We received a tip about the secrets lurking around in the special collections in the BYU library on BYU Campus.
"On the first floor of the library is the special collections room. I'm not sure what is in this room that needs to be so heavily protected, but let me explain what happens when you go there.
You get to the room and you ask for a book. You pretty much have to know everything there is to know about the book you want. So you tell them the information
Then you fill out paper work ... Paper work, for a book.
Then you give them your ID card.
Then have to go put your stuff in a locker. You aren't allowed to bring phone's, water bottles, or pens into the room.
Then you go back to the desk where you asked for your book, and you wait for them to get your book and press the button so you can enter the secret CIA vault.
Then they slide a window open, set your book down, and you can come and get it.
When you read, there must be absolute silence. Some of the books have to be set on foam pads to protect them.
And then when you return you book you set it at the window and wait for them to unlock the door from behind the desk again.
And in addition, you are not allowed to check out a single item from the special collections... even if its just a 200 page leisure book."
Has anyone found anything *special* down there that's worthy of the CIA-like treatment given to everyone?
Yah Special Collections is pretty intense. I don't know much in the way of getting around that, but they have some cool things down there, I've seen, for instance, Hugh Nibley's personal library, including his personal copies of the scriptures with notes in the margins.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, the first floor of the library is probably the most quiet. There are corners down there that will keep you away from public eyes for a while...
I talked to one of the librarians down there once and she said that the oldest books the library has are kept guarded down in "The Vault". Which is good because it contains papyrus scrolls from 300 AD. Special Collections also has a copy of one of the very first Book of Mormons.
ReplyDeleteTee-hee. As a worker in the HBLL I have actually been in some of the vaults. Yes, it is high security and for a good reason. Guess where all the stuff written by General Authorities, past and present, is stored? You got it!
ReplyDeleteOkay, over time skin oils destroys paper. I'm surprised that they don't make us wear gloves!
I've been underneath everything. There's a pretty big tunnel that runs underneath the newer section of the library. The ceiling is high at some points... 15+ feet, and at some points it's much shorter. There really isn't much to see down there. There's a giant vent used to circulate air that's probably 6 feet in diameter.
ReplyDeleteIt's not as creepy as the boiler room in nightmare on elm street, but it's close.
Hm, this must be connected to the elevators that are right next to the library entrance. They have buttons for 1-3, and then an A and 0 button.
ReplyDeletejdog, do you know how to get down to the tunnel? do you have to be an employee or anything?
ReplyDeleteThe easiest way down to the A and O floors is by using those elevators right at the entrance of the Library. The only people with access are head custodians and the Library Security (it takes a key in the elevator and then pushing the button). But it is literally a maze down there! People think the tunnels underneath campus are a labyrinth, I have literally walked down there for over an hour without ever retracing my steps! It's huge!
ReplyDeleteI also have gotten to go into the CIA-vault in Special Collections. It has special venting, special lighting and no matter what you always have to have two people with vocal permission to even enter it. As was said, they have some great original editions in there!
the "A" button is for access to the auditorium on first floor. "O" is the basement. Since there aren't "basements" in buildings on campus, it is called the "O" floor. Please do not confuse the tunnels in the "O" floor with the tunnels underground connected the buildings. "O" floor is mainly for air condition control. The are rooms with huge fans. The tunnels, as the ones connecting buildings, have huge pipes for water movement. BUT, there is also a opening to the other tunnels and it has an alarm system through out. So for those missionaries that have gone through, security knows it and reports the violation.
ReplyDelete