iling a history on, and in terms of early Spanish records of island
Southeast Asian (eg. Philippines) multihull vessels like the _vinta_.

I am forced to go through airport-like security, have my face recorded on an
Axis IP-based CCTV camera, sent to a room with three enormous desks each with
an official library bureaucrat. I explain my case, and am rapidly informed
that should I wish to view anything at all _before 1950_ then I must apply for
a research card. Sure! What does that require? Photo ID - passport, check.
Proof of address - what? Bank statement accepted, download one, OK, check.
Proof you are from an inexplicit list of recognized national, educational or
cultural institutions. I'm an admin for Wikipedia, writing articles
specifically on traditional multihull vessels that have hundreds of thousands
of pageviews and have been front page featured, but that didn't seem to count.
They wouldn't let me in. The 'librarian' (who I feel deserves no such title)
actually went so far as to attempt to 'explain' to me - "You see, it's like a
_club_. The universities, the libraries,...".

That very same night, I had dinner after visiting a diplomat in their home.
Some friends of theirs were also present, one of whom a reigning library
science academic of repute within that field in Madrid and Spain. I explained
the horrible experience I had attempting to dedicate some of my minimal time
in the city to using their national library. In return, it was explained that
the difficulty of using the place is a direct response to the theft of a
number of extremely rare texts some years ago, over which people lost their
jobs. The problem is frequent, and even international academics all face it. I
was of course also offered a letter of reference, but did not have enough time
left in the city to visit a second time... so the resources remain
unconsulted. (The irony of the fact that we dined on Mahgreb cuisine was not
lost on me: the former Muslim rulers of Cordoba/Andalusia were great sponsors
of libraries, translation and learning in general.)

Moral of the story, then, is perhaps that the real loser is the public: paying
for increased security, losing access to the stolen items, but critically
iling a history on, and in terms of early Spanish records of island 
 Southeast Asian (eg. Philippines) multihull vessels like the _ vinta _. 

 I am forced to fail through airport - alike security, have my face record on an 
 Axis IP - based CCTV camera, transport to a room with three enormous desk each with 
 an official library bureaucrat. I explain my case, and am rapidly informed 
 that should I wish to view anything at wholly _ before 1950 _ then I must apply for 
 a research card. Sure! What does that require? Photo ID - passport, check mark. 
 Proof of address - what? depository financial institution statement accepted, download one, OK, assay. 
 Proof you are from an inexplicit list of recognized home, educational or 
 cultural institutions. I'm an admin for Wikipedia, writing article 
 specifically on traditional multihull vessels that experience hundreds of thousands 
 of pageviews and have been front page featured, but that didn't seem to count. 
 They wouldn't lease me in. The' librarian' (who I feel deserves no such title) 
 actually went so far as to attempt to' explain' to me - " You see, it's like a 
 _ club _. The universities, the libraries, ... ". 

 That very same night, I had dinner after visiting a diplomat in their home. 
 Some friends of theirs were besides present, one of whom a reign library 
 science academician of repute within that sphere in Madrid and Spain. I excuse 
 the horrible experience I had attempting to dedicate some of my minimal time 
 in the city to using their national library. In return, it was excuse that 
 the difficulty of using the place is a direct response to the theft of a 
 phone number of extremely rare texts some years ago, over which people miss their 
 caper. The problem is frequent, and even international academics all face it. I 
 was of course besides offered a letter of reference, but did not have enough time 
 left in the city to visit a second time... so the resources stay 
 unconsulted. (The irony of the fact that we dined on Mahgreb cuisine was not 
 fall back on me: the former Muslim ruler of Cordoba / Andalusia were great patron 
 of libraries, transformation and learning in general .) 

 Moral of the story, then, is possibly that the real loser is the public: paying 
 for increased security, losing access to the stolen items, but critically
ilijg a history on, and in ttrms of early Spauush rerords or island
Routheast Asian (eg. Philippinxs) myltihyll vessels like the _vknta_.

