An Update on Unattended Belongings in the Library
November 10, 2011
If you’ve been in the Library to study over the past few weeks, you’ve probably noticed slips of paper that look like this:
[caption id="attachment_7713" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Please do not leave your valuables unattended. Seats should not be reserved by leaving personal or library property at a seat."]
[/caption]
Members of the Library Services staff have been walking through the building and leaving the slips on unattended items. We’ve been doing this for a few reasons.
With the closure of the Client Services computer lab on the lower level of the Library over the summer, we’ve lost seats in the building, leading to a noticeable uptick in complaints from students who can’t find a place to sit and study. Several students have mentioned to us that they notice seats being reserved with personal or library property.
Being popular is a strange problem to have, but the fact is that the Library is one of the busiest buildings on campus and offers some of the most plentiful and comfortable study space. When some people are staking out seats they’re not using, it means that other people don’t have a place to sit. The library staff has a responsibility to make sure that the spaces in the building—whether they’re carrels, chairs, tables, or group study rooms—are available for everyone to use.
While we’re talking about unattended belongings: Theft is not a major problem in the library, but thefts have occurred. Whenever you leave your belongings unattended—even in a safe place, like the Bentley campus—you are leaving yourself vulnerable to theft. We’d rather have library patrons take precautions than risk having valuable items stolen.
We know it can be jarring to get up to use the bathroom and come back to find a warning slip on your chair. But we would be neglectful if we didn’t respond to student concerns. It’s simply an effort to make the Bentley community aware that library space is shared space and to ask people to treat each other with respect.
Got a question about this or anything else at the library? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
[/caption]
Members of the Library Services staff have been walking through the building and leaving the slips on unattended items. We’ve been doing this for a few reasons.
With the closure of the Client Services computer lab on the lower level of the Library over the summer, we’ve lost seats in the building, leading to a noticeable uptick in complaints from students who can’t find a place to sit and study. Several students have mentioned to us that they notice seats being reserved with personal or library property.
Being popular is a strange problem to have, but the fact is that the Library is one of the busiest buildings on campus and offers some of the most plentiful and comfortable study space. When some people are staking out seats they’re not using, it means that other people don’t have a place to sit. The library staff has a responsibility to make sure that the spaces in the building—whether they’re carrels, chairs, tables, or group study rooms—are available for everyone to use.
While we’re talking about unattended belongings: Theft is not a major problem in the library, but thefts have occurred. Whenever you leave your belongings unattended—even in a safe place, like the Bentley campus—you are leaving yourself vulnerable to theft. We’d rather have library patrons take precautions than risk having valuable items stolen.
We know it can be jarring to get up to use the bathroom and come back to find a warning slip on your chair. But we would be neglectful if we didn’t respond to student concerns. It’s simply an effort to make the Bentley community aware that library space is shared space and to ask people to treat each other with respect.
Got a question about this or anything else at the library? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.