My Response to Shimon’s Thoughts on Improving Libraries
A week ago, Shimon shared some thoughts on what qualities his ideal library might have. I finished a response to his post last night. …
Addendum 3/24: I hope Shimon doesn’t think he’s getting off this easily. Hey Shimon, what do you think about my response? Anyone else want to chime in–>make this a discussion/conversation instead of just a dialogue or shimonolog?
March 26th, 2004 at 2:29 am
There are many things that I could comment on, but I think that I will respond to your question about food in archives and special collections (and libraries, in general).
Food, drink, and rare materials, surprisingly, can be uttered in the same breath–as long as it is in the name of outreach or donor relations. For example, earlier this evening, I attended an endowed lecture at a rare book library, and there was food and drink in the exhibition room where the lecture was given.
While some libraries/repositories have separate function rooms for these events, most places (because of space constraints) use their exhibition halls or reading rooms to host receptions, tea hours, etc. Generally, this is not a problem since in exhibition rooms materials are protected by exhibit cases and in reading rooms materials are usually moved and safely stored before such events. Plus, thorough cleaning afterwards and pest control systems already in place deter bugs, rodents, and other creatures.
Of course, food and drink on a regular day in a reading room is completely unrealistic. Spilled drinks, dropped food, and the like would be a curator’s or archivist’s nightmare. Food residue on hands is equally as destructive. (In fact, I wish that I could send every reader to the bathroom to wash their hands before giving them items to look at, but that is not possible).
In a public or academic library setting, I am still anti-food/drink. (Sorry, j). In my 3 years working in those settings, I spent a lot of time cleaning up after patrons who felt that they were properly disposing of cups, food, and waste by leaving their trash in reshelving areas, on the floor, and in places other than the provided (and plentiful) trashcans.
This meant that staff time was devoted to cleaning. In one place where I worked, shelving staff spent a good portion of their day cleaning up drink spills and litter. And I have had the unpleasant experience of dealing with coffee-drenched keyboards and sticky tables.
I know that I probably come across as old fashioned and mean about this, but the “custodial” role of librarians is not a janitorial one. If all users were careful and responsible (like I am sure that Shimon would be), I would be all for it, but sadly, this is not the case.