Why is there a fence around the library?

Good Question!

The short story: When the Library was built, it was originally going to look like Lederle or the Fine Arts Center.  It was supposed to be just concrete.  They decided to add a brick facade to the outside of the building.  (If you look up at the building you can see the white lines where the sheets of brick meet.)  It turns out there was a problem with how the brick facade was attached.  Where the sheets meet they pushed together and pieces of brick fell off called, "spalling".
Due to this the library was moved back to the previous library in Goodell.  Some books stayed here and they would come and get them when students requested them.  The problem was eventually fixed and everything was moved back to the W.E.B. Du Bois Library.  As a precaution they put up a chain link fence for protection.  It was hideous!  And was up for over 30 years.  (It was here when I was here.)  Click HERE for an article talking about the removal of the fence.  
So they finally put up a nicer fence and that is what we have now.  It may not have to be there but still is just in case.

*There is a handout somewhere in the drawer titled, "When the Chips are Down... Everything you've always wanted to know about the library but they were afraid to tell you..."  This will give more detailed information.