| Newsletter 11, February 1996 |
Those of you who regularly use the sixth floor IT Suite at Calverley Street will be well aware of the trials and tribulations that we have concerning access.
Originally, the security barrier for detecting Library items that had not been checked out (and hence desensitized) was situated between the fifth floor of the library and the sixth floor computing area. However, we had users complaining that they were unable to use a reference book at the side of their computer. A logical complaint, and one that we tried to address.
Our first attempt was to remove the barrier completely thus making the computing area part of the secure Library envelope. This enabled users to come and go freely with reference material. However, in order to safeguard the equipment we had to close the immediate access to the sixth floor and make everyone who could climb the stairs from the fourth floor level of the library. This, as you can imagine, was not a popular decision and we came under increased pressure to re-open the sixth floor doors.
Our second attempt was to relocate the security barrier adjacent to the exit doors on the sixth floor. This was only intended to be a short-term measure to see if it would actually work in this position. It is still there. Obviously it does work but not in the way that we would like. Because of the building layout there is insufficient room to put the complete barrier in place and we have finished up with a sort of Heath Robinson compromise. Now, if anyone attempts to leave the premises with unauthorized material via the sixth floor doors then the alarm sounds but there is nothing physical to prevent someone from keeping on right out of the building. It therefore became crucial that the Help Desk adjacent to this “alarmed corridor” was staffed at all times to prevent any loss. But nothing is ever as simple as that is it?
Now, we have not only got this wonderful security system that prevents the Help Desk staff from leaving their posts to go and help users in difficulty with computing packages, but we also have a system whereby the entire access corridor is alarmed. We have to decide whether the alarm is being activated by someone coming in or someone going out. Meanwhile, we are investigating the idea of having a turnstile system to come in and a barrier system to leave. Not a very radical idea, but one that is causing a few problems. The computing installation technicians are based on the sixth floor, and are regularly coming through these doors with trolleys full of equipment. The main storage for computing consumables is also on this floor and we have regular deliveries of 200 boxes of listing paper. Neither the technicians nor the portering staff would be too happy about having to thread their boxes through a turnstile.
The security barrier itself reacts adversely to being too close to computing equipment and needs to be as far away as possible from the Help Desk. We are awaiting delivery of a new barrier (on loan) that is supposed to be more computer friendly, but at the last count it was somewhere in Germany on its way from Nottingham to Leeds. This is sounding more and more like a Mel Brooks film.
Watch this space for the next exciting episode.
Eric Johnson
