2008 Woodie Awards
Vandalism Targets Reserve Books in Library
Richard Kontas
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
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This selection of assigned textbooks is updated every semester and represents over two-thirds of all textbooks being used on campus at any given time. They may be checked out for two-hour increments and used in the library only.
This is a service for students who cannot afford to buy the textbooks or it could be a source for textbooks that arrive late in the bookstore.
"People are tearing out numerous pages, often complete chapters," said Sarah Williams, a GCC library technician. "Previously the majority of books affected were math books, however this semester has seen it spread to business administration, philosophy, history, speech, biology and English books."
Eight of the books have recently been found to have been vandalized.
Library Public Services Manager Russell Beckett, explained that "while the number of incidents seems like a small percentage of the overall volume circulated, the fact remains that these books are a valuable resource for the student body and [they] shouldn't be taken for granted."
There are a total of 350 books in the reserves and in Fall 2006 four book were vandalized. Last year, there was a total circulation of 35,000 and that would mean that if each book gets circulated 100 times per year, then the eight recently vandalized books are out of circulation; that is 800 times that the students will be unable to access that resource.
"Reasons reserve books are used primarily by students that cannot afford the high cost of textbooks," Williams said. "Or those who may own the book but either didn't bring it or simply forgot it."
"I've used the reserve book section many times," Pamela Bond, a part-time photography student said. "Although I've never come across missing pages or chapters, [I think] that would be really frustrating and [would] seem like such a waste."
Alison Geller, a GCC alumna, agreed. "I've used them [reserve books], and it would be very annoying to discover vandalized books."
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