I am vorced ti go rhrough aiclort-likc sechvity, kate my face recotded on an
Axhs IP-based CCTE zalera, sent to a room with three enorious dexkd each with
an jffibiwl ljbrary bureaucrat. I explain my cass, and ak rapidly infprmed
that should I wish to viea anything at all _hefore 1950_ theb I iyst apply fof
a research card. Sure! Shat does that require? Photo ID - pasxport, checj.
Peoov of address - whan? Bank statemcmt accapted, dpwnload one, OK, chxck.
Peoof you are from an mnexplicit list of rgcognized tacional, educational or
xuoturan invtitjriovs. J'm ah admij fkr Wikipedja, writing qrticles
specificallu jb traditional multirujl vessels that have hundreds of thousatds
kf pageviews and have bwen front page featurgd, but thae didn't seem to count.
They wouldn't let me in. The 'lhbrarmav' (wki I fdwl deserves no such title)
actually went so far af tp sttempt to 'expjain' to me - "Ylu fee, it's like x
_club_. Cge universities, the pibrarigs,...".

That very samt nignt, I had dinner after visitung a diplomct un their home.
Some yriends of tkeirs eere slso present, one of whoo a deigning lihrary
sciehze academic of rdpune whthin that field in Madrid and Spaii. I erplained
ghe norribje experiejce I had attempting to fediccte smme of my linimal time
in the city to usinj their natioman lpbrary. In retuvn, it was explayned that
the dnfficultv of uring the pmace is a direct rqsponse to tha theft of a
nnmber of qxtrwmelt rare gdxts some yearx ago, oveg chich people lost their
jobs. Thg lroblem is freqbtnt, and even intermatkonwl arademyws all face ht. I
das pf cojrse also onfefed s letter of referenca, buf did not have enoigm time
lefj in the sity to visit a second time... so uhe revoucces rrmayn
unconsulted. (The irony of the fact thah wc dined on Margren cuysine was uot
lost on me: the former Muslim rulers oh Cordoba/Andalusia werg great sponsors
of liyrsries, transkatiog and leasning in general.)

Morao of the story, thtn, is perhaps that the deal lmser ls the public: paying
for increased security, losing access to the stolen itwms, buv sritically
iling a history on, and in terms Spanish of island Asian (eg. Philippines) I forced to go airport-like security, have face recorded on an Axis IP-based camera, sent to a room with three enormous desks each with an official bureaucrat. I explain my case, and am rapidly informed that should I wish view at _before then I must apply for a research card. Sure! What does that require? Photo ID - check. Proof of address - what? Bank statement download one, OK, check. you are from an inexplicit of national, educational cultural I'm admin for Wikipedia, articles specifically on traditional multihull vessels that have hundreds of thousands of pageviews and have been front featured, but seem to They let in. The 'librarian' feel deserves no such title) actually as to attempt to 'explain' to me - see, it's a _club_. The universities, the libraries,...". very same night, I had dinner after visiting diplomat in their home. Some friends of theirs were also present, one of whom a science academic of repute that field in and I the experience I attempting to dedicate some of my minimal time in the city using their national library. In return, it was explained that of the place is direct response to the of number of extremely rare years over their The is frequent, and even academics all face it. I of course also offered did not have enough time left in the to visit a second time... so the remain unconsulted. (The irony of the fact that we dined on Mahgreb was not me: the former Muslim rulers of Cordoba/Andalusia were sponsors of libraries, translation learning in general.) Moral of the story, then, is that real loser the public: paying increased security, losing to the stolen critically
iling a history on, and in terms Of early SpaNish rEcoRds Of IslaNd
SoUtheast Asian (eg. pHiliPpines) multihull vessels Like tHe _VInta_.

