New Morris Library turnstile entry system to enhance safety

A new turnstile system, making use of contactless ONEcards for entry, will be installed at the Morris Library entrance in January.

12:49 p.m., Dec. 16, 2015--Joining many other libraries at institutions of higher education across the country, the University of Delaware Library has announced that a new turnstile system will be installed at the Morris Library entrance to continue to provide for the research needs of the community while also enhancing the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people who make use of its resources each year.

During the spring and fall semesters the Morris Library typically has more than 6,000 visitors per day. The turnstile system will be put in place at the entrance to the Morris Library in January 2016, and will be similar to that found at the entrance of the University’s Carpenter Sports Building. It will accommodate those library users with disabilities.

The system will require that UD students, faculty and staff members tap their ONEcards on a card reader at the turnstiles whenever entering the Morris Library.

The library, which is heavily used by people throughout the state, will continue to make its rich array of resources available to all users and members of the community. When the new system is in place, those visitors should report to the new Welcome Desk, which will be located just before the turnstiles, to show photo identification and sign in to access the library. The new desk will be staffed by the University of Delaware Police Department.

Frequent visitors who are not current University of Delaware students, faculty or staff members, including Library Public Borrowers, should visit the Morris Library Circulation and Reserve Desk to register for a free library ONEcard, which will then allow library access via the card without stopping at the Welcome Desk.

The library has created a brief video describing how to enter through the turnstiles and will use signs and social media to encourage members of the campus community to get in the habit of bringing their ONEcards to enter the Morris Library. Library Ambassadors will be available to assist library users at the turnstiles during the transition.

Emergency systems at the Morris Library will work in tandem with the turnstile system to remove barriers and enable rapid building egress whenever the fire alarm system is activated.