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College and Research Libraries Destruction of Knowledge: A Study of Journal Mutilation at a Large University Library Constantia Constantinou Book and journal mutilation is a problem for libraries. The rising cost of replacing mutilated books and journals and the availability of out-of-print materials concerns many librarians. This paper examines one type of mutilation-the removal of pages from journal titles at the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library of New York University. The study reviews the related lit­ erature; it discusses the methodology of the descriptive study on journal mutilation at Bobst Library; it analyzes and interprets the results of the study, makes suggestions that could help reduce the problem, and pro­ poses other topics for additional research. ot long ago, an e-mail mes­ new publications, the cost of replac­ sage circulated among library ing older, heavily used material is a collection staff which dis­ real concern. As well, several of the cussed the increasing prob­ items are no longer in print and we lem of book and journal mutilation. The are unable to replace them. I message outlining these issues read as fol­ would appreciate hearing any ideas lows: for preventing, minimizing or cop­ ing.with the situation.1 This past term our library staff no­ ticed an increase in the number of Review of Related Literature books and journal issues that are Libraries realize that book and journal being damaged, e.g., pictures ra­ mutilation is a growing problem that sim­ zor[ed] or torn out [and] entire con­ ply does not go away. It is costly and dis­ tents removed with only the covers ruptive for both libraries and library us­ left on the shelves or in nearby gar­ ers. Book theft and mutilation are cer­ bage cans. So far, we have not been tainly not new developments of our time. able to identify any particular sub­ Such acts can be traced as far back as 539 ject area or collection that has been B.C. in Egypt when the Persian conquer­ victimized more than another. In a ors removed rolls of papyri from the li­ time where our collections budget brary of Ramses II. Around 41 B.C. An­ cannot keep pace with purchasing thony, emperor of Rome, raided the Constantia Constantinou is a recent graduate of the Library and Information Studies Program at Queens College of The City University of New York and is a Bibliographic Searcher at the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library at New York University; e-mail: [email protected]. 497 498 College & Research Libraries November 1995 Pergamon Library and gave all its con­ discovered that hostility toward the li­ tents to Cleopatra. During the Middle brary played a significant role in the mu­ Ages, librarians chained library books in tilators' acts of vandalism. The miscon­ order to ensure that no one would steal ception that unbound journals are them. Later, during the Renaissance, Pope cheaper than books also contributed to Nicholas V issued a statute excommuni­ mutilation. In addition, the students' at­ cating anyone who did not return books titudes toward mutilation changed when belonging to the church. Unfortunately, they learned how difficult and costly it the problem of mutilation still exists. Ar­ was to replace pages. ticles and case studies are continually Academic pressure is a strong motive written that explore the psychological that can easily drive a person to misshelve and sociological aspects of the phenom­ books on purpose or to tear out pages. A enon of book and journal mutilation. student under pressure may hide the books and magazines in a particular area The Motive so that upon his or her return, he/ she can It has been documented that motives to locate the needed books or magazines perform library violations are commonly quickly. This escalating problem of muti­ attributed to sociological, psychological, lation, as it relates to academic pressure, and situational factors.2 Such library vio­ is also visible in professional schools. As lations by users include: one medical librarian stated, "The sur­ • eating and drinking inside the li­ geons of tomorrow are practicing their brary building, technique on our magazines today."5 • disfiguring text and illustrations, The results of Dana Weiss's study • purposely misshelving items in or­ showed that academic pressure motivates der to deny access to them by other li­ students to mutilate books and journals, brary users, and regardless of the quality of library ser­ • overborrowing library holdings. vices.6 Contrary to Hendrick and Mur­ The first step in attempting to under­ fin's findings, the Weiss study showed stand the nature and the magnitude of the that the attitudes of students toward li­ problem of book and journal mutilation brary services have no relation to book is to recognize these actions as acts of dis­ theft or journal mutilation. Weiss believes ruption and vandalism. that people who steal and mutilate library Clyde Hendrick, a professor