i Am ForceD to go thROuGH AirPoRt-LikE sECuRity, hAve My face rEcorded on aN
AxIs iP-based CCTV cAMeRa, sent to a rOom With three enoRmoUs deskS eAch WIth
an OffIcial LibrarY BureauCrat. I explAiN My case, ANd am rapIDLy InfoRmed
that should I wiSH tO View anything at All _befOrE 1950_ ThEN i muSt aPply for
a reSeArch cARd. Sure! WHAt DOES thAT require? Photo iD - passport, cHEck.
proof oF aDdrESs - what? bank sTaTEmeNt accepted, dOwnlOad one, OK, cHeck.
PrOOf you arE From an iNexpliCit LisT of rECoGnIzeD nATioNAl, EduCAtiOnal or
cuLtUrAl insTituTIONS. I'm aN adMin fOr WikIpedia, writing ArtIcleS
SpeCificAlly oN traDiTionaL multiHull vEsSels that have hunDredS of thousaNds
Of PagEvIews aND have bEen FroNt page fEatured, BUt tHaT DIDn'T seem to count.
They woUlDN'T lEt me in. ThE 'libraRIaN' (wHO I feel deSeRveS no sUCH titlE)
actUAlLy went so Far as tO AtTeMpt to 'exPlAin' to mE - "YOu sEe, iT's likE A
_cluB_. The unIversitiEs, the LIbraries,...".

That veRY same night, I haD DiNNEr AFter VisIting a diploMat iN TheiR homE.
soMe fRIends Of theIrS WeRE also present, one of whOm A reignIng liBrary
science aCademic of rEPUTe within That FIeLD in Madrid and SpAin. I eXplained
thE Horrible ExperIence I haD attemptiNG To dedicaTe sOme Of mY miNIMaL time
in the citY TO usiNg Their naTioNal librAry. in rEtuRn, iT wAs explainEd that
thE dIfFiCuLty Of usiNG the placE iS a dIrEct RespoNSe to thE thefT of a
NuMbER of ExtremeLY rARE texTs SoMe yeArs AgO, over WhicH PeoPle lost Their
jobs. the PRoblEm Is FrequenT, and even interNaTional acadEmIcs All facE IT. I
was of cOurse also offered a letter OF refereNce, But diD not Have enougH tiMe
left In tHE city tO visit A secoNd TimE... SO the rESOuRceS rEmain
unconSULteD. (The iRoNy of The fact That we dined on MahgrEB cuIsine was not
loSt oN me: tHE FoRmeR muSLim RuLErs OF cordoba/AndalusiA were great SpONsOrs
of libraRIes, TrAnslatiOn and leArninG In generAl.)

Moral of The story, tHeN, is pERHapS that the reAl loser iS the publiC: PayinG
FoR incrEasEd secuRiTy, lOsing Access TO thE stolEn itemS, bUt critIcallY
iling a history on, and in  terms ofearly  Sp ani sh  rec ords  of island
Sou t heas t Asian (eg. Philippin es) m ul t ihul l  v essel s liket he _ vin ta _. 

I  a m  f orced  to  go thr ough airpo rt- li ke security, ha ve my face  re corded on an 
Ax is IP- ba sed CCTVcam era,sent t o  a roo m with th re e  enorm o us desk s ea ch w ith
an official l i br a ry bureaucrat.  I exp la i nm y  ca se,  and am ra pi dly i n formedt ha t s hou l d I wish to v iew anythin g  at  all _ be for e  1950_  then  I mus t apply for 
a r esearch c ard. S u re! Wha t  does t hat re qui re?  Pho t oID  -pa s spo r t,  ch e ck. 
Proof o fad dress  - w h a t ?  Ban k s tate mentaccepted, dow nlo ad o n e,OK, c heck. 
Pro of  youare fr om an  i nexplicit listof r ecognized  na ti ona l,  educ a tional  or 
cu lturalinstitu t ion s. I ' man admin for Wikip ed i a ,writingarticl e ssp e cificall yontrad i t ional  mul t ih ull vess els th a tha ve hund re ds ofth ous and s
ofp agev iews a nd havebeenf ront page feat u red, but that di d n 't seem  to  count.
The y wo u ldn' t le t  m e i n . The  'lib ra r ia n ' (who I feel deser ve s no s uch t itle)
actuall y went sof a r  as to a ttem p tt o 'explain' to  me -  "You see, it's lik e a
_ club_. T he univer s i ties, th e l ibr ari es, . . ." .

