The new library capacity rules are one of New Trier High School’s most debated topics this semester. Beginning this school year, the Winnetka Campus library was announced as a silent study space on Anchor Days. Then, in October, the library staff began implementing new rules like enforcing a capacity limit, using a tally counter to record the number of students entering the library and securing and locking the doors when the capacity was reached. 

Many students expressed frustration with the new system, saying it was unnecessary and created its own safety risks, with the crowds of students waiting at the library doors to rush in at the beginning of each new period. 

“In looking at Anchor Days, we recognize that the volume of students in the space borderlines a safety issue,” Erika Immel, the library department chair, said. “There are periods where we have upwards of 300 students in our space, which can become challenging, both for safety purposes and for supervision purposes.” 

The number of students that can be in the space at a time is established by local authorities, but that regulation  also has to be balanced with adult supervision, according to Immel. They need to make sure they have adequate supervision in the space, balancing that with the number of classes that are there for research instruction, and balancing both of those with the number of drop-in students that are in the space at a time. 

The desire for improved safety in the space led library staff to decide that they needed to implement changes. Working with administrators, they have been testing different solutions and continuously revising each series of modifications. This was evident in the last three Anchor Days, Dec. 11, Dec. 4 and Nov. 27, when the capacity rules were not enforced. They will continue to reflect and adapt as the year progresses.

The changes initially sparked much student and parent concern, as they noticed open seats in the library when it was deemed full capacity and felt it was unfair to those trying to find a quiet place to study. Immel said that the decisions made are complicated in nature, and by no means are they trying to keep students out of the library without reason. 

“The number of students who can be in here safely doesn’t always align with the number of total seats,” Immel said. “There are maximum capacity numbers that are posted in a few of our areas, so we use that to sort of drive the numbers that we are allowing into the space.”

The library staff also recognizes that finding study spaces as productive as the library can be difficult. Although the library commons and East Wing seating is sometimes full, Immel suggested for students to check those areas because there are often available spaces. 

“At the end of the day, we want this to be a space where students feel comfortable, they feel safe, they feel welcome,” Immel said.

In creating an accessible space for students that supports their academic success, the library staff would not ideally want barriers like locked doors, in the same way that they’ve never required students to sign in, and don’t require students to sign out. They want to reflect New Trier’s open campus model, meaning as they evaluate procedures, they are accounting for those values and privileges. 

“Students appreciate this space, and we also appreciate feedback, so I think we would love to hear from students as to what they would like to see in this space,” Immel said. “That’s something that motivates us, that’s something that we want to take into consideration, how students are feeling, how students are perceiving the space, so we welcome that.”