drinks
• Consuming alcohol and acting in a drunken and disorderly manner
• Sleeping on the floor and in conference rooms
• Damaging bathroom fixtures
• Engaging in “strip study”
• Disregarding the library’s standing policy against the use of cell phones
This conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Accordingly, the following procedural changes are being put into effect. Starting tonight, Thursday, April 27, the security guard at the library desk will ask students entering the library to empty the contents of their bags. If the guard finds food, drink, or any substance not allowed in the library, students will be asked to throw out the offending items or remove them from the library. In addition, no deliveries of food will be accepted at the library.
Furthermore, abuse of library facilities will result in the cancellation of the 24/7 schedule. It is our hope that such action will not be necessary."
It all seemed to come without warning, though much of it is reasonable. One thing that really bothers me is that there are no exceptions to the no food and drink rule.
No Water? Considering the library's water fountain emits a liquid that resembles urine, this is a bit ridiculous. Specially if the water is in a reusable nalgene. The same goes for coffee contained in a reusable mug.
No one is going to litter with a $17 Sarah Lawrence College thermos.
There are a lot of students (and adults) who act like children in the library--talking loudly, answering cell phones, littering. There does need to be a stricter policy there.
However this does make life harder for the large number of students with hypoglycemia and other conditions which necessitate the availability of food and/or water. That needs to be dealt with as well, and their need to not die trumps my desire to not need to throw away a candy bar wrapper left on a chair.
(Also--I don't really have a problem with strip studying. Sleaze week, people!)
We really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this topic, and are glad to see your input on the library news blog. Keep the comments coming.
I would suggest that the blanket no food policy be revised to allow people to eat and drink at the tables downstairs near the vending machines. It would be reasonable to ask students to take a 5 or 15 minute break to step away from their computer or table and eat in one place.
-Ian Ames
Junior from the class of 2007
i would like to agree that there is nothing wrong with stip studying. this school has a reputation of being liberal. my question is - does this activity bother people especially if it actually motivates this work (I understand this might be naive, but some people need motivation)?
also, food and drink (not a whole meal, but snacking) should be allowed anywhere in the library but at the computers. no crumbs in my keyboard please.
and sleeping in the library is acceptable as I remember many a time printing out my paper at 4:45 in the morning and collapsing into a bean bag - otherwise i would ahve woken my roommate up and I didn't want to deal with her being angry for days.
but don't leave your stuff and build a camp. it will be stolen and I hate it when people get things stolen through stupidity.
My problem is mostly with the food and drink policy. no water? that is crazy. And only having food allowed if it is in the eating area and from the vending machines is also stupid. students shouldn’t have to pay money to the vending machines and eat nothing but chips and lifesavers. when I’m in the library for 15 hours at a time i need a little more then sugar and oil. also, the library can get really crowded at times and leaving your computer at a desk to save your spot is stupid (as there are people who will steal it, some on people). while packing everything up can mean losing your desk and having to spent valuable time looking for a new spot.
not to mention that the decrease in access to coffee and other sources of caffeine could have an effect on the amount of Aderall and other prescription drugs to help students keep focus. and I don’t think that the college wants that.
if the library is open 24 hours, that means that some people will use it for all-nighters. and caffeine and snacks (protein for energy!) are incredibly necessary. i can't imagine an all-nighter without a cup of coffee at my side. i think the strict no-food-or-drinks-whatsoever rule will hurt students' ability to use the library's resources to their full potential. i'm really hoping this rule will be rescinded soon.
it seems ridiculous that the president thinks it is appropriate for our bags to be searched when we enter the library. I don't appreciate being treated like a child.
also, if the president wants there to be no food in the library, then perhaps the vending machines should be removed too. and i agree with whomever said oily snacks are not the only thing a person wants to eat.
i think if the library got larger trash cans for 24/7 period, we wouldn't be having most of this argument.
:) LOL!
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