Armchair critics

I can hardly bear to read (or listen to or watch) the news about the tragedy that took place yesterday at Virginia Tech. The story itself is horrific, beyond comprehension. But I also hate all the second-guessing that goes on, the questions (and implied accusations) about what the campus, the police, the Persons In Charge should have or could have done. These acts are so random. How can any of us, no matter how well-trained, know how we would respond?

Sometime this spring we are going to have our Code Red alert practice. An alarm will go off, teachers will scoop up students who are in the halls and lock their doors, and we'll all hunker down away from windows. But while I believe the exercise is worthwhile, I'm aware (as is everyone here) of its limitations. Our school is a very open place, being on a University campus. The library, a unit of the University Library, is a big part of the reason we have our doors open to the world. We must be as accessible as any of the other departmental libraries on campus. I keep my fingers crossed that we can keep it this way.