In light of the Feb. 15 arrest of a local man in Tisch Library for "open and gross lewdness" — as stated in the Tufts University Police Department's (TUPD) report — and at least four accounts of laptop theft from Tisch between Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, the security and accessibility of the library is under scrutiny.
Tisch Library is entirely open for on−site public access, though only current or retired faculty and staff, current Tufts students, alumni, visiting scholars and researchers and Boston Library Consortium card holders have borrowing privileges, according to the library Web site. Still, the library maintains a walk−in policy, with no procedure for monitoring who is in the building at any given time.
After a series of reports of a non−student publicly masturbating in Tisch from April 2007 through February 2008, library security measures were significantly increased according to Tisch Library Director Jo−Ann Michalak.
"We installed four blue−light phones in the area of the stacks so that people could directly call TUPD," Michalak said.
As of now, Michalak said there are no plans to decrease the accessibility of the library to the public. "It's a tradition that we've been open to the Medford and Somerville community, and we work very closely with [Director of Community Relations] Barbara Rubel to determine our policies," Michalak said. "Occasionally the issue of whether we should be open comes up, but it's never been a sustained issue. I'm not saying that it won't be in the future. If we feel there is a need, we will discuss changing our policies."
According to Michalak, Tisch Library simply doesn't fit the criteria of a building that requires security beyond what is currently employed. "Libraries that have check−in systems, I've noticed, either have a collection that is extremely valued, like Harvard's, or are in a very urban area," she said. "That's where libraries have a less open attitude."
Harvard University's Widener Library, in particular, has a markedly more stringent security system in place than does Tisch. Widener Library is closed to individuals not affiliated with the university, but researchers and students from other universities can apply for access privileges. Even then, those with access privileges can only visit the library six times in a 12−month period.
Other libraries at Harvard vary in their degree of accessibility. Some require members of the public not affiliated with the university to provide photo identification and to sign in at a security desk, and most require that all users' bags be inspected as they exit the respective buildings, according to the Harvard Web site.
In addition to the blue−light phones in Tisch, a security officer is employed to patrol the stacks after 6 p.m., and the library staff conducts a close−down procedure prior to the beginning of late−night study hours in the Hirsch Reading Room that includes a sweep of the library by staff members. Since the laptop thefts, Michalak has instituted what she calls "library security alerts," or signs that remind students "that they need to be focusing on their own security," Michalak said. "There's always something else you can try, but I think [the security in Tisch] is adequate."
According to Michalak, two potential changes that have been proposed over the years are the installation of cameras throughout the library and the addition of a full−time door guard to preside over some form of a check−in system, in which students would present their Tufts identification cards and members of the public hand in photo ID.
"We, periodically, have talked to TUPD about [adding cameras]," Michalak said. "My position is that I would want it to be in conjunction with a campus policy — not just in the library, and not everywhere but the library. That's important because we are a part of the Tufts community."
The security officer currently stationed in Tisch is part of the Department of Public and Environmental Safety's Supplemental Security Force and is not a member of TUPD, according to TUPD Sgt. Robert McCarthy. There are currently no plans to add to the Tisch security force.
Sophomore Gabrielle Horton said that she feels the need for a round−the−clock security presence. "If laptops are stolen and the guards are only seen during late hours, that's some kind of security," she said. "I never see security until late−night study begins. What's the point?"
Freshman Emma Goldstein, on the other hand, said that the benefits of an open library outweigh the potential costs to the safety of her belongings. "Obviously it's unfortunate that laptops are stolen, but I don't know if having a security guard, someone standing there, does anything or not, and I like that people from the community can use the library for legitimate purposes," she said. "I don't think we need to turn it into a completely different thing where you have to swipe your ID."
"When I got here in 1991 we had a guard at the door, and you were supposed to sign in, but we eliminated that in 1996 when Tisch Library opened," Michalak said. "I'm not sure what the best, secure way of doing it is, and I'm not sure that the library would be the decider of that anyway. There have been discussions [since the door guard system was abolished in 1996], but there have been no decisions."
Michalak was not previously aware of the Feb. 15 indecent exposure incident until informed during an interview for this article.
"Even with [the public masturbation events], we didn't have a complete report of what the students were reporting. It's not our role to be in the middle or to have TUPD report it back to us," she said. "We heard about the nature and the details of [the public masturbation events] through the Daily."
With security incidents such as the laptop thefts, students are encouraged to either approach a library staff member or the security guard, who are instructed to contact TUPD immediately, or to call TUPD directly. "Anything that comes to us goes to them," Michalak said.
For now, Michalak is focusing on reminding students to monitor their belongings and to not leave items unattended.
"That's something we have to fight against," she said. "Students feel very safe in the library; they leave for a second and something happens."
