Graduate Trainee Presentation for Oxford Trainee Project Showcase 2012!

1. 4th July
2012
Graduate Trainee Project
~
Louise Cowan

2. Law and Order in the Library
The aim of this presentation is to share the
Objective
context, process and outcomes of a case study s
based on the rules and regulations of Oxford
University Libraries.
Objectives:
• Context and objectives of the project
• Project methodology
• Results of the case study
• Conclusions

3. Context
What makes library rules an important and current issue?

4. The „"old atmosphere of quiet study" was being destroyed
with "water bottles now allowed next to early printed
Context
books" and students bringing in "chocolate brownies, hand
cream, even a burger and chips".‟
– Gillian Evans on the Bodleian Library
[Interviewed by David Sanderson From: The Times May 23, 2012]
“One man's library is another man's internet cafe.”
-Leo Cutting
[The Guardian- Blogging Students: 11 April, 2012]
“The stereotypical description of a library tends
to dwell upon the strict rules of conduct which
are in place to moderate user behaviour.”
- Bryant, Matthews, Walton
[Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2009]
“One finds an extraordinarily generous
attitude on the part of librarians in their
recognition of possible infractions.”
-Mast
[Library & Archival Security, 1984]

5. Aims
• To compare rules and regulations from a variety
of libraries in Oxford
• To find out what rules they have set
• Know how rules are implemented and enforced
• Know how successful rules are in maintaining a
positive and efficient learning and working
environment for students and other readers.
The project further took into
account individual library‟s
provision for social study and
considers whether this has
impacted upon its rules and
user behaviour.

6. Part 1 –St Hugh‟s College Library
 Record of rule breaks kept for two weeks
 Tally taken during floor walks, twice a day
Method
 Took into account rules breaks and where rules
were broken
 Criteria for tally taken from previous infractions
 Recorded in Excel

7. The Rules at ST Hugh‟s College Library:
 Students must borrow a book before it is taken
from the library Case Study
 Students are not to mark or deface any book
 Bottled water only Part 1
 Mobile phones to be kept on silent and calls to be
taken outside
 Personal belonging should be taken with the
reader when they leave the library
 Students are asked to abide by health and safety
regulations to ensure a safe working environment
Promoted: Website, Lib-Guide, College
Handbook, Induction, E-mail, Staff
Enforced: Verbal Warnings, Reminders, Floor
Walks, CCTV, Book Security System
Penalties: Fines, confiscation of food and
drink, removal of left belongings

9. Survey
Results

10. This survey suggests that students are mostly likely
to follow rules when they most obviously impact on
others.
Staff presence and easy to access point powers or
facilities such as computer workstations or personal
storage systems, are most likely to discourage rule
breaking as they remove the opportunity for some
infractions to occur at all.

11. Case Study
Part 2

12. Rules Guidelines
Does terminology matter? Rules
Regulations
Rules and Regulations
Rules from the Sorbonne Library in Paris circa the 15th Century:
V. At no time shall fire or light be taken into the
building.
VI. No book may be removed from the library without
consent of the house. […]
VIII. It is forbidden to write on the volumes, to make
any erasure, or to tear out the leaves.
IX. Whether a person is writing or reading, he shall
not disturb others either by talking or walking about.
[The Medieval Libraries, Schachner, 1938]

13. Rules Reconsideration and updating of the library rules is
for the most part, quite ad hoc.
However, all libraries agree that there are four key
rules which in one form or another are to be retained:
1. Books should be treated respectfully
2. Books should be returned promptly and fines
paid as necessary
3. Readers should be respectful of others and cause
no disturbance via talking or use of technology
4. Readers may not eat or drink in a library unless
otherwise indicated by library notices and signs
These four rules are all clearly focused on ensuring
that the libraries resources and its users are respected
appropriately.

14. Standard library rules might be considered to be universally
acknowledged and engrained in the understanding of social
norms by some, but not all library users adhere to these basic
principles. Promotio
n
Methods of Rule Promotion used:
 Induction / registration
 Library Contracts
 On-line
 Signage
 Slips
 E-mails
Use of Social Media?

15. Enforcemen
t

16. Overdue Books and Fines
Library rules are not always seen as being as serious
Problem of terminology – books go missing, are lost or
misplaced, not stolen
Fine payment is a big issue for most libraries in the study.
Four out of the ten libraries do not enforce fines
RSL and SSL take a very lenient view
Use of staff discretion
Larger fine totals halved
Very little conflict
Students would rather just
The Union Library
 Issues with „Drop and Run‟ Students pay a small fine as a
 Lack of power or mechanism to enforce rule consequence of being able to
 Parental involvement keep the book that they need
for as long as they need it.

