As getting a job becomes more and more difficult, students are remaining at school even after they graduate, making it common to spot graduates studying at the library. However, there are restrictions on their use of the library. Although they are allowed to enter the library, they cannot borrow any books.

▲ The library assistant is scanning the bar code of the book to record loan. Photographed by Choi Ji Won

Many graduates who feel discontented that they cannot borrow books have voiced such an opinion on the school’s online communities. On Koreapas (the Korea University (KU) student online community) and on KU’s library website, students posted their reasons for why this current school library system must be changed. First, they argued that current economic conditions mean graduating from university does not automatically result in securing employment. “Nowadays, graduation does not naturally lead to easy employment. Especially for graduates who are preparing for the civil service examination, professional certificates, and re-employment, the school library is probably the place they most often visit and spend time,” said Park Ji Soo (’06, Economics). Thus, many graduates still regularly come to school to prepare for the job market.

In response to this, some may suggest that graduate students should instead study at neighborhood libraries or national libraries. However, this does not seem to be an effective alternative for many, since public libraries often do not hold enough professional texts related to specific majors. As for the National Central Library, although it holds a large quantity of books, they do not permit visitors to borrow books.

Most importantly, KU library’s current restriction is making graduates feel like outsiders as they immediately lose the rights they had as registered students. Park said, “When I heard that I could no longer borrow any books from the library, my sense of affiliation with KU suddenly diminished greatly. It seemed as if KU did not remember that I used to attend this school just a week ago.”
Although the school is aware of such complaints, it firmly believes that removing such restrictions would be difficult. The fundamental problems it pointed out were the issues of overdue books and the possible loss and damage of books. Since graduates are no longer under KU jurisdiction, library officials commented that it would be hard to track down the students when they do not return books. The only student information the school administration has is their phone numbers and e-mail addresses, which might have changed. The chief librarian of KU’s Central Library, Lee Kyung Moon, said, “It is easy for us to penalize enrolled students when they do not return their books since we can simply withhold their graduate certificates. All students must return their books in order to receive their diplomas. However, if students who have already graduated do not return books, we have no strong penalty to force them to return them.”

Another problem which the school is concerned about is that enrolled students will have a lower chance of checking out books they wish to read. “Guaranteeing the benefits of one side naturally means that the other side will have to sacrifice some benefits, especially in the case of limited resources,” says Lee. Since there are a very large number of KU alumni, if all of them are given the right to borrow books, currently registered students will obviously have a harder time finding the books they need. Moreover, Lee emphasizes that the school library is actually working hard for the welfare of graduates by opening the reading rooms to them without any limits.

The stance the school library holds seems reasonable. However, realizing that many other schools with similar problems still allow graduates to borrow books, there seems to be a need for KU to revisit its current library policies.

For example, in order to solve issues regarding overdue or lost books, Ajou University permits graduates to borrow books if they pay 3,000 won to purchase a library card. Furthermore, if those graduates do not return their books, the school can penalize them by not issuing them documents they may need, such as their transcripts or graduation certificate. Ajou University library officials said such measures have been effective.

Besides, KU also mentioned that it is hard to track down graduates who return books late. However, in response to such issues, Hongik University’s solution is to operate a guarantee system with enrolled students in order to allow its alumni to borrow books without any charges. This policy is effective because the school can simply impose penalties on enrolled students if the graduates do not return their books. Hongik University student Choi Hee Joo (21, Hapjeong) also mentioned, “Although this policy might seem unfair in that it penalizes enrolled students for something they did not do, many students still support this policy because it highly motivates graduates to return their books, giving us a higher chance to use them.”

Currently, undergraduate students at KU can borrow at most 10 books for up to 15 days. The renewal period is 10 days. Most students agree that registered students should have priority in borrowing library books, and that there should be certain restrictions on graduates. Nevertheless, as currently enrolled students will also graduate in the near future, they do not particularly oppose graduates’ checking out library books. “Thinking that I will also graduate soon, this issue of graduates not being able to borrow library books does not seem like someone else’s worry. Also, for graduates who could not get a job, it is undeniable that the school library is the best place for them to be at,” says Hwang Min Kyu (’07, International Studies). One acceptable alternative is that graduates would be allowed to borrow less books than enrolled students.

▲ Student identification toll for entrance of the library. Photographed by Choi Ji Won

The university has acknowledged the seriousness of this issue. The campus library has mentioned several times that it is reviewing the problem and the complaints that graduates have posted regarding benefits that they are no longer able to enjoy.

In the past, when posts complaining about the restrictions of campus reading rooms for graduates flooded the school’s website, the school reacted positively, opening the reading rooms to KU alumni. Such actions demonstrate the school is open to changing existing policies, when students bring problems to their attention. There is no talking allowed in the library but when it comes to school policies, students must speak out.

▲ No graduate students allowed to borrow books from the library. Photographed by Jeong Ji Hyun