Langdell Ban Goes Unenforced

Sings posted outside Langdell Law Library yesterday announced that the library will be closed to undergraduates until May 24.

"We're asking people to study else-where," said Harold S. "Terry" Martin III '65, Langdell librarian and professor of law. "Law students just can't find a place to sit."

The ban, which began yesterday, encompasses the Harvard Law School (HLS) reading and exam period.

Martin said he received numerous complaints from law students before making the decision to bar undergraduates from a library that historically has been open to entire University community.

One such complaint came via e-mail from first-year HLS student T. Dela Avle, who said that he "literally had to share a couch with an undergrad" Wednesday.

"In recent weeks, you just can't find a seat," Avle said in an interview yesterday. "A bunch of people were complaining, and since I know [Martin,] I took it upon myself to write to him."

Avle said that law students don't study in the library as often during the year, but they increasingly need the space to study as exams approach.

"It's a new library, nicer, more comfortable, so people prefer to study here," he said. "But the bottom line is that we need a place to sit."

However, as a glance around Langdell's fifth floor yesterday confirmed, the ban is not being enforced.

"We have not programmed any people's IDs out," Martin confirmed.

As a result, determined undergraduates could still enter the library if they chose to disregard the posted signs yesterday. However, Martin said he hopes students stick to other libraries on campus.

"What I'm hoping is that if we say `Hey it's really overcrowded here,' then people will understand," he said.

Ellie T. Kim '98, who had arranged to meet a friend at Langdell to study, "Just kind of ignored the sign" on her way into the library yesterday.

In addition to the comfortable seating and excellent reference room, Kim said she studies at Langdell because, at Lamont or Hilles, "You run into so many people it's like a social hour" while among law students, "it's not as extreme."

Kim said she finds it strange that Langdell has decided to ban undergraduates.

"All libraries get busy around finals time," she said. "Undergraduates don't close off their libraries because of the larger volume of people."

But law school students and undergrads do not face the same impediments to on-campus study, Martin said. He noted that many law school students live off-campus, making their often-hour-long take-home exams difficult to complete without space in an on-campus study facility.

"If you live in Sommerville, then you lose time hiking back and forth," he said.

Avle said he did not know if an unenforced ban would work, however.

"At this point, maybe some didn't notice the sign, or maybe some noticed but chose to disregard [it]." he said. "The best way to judge is to give it a couple of days."