Lamont Soon To Remodel, James States

Intensive use of Lamont will soon force remodeling of the library's interior, Henry James, Lamont librarian, revealed yesterday. Definite plans have not yet been made, but, says James, "Physical expansion would seem necessary in a short time."

Four thousand extra books on closed reserve have created an immediate need expansion of the behind-counter facilities. James declares, "We're running out of space of closed reserve, and haven't yet received the reading period assignments."

Head counts by the library staff show almost as many students are using library now as used it during reading period last year, normally the busiest time of the year in Lamont. Last year the average evening attendance during the reading period was 502; this year, during the month of October, night time averaged 453.

Circulation Rising, Too

Circulation is also rising. A total of 43,696 books went out of Lamont overnight or longer in October, 1961; this year circulation jumped ten per cent to 47,672. Moreover, since renewals are no longer counted this year, the actual difference is even larger than the statistics would indicate, James suggests.

Widener Library is also experiencing a greater inflow of students and outflow of books than in previous years. Reporting a ten per cent increase in circulation over last year, John A. Harrison, circulation librarian, is asking for additional help at the check-out desk.

Identification Checks Planned

"If it is necessary," James says, "We will open the classrooms for evening study during reading period, and if we absolutely have to, we can even use the forum room, which seats 120." To keep students from other schools, James plans to make frequent checks for identification cards this winter.

The beginning of the rush was due to eager-beaver freshman class anxious to get into their studies," James says. He notes that additional services, such as the records and listening facilities for Music 1, are also partly responsible for the crowded condition of Lamont.

Further, James points out, seldom buy books in which only short readings are assigned. This puts an additional strain on libraries.