New Signs Confuse Local Widener Users

The sign says go away. In nine languages.

The politely phrased apology to tourists hangs at every entrance to Widener Library, explaining why non-Harvard affiliates cannot enter.

But according to Beth S. Brainard, spokesperson for the Harvard College Library, even these unambiguous and multilingual messages were not enough to stop hundreds of tourists a day from trying to gain access to the building.

So Widener added a different sign. Last month, with little fanfare, Widener announced that it would begin checking ID cards at the door.

According to Brainard, Widener used to be open to the public. But some visitors forgot library decorum.

"They'd do things like go into the reading room and in loud voices say, 'Look, there's a Harvard student, take her picture!'" she said.

Two years ago, administrators restricted access but tourists continued to gawk in Widener. The new policy--implemented March 1--allows checkers to determine who should be permitted entry.

The "who" turns out to be a point of some confusion.

Thanks to an arrangement with the city of Cambridge, city residents--if they ask--are permitted to use the resources in the Widener reference rooms.

So while the sign posted at the entrance reads, "You must present a Harvard ID to enter Widener Library," Brainard said Cambridge residents can use a driver's license or other photo ID to gain access.

Though the sign does not refer to this special privilege, Brainard said she did not believe it would dissuade Cantabrigians from entering the library.

But many Cambridge residents said they have never even heard of the arrangement. Some have never tried to go in, assuming they would be turned away.

Cambridge resident Chloe L. Drew '00 said she had never used the library while in high school and had no idea she would have been allowed in.

Rona H. Gregory has lived in Cambridge for 20 years--even serving as a professional librarian at MIT--and was similarly surprised to hear of the opportunity.

Gregory suggested that the "Harvard intimidation factor" might be responsible for many Cambridge residents' reluctance to test the Widener waters.

"I think if you haven't had any real connection with the school, the assumption is that you won't be able to use any of its resources. In Cambridge it's generally known that you have to fight your way into Harvard facilities," Gregory said.

Even some Cambridge City Council members were surprised to hear of Widener's access policy.

Councillor Kathleen L. Born said she had no specific knowledge of the arrangement and assumed the reference room was open to the general public.

But Councillor Michael A. Sullivan, who was also unaware of the policy, assumed the opposite.

"I knew they had strict policies regarding use and didn't think they let anyone in at all," he said. "They must not publicize this very widely."

Brainard said the University worked with the Cambridge community to let citydwellers know about the change in policy. ButSidney Verba '53, the director of Harvard'sLibrary system, said he was not surprised to hearthat Cambridge residents were unaware of thearrangement.

"Widener is not a community public library," hesaid.

Brainard and Verba agree that Widener's primaryresponsibility is to serve the Harvard community,and that it can best do so by preventing possiblydisruptive outsiders from entering.

"Universities don't have open libraries,"Brainard said. "Their mission is to serve thefaculty, students and visiting scholars andfulfill their research needs."

While few would dispute that Widener should dowhat it can to serve its community best, there isdisagreement over which community that should be.

Assistant Professor of Public Policy L. JeanCamp, who works on electronic civil liberties atthe Kennedy School of Government, said Harvard isdefining "community" in the narrowest sensepossible.

Pointing out that in the current informationage, access to information resources can oftenseparate the "haves" from the "have-nots," Campsaid she felt anyone with a research purposeshould be allowed in to use the library'sreference area. The University library system has,for example, expensive databases often unavailablein public facilities.

Camp admitted that Widener's access policy isstandard among university libraries but said shefelt that was no excuse.

"Harvard sets the standards for academicpractices and behaviors and therefore it matterswhat Harvard does," she said.

Camp is not the only one to argue thatWidener--the largest library in the world'slargest university library system--has a widerresponsibility than it currently acknowledges.

Ann Vollman Bible, a graduate student at MITwho is taking classes at Harvard, used to live inBoston and, while unaffiliated with theUniversity, frequently used the Widenerreferences.

