TWO WEEK BOOKS

The joke about the unavailability of the books at Widener has grown decrepit with age. Familiar enough are the pencilled notations stating that the much desired book is mislaid, or else that all copies are in use, not to be returned for some weeks. The blame for this does not lie entirely with the Library staff, but to a large degree with the rule that most books may be kept out for a whole month.

Students are forgetful that books have a tendency to lie around long after they have been finished. If the rule required that a book be returned in two weeks, half the present time, twice the number of readers could use a given book. Even now some current books must be returned in seven days. This policy applied to all books, with the exception of those being used for honors, changing the limit to two weeks, and permitting renewal if no one had meanwhile applied for the book, would enhance the value of Widener and of every book it contains.