Legal Research

Stupid Library Tricks

After 400 years, health and safety bans stepladders from historic Oxford library... but nobody can reach the books
By Lizzie Smith (Daily Mail) 09th May 2009

"Stepladders have been banned from part of Oxford University's historic Bodleian library - because of health and safety fears.

The ruling by officials means that students cannot use items on the higher shelves of the Duke Humfrey reading room.

However, the university is standing its ground and refusing to move the books from their 'original historic location' on the room's balcony."

"As a result of the stalemate, students have to travel to libraries as far away as London to view other copies.

Art History student Kelsey Williams, 21, had to travel 80 miles to London to view a copy of Arthur Johnston's 1637 work Delitiae Poetarum Scotorum after librarians refused to get it down for her. She said: 'Access to these books is necessary for my research and I wasted a day travelling to London and looking at the one in the British Library."

I wonder what damage and dangers will happen when students start climbing the shelves on their own with the ladder? Is the subsequent fall misadventure? Is the historically significant shelving order damaged when no one can re-shelve the book?

This would be funny if it wasn't so sad. No library needs publicity like this.

Stephen

Full post as published by Stephen's Lighthouse on May 10, 2009 (boomark / email).