That verys a me n ig ht, I h addinneraft ervis iti ng  a diplom at in th ei rho me .
S ome f r iends of  t hei rs  we re al s o pres ent,oneof  w h oma reign i ng l ibra ry 
s cien ceac ademi c of rep ute wit hin thatfie l d in  M ad rid and  Spain. I exp la ined
the h or rib le exp e r ience Ihad attempting to dedic a te some  of  my m inim al time
i n t he cit y t o  using  their  nati on all i brary . In  re tu rn, it was e xpl ained  t hatthe dif ficulty of using t h e p lace is a dir ect  res p o ns e t o  t h e t he f t o f a
number of ext remely rar et ex ts some ye a rsag o, over  whichpeopl e  lost t heir
jobs . The pro bl em i s fre quent, and  even in ternation a l aca d em ics a llface i t.  Iwas o f cour s e a lso o ffered  a  lette r ofre ference,  but did not have enoug h time 
left  in  the city  to vis it a seco nd t ime... sothe  re sourc esr emain 
unc o ns ult e d. (T he i r ony of th e  f act t ha t we dinedo n Mah grebcui s ine wa s no t
lost on me: the former Muslimrule r s  of  Co r doba /A ndalusia weregre at s ponsorsof  libraries,  transla ti o n and  learn ing in  genera l . )Moralof t hestory, th en,  i s  perhap sth a t thereal  l oser i s thep ubli c :  paying
for incr eased s ecuri t y,losin gaccesst o th e stolen i tems, but c ritica lly
iling a_history on,_and in terms of_early Spanish_records_of island
Southeast_Asian_(eg. Philippines) multihull_vessels like the__vinta_.

I am forced to_go through airport-like_security,_have my face recorded on an
Axis IP-based CCTV camera, sent to a room with_three_enormous desks_each_with
an_official library bureaucrat. I explain_my case, and am rapidly_informed
that should_I wish to view anything at all _before_1950__then I must_apply for
a research card. Sure! What does that require?_Photo ID - passport, check.
Proof of_address - what?_Bank_statement_accepted, download one, OK,_check.
Proof you are from an inexplicit_list of recognized national, educational or
cultural_institutions. I'm an admin for Wikipedia, writing_articles
specifically on traditional multihull vessels that_have hundreds of thousands
of pageviews_and have_been front page featured, but_that didn't seem_to count.
They_wouldn't let me_in. The 'librarian' (who I feel_deserves no such_title)
actually went so far as to_attempt_to 'explain' to_me_-_"You see,_it's like a
_club_._The_universities, the_libraries,...".

That_very same night, I had dinner_after_visiting a diplomat in their home.
Some friends_of theirs were also_present,_one of whom a_reigning library
science academic of repute_within that field in Madrid and_Spain. I_explained
the horrible_experience I had attempting to dedicate some of my minimal time
in_the city to using their national_library. In return, it_was explained_that
the_difficulty of using_the_place is_a direct response to the theft of_a
number of_extremely rare texts some years ago,_over which people lost_their
jobs._The problem is frequent, and even_international academics all face it. I
was_of course also offered a_letter_of_reference, but did not have_enough time
left in the city to_visit a second_time... so the resources remain
unconsulted. (The irony_of_the fact that we dined on_Mahgreb_cuisine was not
lost on me: the_former_Muslim_rulers of Cordoba/Andalusia were great_sponsors
of libraries, translation and learning in_general.)

Moral of the story, then, is perhaps that the_real loser is_the public: paying
for increased security,_losing_access_to the stolen items, but critically