By Burke Jensen
Currently, students are allowed spill-proof water bottles and small, hard, bite-size candy in many areas of the library, which may change after administrators finish re-evaluating the food policy, the library administration said.
The library is trying to find a new way to help students enjoy the library while preserving the books for future generations, said Cali O''Connell, assistant to the university librarian.
'We are looking at the policy more openly than we ever have done before,' O''Connell said.
The administration is not only concerned about spills and grease that damage the books, but also the crumbs that attract vermin. These vermin eat books in addition to the crumbs left behind, O''Connell said.
Most students agree with the purpose of the policy.
'I agree absolutely with the policy and its purpose,' said Keith McLeman, a 23-year-old sophomore from Scotland, majoring in sociology.
'You don''t want to open a book and have to peel the pages off each other because something spilled on it,' said James Skousen, 24, a senior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, majoring in English.
Libraries across the nation traditionally have a no-food policy, O''Connell said.
Provo City Library also has a no-food-or-drink policy, a representative from the Provo Library said.
In addition to food concerns, the library is also concerned with eliminating distractions for library users.
'We are also trying to preserve a good study environment for people who don''t want to be around crunching chips,' O''Connell said.
McLeman echoed that statement. 'People eating carrots and everything - it does your head in.'
On one occasion, Skousen sat down to take a test in the library and heard a student nearby crunching on pretzels and croutons.
'It was pretty annoying,' Skousen said.
Offenders of the library food policy are politely informed of the rules and told to either put the food away or to leave the library, O''Connell said.
'I was caught once when I was a freshman and didn''t know the rules,' said Natalie Nance, 20, a junior from Woodland, Calif., majoring in international studies. 'They were really nice about it and let me know that I couldn''t have that in the library.'
Even though many students agree with the policy, other students continue to break the rules.
'I see people eating all the time,' McLeman said. 'Most of the people who do it are in the private study tables where they are all blocked in.'
Others use their backpacks to conceal the food, Nance said.
'I don''t know how to enforce it better,' McLeman said. 'Maybe more security, but that would cost more money.'