In a recent change, UTS City Campus Library, Sydney, has begun to admit the general public. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in thefts. How could design deter this, without the new open access policy being rescinded?
Laptops are the primary targets as well as any unattended belongings with high price values. ‘Seven laptop thefts were reported within the UTS library in just one month,’ a UTS Security Staff member reported.
Anyone with a photo ID can now enter the library as a day visitor, increasing the likelihood of theft. The thieves that have so far been caught were non-UTS students, so the rise in theft seems to be linked to the change in accessibility.
There are currently 24 surveillance cameras (CCTV) in the library, located at the entrance and exit, computer labs and areas that have a higher rate of movement and traffic. However, there are still many blind spots where a thief can penetrate the system. It was felt the CCTV alone could not be relied on to solve the problem.
Response
The brief: Develop a design concept that will help deter thieves and increase awareness of theft within the UTS library.
UTS wants to become more open, extending its relationship with the general public by offering them use of its research facilities, so restricting access wasn’t a solution here. Cost effectiveness, information technology systems and integrations with the current security systems also needed to be considered.
Conversations with library and security staff, revealed that students lacked awareness of the theft risk in the university and library. Generally trusting, many were in the habit of leaving their belongings unattended for long periods. Some were even prone to falling asleep with their belongings strewn around them. Security staff noted that thieves generally operated in groups using a variety of methods and tricks.
It was felt that there was a need for a communication campaign to raise theft awareness among staff, students and other library users, allied with a workstation redesign that would make theft more difficult.
Theft awareness campaign: ‘My Little Eye’
This campaign takes the shape of a graphic information system through which various messages are communicated, including notifications, reminders and tips about leaving belongings unattended. Messages are around such subjects as falling asleep and leaving belongings unattended. They are designed to subtly prompt library users through visual reminders about how to stay safe in the library.
Workstation – SmartDesk and USB Alarm
The SmartDesk system is aimed at library users who wish to work on their laptops for an extended period. Users place their laptops on a stand, locking it down, and then attach the USB that allows them to use their laptop at the desk. This connects the user to a keyboard, mouse and built-in alarm. To lock/unlock the security system and operate the laptop, the user has to enter a username and password. If the user disconnects the USB without doing so, they have just 10 seconds to act before the alarm is triggered.