Should a library, especially a university or public library, use surveillance cameras?

Answer 1

No, security devices on books are good enough.

Answer 2

I've worked both in a university setting and a public library so I have some familiarity with this problem.

All too often anymore there are crimes ranging from assaults to thefts from bookbags within the building. This could pose a deterrant or if not, provide security/police with a possible perpetrator.

Library materials cost a small fortune these days--especially anything in reference or the sciences. The university library that I worked in purchased the security strips to put in books and the periodicals. It took forever to do the collection and was very expensive since we had to install security gates at the entrances, The kids--especially the football students who would come in at the last possible moment to get what they needed for a research paper--would "bypass" the system by going to the second floor windows and throwing the books outside to the ground or to a waiting friend. Sometimes we never got the books back until the end of the school year when they were found in the dorms. They would also do this to the required reading material that wasn't supposed to leave the library.

Our university was a government documents center. We had an extensive collection and couldn't afford to lose material. The students knew periodicals weren't supposed to leave the building so they would just tear out the pages they needed.

Libraries frequently have rare book collections or other valuable collections (art, music) that normally are kept in locked rooms. The librarian may take the patron's ID card or library card before admitting them, but no one stands guard while they do their research. If there weren't cameras, a great deal of irreparable damage could be done.

I'm certainly not a fan of surveillance cameras for every little thing, but this isn't the innocent world I grew up in and I realize sometimes we have to submit to indignities such as being monitored for the "greater good". I've realized over the years that the people who most strenuously object are those who wouldn't think of doing anything wrong. They see it as an affront on their morality, their trustworthiness. Unfortunately that's not life anymore.

Answer 3

I can understand why anyone who is planning on stealing library property would object to cameras. But if a person is in the library to read what is offered, how does a surveillance camera interfere with what you are doing.

Apparently the cameras are installed for a particular reason. Until we know what that reason is, we really cannot comment on the question.

Answer 4

Hey Pink I Like You but you're being Unfair Here, People Regardless of Political Opinion Use the Library Its a Public Place and Public Places are used by Some and Private places are used by a Certain Few People I hope You Understand the Difference.

Answer 5

Yes. Some years ago, there were two students assaulted in the university library here.

Answer 6

Yes, if they choose to, there shouldn't be an argument. If your property was accessible to numerous people each day, wouldn't you have a security system of some kind?

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Answer 7

Yes. Even they have problems with vandals and theft. Should they ever use them to spy on what you are reading and use the information against you?..... get a life and stop being paranoid.

Answer 8

Yeah, so people don't steal the books, rip pages out, or bump uglies in the humanities section.

Answer 9

Yes. People steal. If you don't steal you have nothing to worry about. They do it in stores, schools, and malls.

Answer 10

Why not? They have property to protect