From the Chronicle (Duke University): Although Duke University’s Perkins library recently ended its long-time subscription to Playboy, they have it archived and available in their rare book room.
But Byrd added that use of the print Playboy issues has declined since their move to Special Collections two or three years ago. “My impression is that they were used fairly frequently when they were in the periodicals reading area,” he said. “But they are not in Special Collections for just that kind of general use.”
The story’s opening sentence makes Perkins sound like a pretty hoppin’ place: “The stacks on a weekend aren’t the only place to find sex in the library.”
The Pornology Library
I remember seeing bound up editions of Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler in the Special Collections library at U. of Michigan. They had to have them as they are of obvious scholarly interest (no. really.)
Incunabula, Shakespeare second folio, Miss April.
I also remember getting into it over those magazines with this drip who lived in the same co-op as my then-girlfriend. She swore up and down it was the censorious, patriarchal, oppressive administration keeping them out of the hands of students and blah blah blah I hate my parents …
Hmm, not so much. They were just following the rule of “If it’s gonna get stolen, lock it up.”
I’m surprised that Duke was able to keep it in open stacks and not have it stolen, torn up or, um, befouled.
Guess those A.C.C. boys don’t have much by way of a sex drive.
Re:The Pornology Library
I was suprised to see the same thing at OSU when I worked there. We also had a GIANT collection of cookbooks in the archives as well, which seemed even more out of place.