Shaun:
When I was at Indiana University in Bloomington we
allowed food and drink in the Law Library with no
restrictions. The students realized that this was quite
a privilege and responded very considerately to the
policy. All we asked them to do was promptly report
any spills, etc. to a library staff member.
Once I became Acting Director of the Law Library
here at Mississippi College, I instituted a similar
policy regard food and drinks. I began by requiring
liquids to be in "spill proof" containers, but after
a few weeks felt that this policy still had to be
policed by staff and thus abandoned the spill proof
container requirement. After one year I can happily
report that the policy was a success. The students
cooperated nicely, there were no spills, and everything
has gone well. As far as food is concerned, I've
simply limited these items to the "small snack variety."
Now that I have been selected as the Director of
the Law Library at Baylor Law School, I plan to ask the
Dean to allow me to institute a similarly liberal policy
on allowing food and drink in the library. My experience
with this policy has been very positive, and you quickly
become a hero of the students.
The rationale behind the policy is simply to
encourage patrons of all types to use the Law Library,
and to make it a more comfortable and inviting place to
spend one's time. The policy also sends a message to
students, etc. that you have faith in them acting as
adults. To date, my faith in this regard has not been
misplaced.
Another reason for the policy is to keep from
transforming library staff into a "food police force."
In the libraries I've worked in we've had so much to
do that spending valuable time watching for food and
drink violators was simply not acceptable. Also,
almost every staff member felt very uncomfortable
enforcing a strict "no food, no drink" policy.
Personally, I think the traditional criticisms of
allowing food and drink in the Law Library are off the
mark. In NONE of the libraries where food and drink
have been allowed has there been a "rodent infestation"
problem, for example. Here at Mississippi College we
alerted the janitorial staff to this change in policy
and they have been sensitive to insuring that waste
baskets are emptied on schedule, etc.
So, I would encourage UK to modify their food and
drink policy accordingly. Indiana has, Yale has,
Mississippi College has, and Baylor will if the Dean
agrees. Good luck; let me know if you have any
additional questions on this issue.
Mitch Counts inet: counts@csc.mc.edu
Mississippi College (601)949-5679
Clinton, MS 39058
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