An unlocked door allowed 446 unsupervised visitors to borrow 245 books while the Gothenburg Library was closed for the holidays. Nothing was stolen or ruined.
by Ode_to_Empathy
An unlocked door allowed 446 unsupervised visitors to borrow 245 books while the Gothenburg Library was closed for the holidays. Nothing was stolen or ruined.
by Ode_to_Empathy
11 comments
“It was a surprised operations manager to say the least who was contacted by his colleague this weekend.
– At first I thought it couldn’t be right, she tells P4 Gothenburg.
The city library in Gothenburg was supposed to be closed during All Saints’ Day, but a door had been left unlocked by mistake. When Anna Carin Elf arrived at her workplace, she was met by several visitors, just like any other day. They had not understood that the library was actually closed.
– They were surprised. They thought it was a bit empty, she says.
The people in the library behaved as usual. Many were sitting reading newspapers, some families were in the children’s section and others were searching for books on the computer.”
Really proves the saying “thieves don’t read and readers don’t steal”
“Thieves don’t read and readers don’t steal”. Iraqi proverb
Think it goes to show, reading makes you a better person.
Happy news for a change.
That would never happen anywhere in the US.
In Denmark where I live you can use your Danish health card to open the doors to the library whenever you want, and use the health card in the machines to check out or return books.
(not all cities got open door policies at the library.
Danish health card is a personal ID card with a chip that identifies who you are in almost any contact with the public be it at the doctor, pharmacy, police, city hall, voting for parliament……).
How automation should work, giving people more opportunities to use things such as libraries more freely, even without staff. Too often automation just reduces staff numbers and just makes public spaces even less convenient to use
“Hmm, guess the librarian has the day off. Good for them. Now, where’s that book I wanted?”
Good for everyone involved, this is hilarious and heartwarming in equal measure.
Scandinavian culture in a nutshell.
I love my “adopted” home countries. (🇿🇦 expat living in 🇸🇪)
It has been like that for ages here in Denmark.
Most libraries (that I know of) will be open from 08.00 to 22.00 with some kind of staff available from maybe 12.00-16.00.