of psy­ materials do so for sociological as well as chology, and Marjorie Murfin, a reference psychological reasons. She attributes librarian at Kent State University, ap­ mutilation to sociological factors such as proached the problem by studying their the environment: "Because this study was student population.3 The results of their done in an urban university library, it survey showed that fourteen (8.3%) of the could be said that the 'toughness' of the 168 students who participated in the sur­ city life causes the theft. However, I be­ vey admitted mutilating journals. Their lieve a case could be made for 'danger' statistical data showed no significant dif­ on a rural college campus.... " 7 ferences in the attitudes of mutilators and Conversely, Terri Pedersen showed nonmutilators. that "situational circumstances" led stu­ A year later, Hendrick and Murfin dents to mutilate and steaLB Mutilating published a study based on the interviews journals and stealing library books were that they conducted with the three indi­ not viewed as expressions of hostility to­ viduals who admitted having ripped out ward the library or the university. Instead, pages.4 The purpose of the interviews was such acts were viewed as inconsiderate to examine the reasons and motives that acts toward the needs of their fellow stu­ drove the students to mutilation. They dents: Destruction of Knowledge 499 Because Emporia is in a rural area, erence collections.16 It is recommended, the "toughness of the city life" is not however, that if losses are above eight a cause of mutilation and theft. The percent in any area of the collection, a full fault does not appear to lie with the inventory must be taken.17 library being unfriendly, cold, and anonymous. Students did not view The Elmer Bobst Study the theft and mutilation problem as The purpose of this study was to identify an expression of hostility toward the the extent and rate of mutilation at the institution but instead felt that their Elmer Holmes Bobst Library of New York fellow students were selfish and did University during the years 1990-1994. not consider the needs of others.9 The study also attempted to identify titles and subject areas of the collection that are Hendrick and Murfin suggest that li­ more vulnerable to mutilation than oth- braries eliminate frustrating situations that can lead library users to act desper­ Hendrick and Murfin suggest that ately. Theodore Hines, Thomas Atwood, libraries eliminate frustrating and Carol Wall entertained the same situations that can lead library users 10 11 theory. , Their studies showed that bro­ to act desperately. ken copy machines, confusion, lack of time or easy access, uncaring library staff, ers. In addition, the study investigated the lack of efficient directional signs, and possible relationship that exists between unfamiliarity with the library environ­ the availability of indexing and abstract­ ment and services generate frustration. ing services on CD-ROM and the changes Subsequently, anger builds up and library in the amount of journal mutilation. users take it out on library materials. The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library of New York University is located in Green­ Assessing Mutilation wich Village. It is New York University's Carroll Varner suggests that by measur­ main library. Bobst Library is the center­ ing journal mutilation, librarians are a piece of the New York University library step closer to preventing it.U Mutilation system that includes four other special­ can be detected in the circulation depart­ ized libraries which are located in the ment, the bindery (the University of Ne­ School of Law, the School of Medicine and braska at Omaha estimates that 50 per­ Dentistry, the Institute of Fine Arts, and cent of its mutilation is discovered from the Courant Institute of Mathematical the bindery department), or by library Science. New York University is also a users who report the incidents to the li­ member of the Research Library Associa­ brary staf£.13,14 At the Pullen Library of tion of South Manhattan, a consortium Georgia State University, the Serials and that includes libraries such as the Coo­ Acquisitions unit is responsible for keep­ per Union Library, the New School for So­ ing track of journals with missing pages.15 cial Research Library, and the Parsons Descriptive inventory is another School of Design Library. The students of highly methodical technique used to as­ the consortium libraries share the same sess mutilation. Descriptive inventory is online public catalog, circulation system, tedious and time-consuming but is one and other library resources. Bobst Library of the most systematic and reliable ways is fully automated and houses approxi­ to assess the full extent of mutilation. The mately 2,505,182 book volumes, 2,361,025 feat of conducting a descriptive inventory microfilm units, and 19,375 serial titles.18 for the entire collection is almost impos­ sible.
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