"Wanton Pinching"

Unfortunately, wanton "pinching" has caused the disappearance of many books. One librarian commented, "You would be simply horrified if you could see the list of missing books. The situation is sometimes desperate, especially for honours students, when volumes Just disappear from the shelves with no trace." It is to be hoped that the fining system will

not induce any more students to slyly slip a few books out without going through the usual procedure at the issue desk. To prevent this, in many libraries there is a rigorous checking of all books by means of a "sheep gate" through which all students must pass before being permitted to leave the library. However, here there seems to be a more positive attitude among the borrowers now that the situation is being brought home to them.

Is the emphasis on the wrong thing? Stress is placed on returning books by the due date, that is, within a fortnight of borrowing. Frequently the book is read within two or three days and lies idly round until the borrower suddenly remembers that it must be back by today. Meanwhile, other students, longing to have their hands on that book, have been seething round in helpless frustration. It seems a good idea that borrowers should be urged to return the book as soon as they have finished it and no later than the due date.

Two other innovations in the library are to be praised—the new periodicals room and the new clock. It seems likely that when the new Student Union Building is opened, the Cafeteria will be converted into stack rooms.

—E.B.