Library dress code prudish
A teacher who was barred for entering a university library because her knee-length pants are considered too short urged library staff to be more open-minded.
Kunthida Rungruengkiat, a lecturer at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, said a library is supposed to encourage a culture of learning. Its staff members should consider access to information their priority or there would be no hope for the country’s education.
Her message has been widely discussed in the online community as to whether the rule is being too rigidly enforced as the lecturer’s pants were not that short.
Some people also said the rule seems inconsistent as people who wear skirts, even though the tend to be shorter than pants, could be allowed in.
Ms Kunthida first posted a photo of herself in a short-sleeve white top and brown pants that go slightly over her knees on her Facebook on Aug 21. She was apparently standing in front of the university’s library.
In an accompanying message, the lecturer said she made a reservation to use the library for class activities with her students but she was allowed to go only as far as the library’s entrance.
“Library staff told me I could not go in because my pants were too short,” the lecturer said.
She said the university’s library should be an open space for people in the community to use both as a place where they can do research or conduct activities.
“If the library is closed to people just because of how they dress, what hope do we have for Thai education?” Ms Kunthida asked.
She added it would be difficult for the country to improve anything if mere access to information proves to be this difficult.
The lecturer asked if the dress code for people who want to use the library’s services reflects a flaw in its function to support people’s learning.
“I beg the library’s executive to please review their rule. Knowledge or information should not be held as sacred. It has to be accessible and easily too,’’ Ms Kunthida said.
One user who commented on the lecturer’s Facebook page asked what the dress code has to do with the person’s wish to read or search for information in a library.
“It’s not like we are going to a temple,” Siraprapa wrote.