Carol and Karen--
I work in a federal building. Our library is open to the public ONLY by
prior permission, and only for resources that are not obtainable elsewhere,
so I'm not in a position to address the issue of access to public law
libraries. But I do have a vital (and vested) interest in access to public
buildings.
As the result of the Oklahoma City bombing, I've become more aware of
security issues, and a lot more tolerant of procedures. I personally have no
problem with showing a driver's license (as I had to do to enter a federal
building in downtown Denver last year) to gain admitance to a public
building. It's a sad commentary, but these are the times in which we live.
-Kay Collins, Head Librarian, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Chicago
[M.L.S. LSU -- go Tigers!]
> Karen H.Mahnk wrote:
> Interesting - this can have serious implications if it
> catches on - but
> isn't a "national identification" /(your "papers" when in public)
> unconstitutional? - I would think/hope that this dies @
> first challenge.
Carol Billings wrote:
> >Our public/state law library is in the Supreme Court
> building--opening off
> >of the main lobby right inside the building's front doors.
> The court has
> >placed security guards on duty, and everyone entering the
> building has
> >been required for the past few years to run their possessions through
> >an airport-style x-ray machine and to walk through a metal
> detector. The
> >court has just today instituted a new policy that requires everyone
> >entering to show identification, sign in, wear a "visitor"
> tag while in the
> >building and then sign out before departing. I just
> inquired of one of the
> >guards what happens if someone wishes to use the library but does not
> >happen to have identification with him or her. I was told
> that the person
> >may not enter. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm outraged! I have made the
> >statement that I have never had to present identification to
> be admitted to
> >any type of library. I would very much appreciate knowing
> whether any
> >other public libraries have security restrictions that have
> the effect of
> >limiting access. I would also like to know if any
> colleagues have access
> >policies or know of instances where the right of access to public
> >libraries or other public buildings has been tested legally.
> I'll very much
> >appreciate hearing from you.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:50:12 PST