17. Missing Books
Missing books is one of the issues that most upsets library users
•Law, SSL, Taylorian and Union Libraries reported issues with
missing books
•RSL and Jesus College report no real issues with missing
books
•Law, Taylorian and SSL suggest that missing books are usually
just mis-shelved
Four out of the ten Libraries have a
CCTV system – none of these libraries
monitor their systems regularly
Seven out of the ten libraries have a book
security system and alarm
At St Hugh‟s we have found evidence of students
removing book security tags and have CCTV
footage of students trying to get books passed the
security gates without setting off the alarm.

18. Desk Reservations and
Items Left Behind
A problem mainly for libraries with late or 24 hour opening
St Hilda‟s College
Sainsbury Library
Jesus College
St Hilda’s & Sainsbury Library
 Initial note left to remind students to clear desks
 Items cleared after a specified time limit
 Clearing also done each morning
 Issue raised – students leaving items just so staff will clear
them up!
Jesus College Library
 Students can reserve desks using a dated note
 Library reserves right to remove or clear items as necessary
 Some complaints about lack of space – but system generally
works

19. Silence
All libraries in the study reported that students responded
very positively to the rules regarding silence in libraries.
Small incidences may occasionally occur e.g.
•At the SSL complaints about laptops being used in the quiet area
•staff patrolled of the area to ensure students were aware of
the rules in that space.
•At the Sainsbury library users in the group space can
occasionally get quite loud during busy times and need to be
reminded by staff to keep the volume to a minimum.
However, in general, as reported by the Law
library, readers are usually silent and get disgruntled if
anyone, including staff, make a noise!

20. Food and Drink
Issues with food and drink varied across the Oxford
Libraries studied
Law Library
 Problem with one persistent user
 Issues in Graduate Reading rooms
Variety of rules make things confusing for
St Hilda‟s College students
 Introduction of £10 fines next term
Sainsbury Library
All Souls‟ College  Allows any drink as long as it has a lid
 Not usually an issue  Issues with other food
 Issues solved via reminder slips on desks
Jesus College
Taylorian  Allows any food as long as it does not
 Food an issue, especially coffee and in have a strong smell
unsupervised reading rooms
While the college libraries and libraries with food
SSL facilities within the same building did indicate a
Coffee the biggest issue significant difficulty with food there were a number of
exceptions to the rule

21. Access
A problem for libraries which limit user access, such as college
libraries and the Sainsbury library
Colleges:
Users bringing in friends from other colleges
Borrowing books for friends from other colleges
Non-college members sneaking in
Sainsbury Library
 Busy library therefore numbers need to be limited
 Non-members can only visit during staffed hours
 Need an access card to gain entry to the library

22. Patrols or „Floor Walks‟
One of the most effective ways of enforcing library rules is
to incorporate regular staff patrols of the library.
In six out of the ten libraries interviewed, patrolling did
not occur at all.
At the law library, while the librarian would like
patrolling to happen regularly as part of desk duty, it does
not always happen.
The SSL library introduced short term patrolling in
response to a student complaint Floor Walks can also be
useful opportunities for
St Hilda‟s library is planning on implementing library
patrols next term.
staff to provide on the
spot help to users who
The Sainsbury Library carries out regular patrols in order
might not be so willing
to ensure rules, particularly about food and access rights
are followed. to approach the enquiry
desk!

23. All libraries in the study found that the vast majority of
“
Students
students had a positive attitude to their library‟s rules and
regulations.
Library rules are clear and common sense, most students
have no problem adhering to them.
Rule infractions ultimately boil down to ignorance of
library etiquette rather than intentional misbehaviour.
The nature of the library building, with its grand structure and
design, help to ensure that library rules are respected.
Students‟ general attitude is positive simply because
it‟s their own choice to be there, they have come
specifically to work, not to do other things.
Students generally have a good attitude toward
the library and they respect the rules that make
”
sense to them. They tend to follow rules about
books and silence and mobile use because they
see the impact it would have on others.
Although students‟ attitude is mostly good, an element
of respect is perhaps missing.

