LIBRARY NOTES
James Munves
Letters to the Library
Thursday, September 1, 1994
"Congratulations on publishing Library Notes. Like Walter Lord (People and Events) I recall the special pleasure of doing research at the Library, where, "Unlike other libraries.. I was completely free to rummage through the marvelous collection of bound volumes of old newspapers and out-of-print magazines..." Alas, were Mr. Lord to wish to use these publications today, he would have to specify which volumes he wanted and wait for them to be delivered to the public reading room. No more rummaging. Cannot some way be found to restore this privilege?"
James Munves
Morell, Canada
Response:
When the Library was renovated in the early 1980s, rolling stacks were installed for compact storage, thus adding a great deal of shelving. It was felt that this new area should house the least consulted part of the collection: old newspapers, foreign language books, and disintegrating or scarce older volumes. To protect these mostly frail materials, as well as our members, rummaging (in a movable stack area) is not permitted. But rummaging opportunity aplenty remains in most of the building's stacks.
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