Alums who miss the familiar smell of dusty old books from the Rockefeller Library have cause for celebration - University library cards are now available to alums at a one-time cost of $15.
The service came into effect on Jan. 1 and will offer borrowing privileges free of charge to alums, according to the library's Web site. Due to copyright issues, electronic books and journals will be restricted to in-library access only.
In the past, access to borrowing privileges had been available only to alums who paid the $75 annual membership fee and to non-alums who paid $400 annually.
This new adjustment in fees doesn't affect fees for the general public.
"We thought it'd be nice if we could offer it as a sort of a promotion, or PR, for alums to connect with the University," said Florence Doksansky, associate University librarian.
Doksansky hopes that the release of these new library cards will increase alumni awareness of the different programs offered by the library, including the "Friends of the Library" program, which organizes different talks and events regularly for members.
Only 33 alums have applied for the alumni library cards thus far. But Doksansky is optimistic about the service's popularity - The library has sent letters to only about 100 alums since the program was launched, she said.
And she has reason to feel confident. "I know that there are interesting events happening in the library and in (the) John Hay (Library)," said Ari Savitzky '06, a former Herald opinions editor and Providence resident.
"It seems like a great deal," he said. "I haven't been to get the card, but I'm going to make a point to do it."