24. Silence is Golden
“When it comes to the rules on talking, I'm almost as fierce as Students
the librarians [...] anyone who answers the phone saying "I'm
in the library" and then proceeds to have a lengthy
conversation should be expelled from university.”
-Leo Cutting
[Guardian, Blogging Students - 11 April,2012]
Hide Books at Your Peril
“The survey asked students whether they
agreed or disagreed that ‟theft from the library
is making studying difficult‟. [...] 86 per cent of
the sample thought theft was making studying
difficult. [...]As one student commented ‟It‟s
often very difficult to find books appropriate
for our course. They are never on the shelves
when the computer says they should be, it‟s so
annoying‟.”
-Gregson & Hocking
[Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 1995]

25. Comments taken from:
The Guardian-Blogging Students: Students: How do you behave in the Library? Posted 11.4.2012
[http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2012/apr/11/how-do-students-behave-in-libraries]
Students
“Moderation is the key when it comes to food. While I would argue there's
little harm in enjoying something fizzy and a packet of Walkers' finest on food in
while you study, a line has to be drawn somewhere.”
-Leo Cutting the library
Guardian: Blogging Students – 1 April 2012
“Haribo was pretty much acceptable wherever, as it should be.”
- Comment by „TheToon‟ [10:58 am 11.4.12]
“Get your greasy, sticky fingers off the books please,”
-Comment by „davidabsalom‟ [11:38 11.4.12]
“CRISPS!!!!! Even the thought of the rattling bags
makes me so angry I can‟t write anymore”
-Comment by „proevpete‟ [12:00pm 11.4.12].

26. Six out of the ten Oxford Libraries have no provision for social study
 No demand for group study areas from Social Study
any of their users.
 Some subjects just don’t involve group
work therefore subject libraries don’t need
group study spaces
 In Oxford there don’t tend to be many
group projects or assignments because
students have small tutorial classes and tend
to work more independently.

27. St Hilda’s Library
Has one discussion room which can be booked however
the room is small, does not have access to power points for Social Study
laptops and doubles as a storage space.
Sainsbury Library
•Modern Building
•Range of Learning Spaces
•Round group study tables promote discussion
•Study spaces very popular and heavily used
•Noise can be an issue
Social Science Library
•Modern Building
•Wide range of Learning Rooms
•Group discussion rooms popular
•Noise not an issue as rooms are separate
Radcliffe Science Library
•Recently refurbished building
•Range of learning areas
•Group spaces well used
•Noise and food not problems because in very
separate parts of the library

28. Library rules focus on respect for:
•Books
•Resources Conclusions
•The Library
•Other Users
Students have a hierarchical view toward rules, some are more
important than others
Paradox arose, in which libraries believed that their rules were common sense
and clearly defined but also held that student conduct was merely down to
mistakes or ignorance of the regulations.
Librarians have a tendency to be very lenient when it comes to library infractions
College libraries have a greater challenge with rules than Bodleian Libraries
Little conclusive evidence of „cafe culture‟ in Oxford Libraries
Students are mostly content and generally happy to adhere
to library rules and regulations

29. Recommendations
Promotion and Student involvement are key to raising awareness
Supervision, staff presence, CCTV and book security all
help to minimise more serious rule infractions
Important to try and provide students with the facilities
they need to ensure they don‟t need to break the rules to
get what they want.

30. With Thanks To:
St Hugh‟s College Library
St Hilda‟s College Library Acknowledgement
Jesus College Library s
All Souls‟ Library
SSL
RSL
Sainsbury Library
Law Library
English Library
Taylorian Library
The Union Library
Bibliography
Joanna Bryant, Graham Matthews , Graham Walton: “UK Academic libraries and social and learning space : A
case study of Loughborough University Library” Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 2009 41: 7
Mick Gregson, Allison Hocking: “Theft and damage in an academic library: the student experience” Journal
of Librarianship and Information Science 1995 27: 191
Sharon Mast :Ripping Off and Ripping Out, Library & Archival Security, 1984 5:4,31-51
Nathan Schachner, The Mediaeval Universities, London: G.Allen & Unwin, 1938
Blogging Students: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2012/apr/11/how-do-students-behave-in-
libraries

31. Image: 'Go To Jail'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26373139@N
08/6093810333 Acknowledgement
s
Image: 'salt and vinegar'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14498569@N
05/2434417654
Lego Image: 'The Source of Wisdom'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33774513@N0
8/4335376117
Librarian Image: 'Out-take for 073'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35198192@N0
7/3732420759
Image: 'brownie'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35034346243
@N01/1143713574
Coffee Image: 'Day 8'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64419960@N
00/4691827147

32. Image: 'Day 979. The missing piece.'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30821977@N Acknowledgement
00/6130255931 s
Image: 'Thanksgiving at the Trolls'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38446022@N
00/3064088118
Image: 'Someone threw away a perfectly
good white boy'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89932500@N
00/5758100670
Gin and Cigarettes:
https://twitter.com/laurajwilkinson