"I think that had a certain democracy to itthat's appropriate to a library like this," Biblesaid.

Richard Sobel, a research fellow at Harvard LawSchool who works on privacy and identificationissues, says he has taken it upon himself tocontact Widener to suggest some alternate methodsof addressing the problem.

"For both symbolic and practical reasons, thisis a sea change in the policy," Sobel said. "Ithink the issue of groups and their potentialdisruption can be addressed while still making itpossible for anyone to walk in and use thelibrary."

Meanwhile, for tourists, life goes on.

Alan F. and Lillian M. Simek came from New Yorkto visit the campus and hoped to see Widener's"grand" architecture.

But both agreed they would be willing tosacrifice a few minutes of sightseeing for thelong-term benefit of the students.

"Of course, I did get a glimpse of the placethrough the windows," Alan Simek said.

Kees Heil, a scientist from the Netherlands,also hoped to see the library. But, after seeingWidener's categoric restrictions and spending afew moments peering through the windows, he turnedaway.

Heil said he regretted missing the opportunityto wander through one of Harvard's signaturebuildings, but seemed more dismayed by the figureshurrying up Widener's steps on a warm Sundayafternoon last weekend.

"I don't believe it," he said. "Students herestudy on the weekend?

"Widener is not a community public library," hesaid.

Brainard and Verba agree that Widener's primaryresponsibility is to serve the Harvard community,and that it can best do so by preventing possiblydisruptive outsiders from entering.

"Universities don't have open libraries,"Brainard said. "Their mission is to serve thefaculty, students and visiting scholars andfulfill their research needs."

While few would dispute that Widener should dowhat it can to serve its community best, there isdisagreement over which community that should be.

Assistant Professor of Public Policy L. JeanCamp, who works on electronic civil liberties atthe Kennedy School of Government, said Harvard isdefining "community" in the narrowest sensepossible.

Pointing out that in the current informationage, access to information resources can oftenseparate the "haves" from the "have-nots," Campsaid she felt anyone with a research purposeshould be allowed in to use the library'sreference area. The University library system has,for example, expensive databases often unavailablein public facilities.

Camp admitted that Widener's access policy isstandard among university libraries but said shefelt that was no excuse.

"Harvard sets the standards for academicpractices and behaviors and therefore it matterswhat Harvard does," she said.

Camp is not the only one to argue thatWidener--the largest library in the world'slargest university library system--has a widerresponsibility than it currently acknowledges.

Ann Vollman Bible, a graduate student at MITwho is taking classes at Harvard, used to live inBoston and, while unaffiliated with theUniversity, frequently used the Widenerreferences.

"I think that had a certain democracy to itthat's appropriate to a library like this," Biblesaid.

Richard Sobel, a research fellow at Harvard LawSchool who works on privacy and identificationissues, says he has taken it upon himself tocontact Widener to suggest some alternate methodsof addressing the problem.

"For both symbolic and practical reasons, thisis a sea change in the policy," Sobel said. "Ithink the issue of groups and their potentialdisruption can be addressed while still making itpossible for anyone to walk in and use thelibrary."

Meanwhile, for tourists, life goes on.

Alan F. and Lillian M. Simek came from New Yorkto visit the campus and hoped to see Widener's"grand" architecture.

But both agreed they would be willing tosacrifice a few minutes of sightseeing for thelong-term benefit of the students.

"Of course, I did get a glimpse of the placethrough the windows," Alan Simek said.

Kees Heil, a scientist from the Netherlands,also hoped to see the library. But, after seeingWidener's categoric restrictions and spending afew moments peering through the windows, he turnedaway.

Heil said he regretted missing the opportunityto wander through one of Harvard's signaturebuildings, but seemed more dismayed by the figureshurrying up Widener's steps on a warm Sundayafternoon last weekend.

"I don't believe it," he said. "Students herestudy on the weekend?