Message from the Interim University Librarian

In light of a recent event involving an inappropriate and offensive behaviour of a non-student in the Webster Library, it has been suggested that our library spaces should only be accessible to Concordia community members.

An academic library’s principal mission is to support learning, teaching and research, and to provide services in priority to the university community. However, as public institutions, all Canadian academic libraries are open to everyone. This makes possible for Concordia students and members of the general public to walk into any university library in Quebec to study or consult collections.

It goes without saying that the safety of our students, faculty and staff is an absolute priority. As such, we already have in place a number of measures, including the presence of security personnel, to provide a safe environment.

Our security personnel reacted quickly and efficiently to the situation in Webster, as they do whenever there is a safety issue on campus.

Any incident must immediately be reported to Security. Together, we can ensure that our library is a safe place for our students, faculty and staff, and respect our commitment to share knowledge with the wider community.

Guylaine Beaudry
Interim University Librarian