Security
In 2005, the art thief Edward Forbes Smiley III, a well-known and trusted antiques dealer at that time, was caught slicing maps from rare books with an X-acto blade. He had dropped the concealed tool on the floor, and it was spotted by an alert worker. Smiley was arrested, and later served several years in prison for thefts of rare documents valued in millions of dollars from this and other libraries.
The Beinecke library operates under a closed stack system, and rigorous security rules now allow carefully controlled access to materials in a spartan subterranean reading room, under video surveillance.
The glass-enclosed central stacks (not accessible to the public) can be flooded with a mix of Halon 1301 and Inergen fire suppressant gas if fire detectors are triggered. A previous system using carbon dioxide was removed for safety reasons.
An infestation of bookworms was controlled by freezing books and documents at -33 °F for three days. All new acquisitions are given this treatment as a precaution.
Read more about this topic: Beinecke Rare Book And Manuscript Library
Famous quotes containing the word security:
“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
—U.S. Constitution, Second Amendment.
“I think the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on earth. The sense of independence and security is very sweet.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
“If we could have any security against moods! If the profoundest prophet could be holden to his words, and the hearer who is ready to sell all and join the crusade, could have any certificate that to-morrow his prophet shall not unsay his testimony!”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)