College and Research Libraries


A Delicate Balance 

COLLEGE 
& RESEARCH 

LIBRARIES 

In this issue of College & Research Libraries we feature four articles on 
library security, a matter of increasing concern to all academic librarians. 
Three articles derive from addresses presented at the 1976 ALA Conference 
and discuss library security from a variety of viewpoints: the institution, 
the professional association, the law enforcement agency, and the Jaw. They 
present methods libraries may use to better protect their resources, detail 
some of the techniques employed by thieves, describe the assistance law 
enforcement agencies may give, and discuss applicable laws. 

In his article Alex Ladenson summarizes provisions of recent legislation 
in the state of Virginia which gives separate consideration to library theft. 
He relates this new law to shoplifting legislation already enacted in many 
states. Describing elements of such laws, Mr. Ladenson points out the op-
posing principles that are present-the right of property as against the right 
of the individual to be free and unmolested. He acknowledges that this is 
"an area of law that is extremely sensitive. Freedom from false arrest, free-
dom from unlawful search, and the right to privacy are all involved here." 
As he emphasizes, "what we need, of course, is to strike a delicate balance." 

The foucth article, by a university student and an academic librarian, 
derives from a survey of attitudes on book theft in a university library. The 
focus in this article is on the day-to-day thievery of library materials, some 
of which may be subject to intensive use but which, in general, do not rep-
resent items of great expense. There is agreement that such theft is wrong, 
principally because it hinders the academic achievements of one's fellow 
students. Even so, there remains the overall unwillingness to recognize that 
such a crime, if committed in an academic library, should be subject to the 
same penalties as one might expect for a similar crime committed off cam-
pus. As the authors state, "students view book theft as an academic crime 
only." 

As we work to maintain the delicate balance to protect both the rights of 
property and the rights of the individual, we must recognize the new di-
mension brought to this problem in our college and university libraries. 
With the introduction of the. concept of "academic crime," we must consider 
how it will affect this balance and what it may mean for the protection of 
the resources of our nation's libraries. 

R.D.J.