A career thief who stole old books from the University of Oregon library and sold them on eBay sought leniency but got none Tuesday in Lane County Circuit Court.

Well, I’ll have to have a chinwag with my old Oregon friend who’s now at the LC about this.

According to the article, he devised an unsophisticated way to bypass the electronic sensors at the entrances. Let’s see… I’d guess that would be sling the book in a UO bookstore drawstring bag and chuck it out the nearest open window in the Reserve Reading Room, first floor northeast. If that’s too public, either the ITC (second floor) or the Douglass Listening Room (third floor) probably still have windows that can be opened, and reasonable privacy.

I’ll have to ask Debbie if one of her friends that’s been at UO library more recently would agree with my theoretical MO for this caper.

I spent a lot of time, in my erstwhile college career, in the Reserve Reading Room. One of the classes I took one term had several selections of required reading that were only available at the RRR. It was a pleasant enough place, with high ceilings and very high, old fashioned sash windows which were often propped open on warmish fall or spring days. It’s in the older part of the building, so it had a certain amount of institutional charm. I spent a lot of time in the Douglass Listening Room one term too, because I had a music appreciation class. It was in the newer wing, but had small windows along one wall and plenty of “cover” where it could be possible to surreptitiously drop something out without being seen at all.

The other thing that was interesting about this book thief thing was that his mother was in on it, and they apparently stole from bookstores as well.

Throw the book at him, I say.