That's right Mr Fire Marshall.

The fire inspector guys came in yesterday. I love these guys. I know they've got an important job to do, and I would never stand in their way, but occasionally I wonder where they get their perspective. I suppose it might help to know that my library is a room within a building, not a building of it's own. It's a room maybe the size of a large lecture hall, with a mezzanine level that's all seating.

One year the guy asked why there was no sprinkler system. I had to explain that water and books don't mix; an accidental sprinkler set off would destroy the collection faster than a fire, and the fancy powder based fire suppression systems cost more than what they pay the football coach.

Another year they had a problem with a couple of cardboard boxes sitting under some open steel & concrete stairs. "If there was a fire, those boxes would make using the stairs troublesome."

Dude, we're in a library with 65,000 books. If there is a fire, that scrap of carboard will be the least of our worries. Not to mention that the mezzanine has two exits of it's own, so if there is a fire using the stairs should be discouraged anyhow.

This year's complaint: "Has anyone ever mentioned that there's no exit sign over the main door?"

Those two doors that are always open and clearly visible from the entire room? Why no, in all the years I've been here no inspector has ever suggested putting an exit sign over that door.