Talking about enforcing civility ( http://ml107.blogspot.com/2007/04/enforcing-civility.html ) as a blog or two I read earlier today were, we were revisiting the proposed new library code of conduct this morning. At least I was revisiting it having sat through some of the discussion last week. This was a chance for the remainder of the library staff to air an opinion. And at least this time I caught the Head's briefing at the beginning which was interesting. [1]

This was a smaller gathering (maybe half the size of the first) and somewhat less, urh, heated and free ranging. Still, there were a couple of "old timers" there to oppose any move towards allowing food/drink/phones even in limited areas. One of their comments accused the library of once again trying to make a name for itself by being an "early adopter". I had to supress a smile as I thought about how slow this place can be in that regard - certainly in comparison to TheOldPlace.

Anyway, it would appear that we're moving towards quite a major liberalization of the rules regarding behavior and I can only wish as ever that students didn't need any "enforcing civility", but no doubt given an inch some will take a mile and the majority will end up 'putting up with it'.

Aaargh!

(Which reminds me of this: http://osteele.com/words/aargh which I also came across this morning).


[1] I was particularly intrigued by a graph that showed borrowing per full time equivalent student for the last 27 years - almost rock steady at 40,000 a year or so - and the number of library visits per full time equivalent student (sinking like a stone from about 1987 onwards from 120,000 to 80,000 or less). Given the rise in student numbers over that time it presumably shows the change in the style of university based courses (more vocational?) and/or that fewer people are taking out more books. The decline seems a bit early to be charting electronic resources.