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Show W E B E R S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y The Heinz camp helps players catch up on hockey .see page 6 TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2005 wsusignpost.com VOLUME 68 ISSUE 8 Where students can turn for peace New reading room in Stewart Library offers respite from construction noise Andrus, Stewart Library circulation manager. "I think it'll be great." By BECKY PALMER In addition to hosting honors special assignments editor The Signpost classes and various public lectures and events, Special Collections also houses Librarians haven't been able to shush important and unique materials not the noise at Weber State University's available for circulation. These materials include rare books and manuscripts, Stewart Library this summer. In addition to construction noise Church of jesus Christ of Latter-day from three different projects, fire alarms Saints' literature and history and even a accidentally set off by construction teams collection of old western dime novels. Because these materials must stay frequently serenaded staff and patrons. in Special Collections, it's been difficult "One day was particularly horrible," for patrons to access them while public said Joan Hubbard, WSU librarian, as one events were taking place. Patrons will alarm went off. "There were three in one now be allowed to study at their leisure, day - it's so piercing - every time there no matter the public activities in the is an evacuation." adjacent room. , But patience on Hubbard's part Jiliian Dixon, a Stewart Library and on the, part of her staff will be well employee who shelves books on the rewarded this fall. Despite setbacks from second floor, isn't certain how often the necessary asbestos removal and delayed new room will be used. steel _ shipments, the major entrance "I haven't really seen anybody in renovation is on schedule to finish by the there," she said. first day of classes. A new classroom in The delay in^ final construction of the basement will also be open. 'Finally, a new reading room in Stewart Library's the new roorrPis due'tcTaMonstanHard Special Collections is set to berr^_advLfoj^^ceiling. Gonstructidn in triat regard is not yet under contract. '-"";•'[ ...The new 650-square-foot reading "It's going to bfropen anyway,^ rddm is surrounded by walteof glass T said Parti. Umscheid, , Stewart Sad takes tip. part of the public.;. • ibrary operations and archives ppjacesiirSpecial Collections, librarian. "It's not going to affect The-reading^ room is to be the hours, time, or anything as far as finished in two to three we're going to be open." months and expected to The new room will be named after i3^" finally cost about $25,000. its funding is finalized. It is presently outfitted Hubbard said that the library had with furniture borrowed been seeking private funding butg from other __--r^ hadn't received answers yet. o parts of the Hubbard, who delivered a^ proposal to a local foundation? library, but 1 H u b b ard I in mid-July, said the institution * hopes to I was very hopeful the foundation | bring in 1 would approve the invitation, \ but the foundation's name willz tables and 1\ W ^ r chairs to match the 1k ^ ^ grandfather not be released until then. Z, c 1 o c k l\I already there. " W e ' r elftM excited." said Saudi Above; A-worker-from Ascent Construction installs glass walls in the new reading room for the Special Collections department in WSU's Stewart Library. Left: Construction continues inside the library near the entrance. Students invited to Academy of Leadership Munn, Weber State University Student Association chief of staff. "It's targeted By KATRYNA PRATER towards the whole student body, for sr. news reporter | The Signpost new students and those who want to be involved." With fall semester only weeks away, The Academy of Leadership, which the Weber State University Department will be held Aug. 15-17 at the Yarrow of Student Involvement and Leadership Resort in Park City, is a conference hopes to get students involved at the for WSU students to learn about Academy of Leadership. leadership, the student association "This conference prepares students See Reading page 3 § for the upcoming year," said Karlton See Leadership page 3 Stato task force seeks to restrict access to government documents By CORY DUCLOS • asst. news editor [ The Signpost State senators and representatives have been meeting in Salt Lake City to discuss issues that might restrict public access to government documents. On July 19, a state congressional task force, initiated by Rep, Doug Aagard (RKaysviJIe), discussed the need to change current legislation of the Government Records Access Management Act. The committee discussed several issues of governmental records, but the meeting focused mainly on the use of governmental records for commercial use and the idea of placing commercial values on governmental records. Placing a value on governmental records has implications for local business, Beat the Bookstore. "I don't believe it is good public policy to enable a governmental entity to create a market and maintain a monopolistic hold on that market," said David Monk, a Beat the Bookstore representative at the meeting. "And by charging a commercial value, if you will, for some of this information, that is exactly what we allow the governmental agencies to do." Rep. Neil Hansen (D-Ogden) supported Monk's view, and is concerned about the process of accessing certain records. "Then for the public to have to come in and say. 'I've already paid my recording fees for my taxes to be assessed and now I want a copy of my record. I have to pay another fee just to get a copy of what I want to check on something on my property,'" Hansen said. "I often wonder: is that a double taxation? What are we doing to the public who is really the owner of these records? And that's what I have a problem with a lot of times when we are charging fees for records the public's already paid for." During 2005 spring semester, Weber Stale University students participated in a program that checked several counties to see how well they complied with GRAMA laws. The students gave no credentials and requested to view certain documents open to the public under GRAMA laws. "With GRAMA, it's not just reporters that can use it, it's anyone in the public," said WSU alumna Natalie Clemens. "So we wanted to go in there just as average, ordinary people and say we wanted it and to see if we could get it or not." Clemens went to several Davis County offices. All except the sheriff's office were willing to comply, but Clemens noted some skepticism. "Most of the places we went to looked a little bit suspicious at us, wondering why we wanted it," Clemens said. Hansen noted some of the concerns in changing GRAMA laws. See Access page 3 |