I went to the library for the first time since I started my PhD and checked out 5 books on research methods. As I attempted to leave the building I triggered the alarm. I walked to the information desk to ask if I’d done something incorrectly when checking the books out.

“Is one of them an interlibrary loan?” the information guy I asked. I confirmed that it was. “Oh, then it will set the alarm off because we can’t disable the tag if it’s not our book.”

“So… I just walk out? Even though it will trigger the alarm?”

“Yeah.”

I walked out. The alarm sounded. I kept walking. No one challenged me or asked to check the books I had in my bag.

So… what is the point of the sensors, tags and alarms? I mean I could just take any book and walk out without being questioned. Free books for everyone! Make it make sense