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The majestic, ivy-covered sanctuary, smacking oftraditional academia, which stands at the center of theDU campus, became a focal point of controversythis year.Some students and faculty have always used MaryReed Library as the whipping boy for theirintellectual frustrations, but never before havethey voiced their opinions so loudly. Most of theoutrage centered on the initiation, last fall, of aguard contingent at one entrance to the library tocheck everyone leaving the building for stolenmaterials. All other entrances were closed off withsigns reading " Emergency Exit Only." Windows,too, were covered with grating to prevent ingeniousstudents from throwing books out to their friendsstanding with outstretched hands below.Inefficient circulation policies resulted in manystudents being fined excessively for books theyhad never checked out of the library or hadreturned by the due date following Fall Quarter.Rumors began circulating with regard to poorstaff working conditions in the library, and forprinting front page stories on the subject,members of the Clarion staff were called "yellowjournalists in the finest tradition."However, the dissent did bring some positiveaction which might not have come so quickly inother circumstances. Beginning withWinter Quarter, book fines were decreased andthe number of days to return books was extended;Eda Mason, Director of Public Services for thelibrary, opened up a column in the Clarion toanswer student and faculty complaints; andthe University received a $4.5 million grant to build anew, central library.The grant came after more than a year of hardresearch by members of the Faculty Library Committeewhich produced a detailed plan for a new library.Included in that research was an investigation ofuniversity library systems all over the UnitedStates, and open hearings at which any member ofthe University community could voice an opinion onwhat facilities a new library should include. Atthis writing an ad hoc committee made up offaculty, administrators and students has interviewedseveral prominent architectural firms bidding for thejob of building the new library facility.~Emergency Exit Only"232