Brian Carroll - Student - Mid 60's:
As a fulltime employed graduate student in the mid-1960s, I often spent most of my Saturdays in the Baillieu. Some critical books were in short supply and could only be borrowed for the weekend and then only just moments before closing time. The trick was to get your hand on the book an instant or two before somebody else who wanted it. Some people stooped to gutter tactics such as moving the book away from its correct place on the shelves. If nobody but you knew where it was, you had a clear advantage. Another problem was getting the book back on Monday morning. The Baillieu opened at 9, the same time as my office, a long drive away. The Baillieu fines for returning the book late (even later on Monday) were horrendous. So was the frown from the boss if I turned up late. Fortunately, he was rarely there until well after 9.