Word: searchings
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...putting their stamp of disapproval on a system of search for lost books which involved irresponsible undergraduate ransacking of House rooms, Widener officials have acted swiftly and wisely. But it is inevitable that the proceedings should evoke a reasonable complaint that the practice in question was ever allowed to be put into use, that there was no central responsible authority to prevent or at least to advise against its inauguration...
...exercise the sort of control indicated above. But as yet they have, perhaps wisely, refrained from any definite interference. It is, however, all too easy to point out that even the slightest word of warning front a responsible library executive might have prevented the introduction of the general search method and the disagreeable reaction which attended its disclosure...
That system has proved eminently successful. If a volume is lost, the head librarian compiles a list of all men who are entered in the course which uses the book. Undergraduate assistant librarians are then despatched, armed with keys, to make a thorough search of the quarters of the course members. The investigation is carried out independently by the assistants: there are no officers of the University present; the tenants are not consulted. During the current year, the House in question has recovered every missing book...
From a strictly legal point of view, the undergraduate has no grounds for complaint. The University owns his room; the tenancy contract stipulates no guarantee against search. And if there were desperate need for such a general search, if it were carried on by an officer of the University in the presence of the tenant there could be no justifiable ground for any objection. But the example of other Houses demonstrates that lost books can be successfully recovered without recourse to the general search. It is, furthermore, inexcusable to permit irresponsible undergraduates covertly to ransack a fellow House member...
...method of general search must not be confused with that more specific means of recovery which is used when the assistant visiting a room in order to secure a volume for which the occupant signed during the preceding evening. In this case there is definite responsibility, and such a method is essential to good library management during times of stress...