I am concerned about the new policy at the university libraries that limits the use of computers at the libraries by the general public.

I agree with the new policy that requires members of the public as well as the students to sign in to use the computers. The part of the new policy that I do not agree with is the separation of the public and the sense that they are limited in their use.

I want Penn State, including the library, to see themselves as a consumer-based service that serves not only the students and faculty, but the general public of the community.

During "slack time" on the computers, every effort should be made to allow the public to use the computers. Penn State should make every effort to use the slack resources of the library to encourage and foster a positive relationship with the public.

The reason that Penn State's tuition is half the price of many schools is the support of the general public. Moreover, we need and want future students to attend Penn State.

That "general public" person using the computer may have a child, grandchild or neighbor that can be swayed to attend Penn State. That "general public" person may make the difference in increased funding for many of the future projects at Penn State.

I have observed Graham Spanier taking the heat at funding hearings, while other schools have had less heat, in my opinion, getting their funding. We all need to market Penn State and capitalize on any opportunity to make others like Penn State as much as we do.

My goal is for everyone to market Penn State so that the next time funding is requested by Spanier, the positive feelings for Penn State by the public will cause the lawmakers to offer increased funding.

Bad marketing of Penn State or an exclusive library can cause some to restrict funding. We need the public, and the library should see the public as a door to open to market the university while maintaining security.

The best way to have absolute security at the library is to close the library to everyone. My concern is that "security" is being used as a smoke screen for not wanting the public to use public resources. I recently observed two students doing an excellent job of selling Penn State to a member of the public about why their child should attend the university.

Is the library missing an opportunity or compromising the work done by many of the students/faculty to make the general public see the greatness of Penn State? "We are Penn State!"