All,

We're planning a renovation, and considering getting rid of our 
traditional security gates.  It has proven exceptionally difficult to 
find space in the proposed floor plans for staff members to monitor the 
gates.  We've always had just one gate, by the access services desk, but 
the new layout would require two gates, neither with a desk of any kind 
in view of it.

We're not especially concerned about lost books.  Most of our materials 
aren't especially valuable in and of themselves, and the rare materials 
are secured in a vault and not open to patron browsing.  A study of our 
stats shows that only 4% of the alarms our existing gates give us 
involve actual library materials.  The other 96% are false alarms, 
usually caused by cell phones seeking service while passing through the 
gates.

What we *are* concerned about is technology and, to a lesser degree, 
art.  We have some expensive bits of technology in public areas, and 
some moderately valuable artwork on display.  Some of those are 
sufficiently small and portable as to be tempting targets for theft.

How have you all dealt with this?  Does your library still use security 
gates?  If not, what steps have you taken to secure non-book items in 
your buildings?  I'm interested to hear what you've come up with.

Will Martin

Head of Digital Initiatives, Systems & Services
Chester Fritz Library
University of North Dakota