Community BRIEFS

Extensive security precautions, including a temporary closing of the Kennedy School library, are being taken by University administrators in preparation for Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher's speech today at the Institute of Politics.

Harvard Police Lt. Lawrence J. Murphy coordinated the security effort between federal agents, the State Department and Harvard Police, according to Steven R. Singer, spokesperson for the Kennedy School.

The Kennedy School library, which is directly under the Forum, will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today. The library is usually open from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.

"It's something we do rarely and reluctantly, but for a couple of hours we felt it was worthwhile doing," Singer said.

Arrangements have been made for library users to study in the school's Taubman building, according to Paula E. Ebbitt, the library's head of circulation and reserves. The library will allow students to check out reserve books for use while the library is closed.

The library was last closed when Vice President Al Gore '69 spoke at the Forum last February, Ebbitt said.

"They're going to have dogs come through and everything," presumably to check for a bomb or other threatening devices, the librarian said.

The library posted the temporary shutdown Wednesday, Ebbitt said. So far no students have complained about the inconvenience, she said.

"I've got a take-home exam, I can pretty much do it anywhere," said David G. Burna, a second-year public policy student at the Kennedy School. "It's a necessary security precaution they have to take. We're in our own little world, but we have a choice: it's either a little inconvenience, or not having someone note-worthy come to speak."

Singer agreed. "For a school of government to have the secretary of state come give an address, we feel it's worth it," Singer said.

Murphy could not be reached for comment yesterday.