Recently, two new wide-angled cameras were installed on the ceiling of the library basement to monitor student behaviors and curb noises downstairs.

The installation of the cameras was initiated by Brian Dubrule, the Director of the Annenberg Library, and approved by Catherine Rodrigue, the Associate Head of School.

In the past, the library has continuously emphasized that phones and talking are not allowed on the ground floor and that group study should be done on the main floor. Although this rule is not written as part of the library’s policies, Dubrule has sent out multiple emails to inform students and deems this rule as “common sense and common courtesy.”

However, past enforcement of this policy has been ineffective, leading the library and the school administration to seek more efficient methods.

“The librarian would receive e-mails or texts from students downstairs complaining about noise and the downstairs chatter,” said Rodrigue. “The cameras will, we hope, be a deterrent, encouraging students who want to talk to move upstairs.”

“The cameras are there to help the front desk librarian see what’s happening downstairs in the library. No one stares at the monitor. I go down there once an hour and glance at the monitor once an hour,” Dubrule said.

Although these new cameras in the library basement serve a different purpose, Dubrule tries to highlight that they are no different than any other security camera on campus and cites a list of cameras with their specific locations on campus to prove his point.

“If a crime, big or small, occurs, the videotape could help to solve the crime or determine who is to blame,” Dubrule said.

Students, who usually study in the library basement, reacted differently to the new cameras. While some feel uncomfortable in the cameras’ presence, most people feel indifferent toward them.

“I don’t really care or mind them [the cameras]. It’s the school’s property so they can do what they want with it,” David Tattoni ’16 said.

Tattoni also brings up the school’s emphasis on the huge amount of trust between students and teachers and thinks that the library cameras jeopardize that relationship.

“If they [the school and the library] are putting security cameras up in every single quarter of the library to see if you are studying or talking, then that kind of contradicts that statement of trust,” Tattoni said.

“I first found out there were cameras downstairs during exam week,” Jay Ha ’16 said. “To be honest, I don’t really care about people talking downstairs because I’m on my earphones anyway. ”

Despite the little effect the cameras have had on enforcing the library policies, considering the librarians have only caught students talking on cameras a few times, Dubrule insists on the importance of these cameras to maintain a focused and quiet study environment.

“If they [students] are uncomfortable studying under the cameras, they should study somewhere else because it’s disrespectful for kids to go down there and talk [while other kids try to study downstairs],” Dubrule said.