Forbidden books section

The "New Eden News" ran a piece about theologians collating Sanicanonical scriptures, and offered links to snippets of those most unholy texts. It has been taken off-line in the Empire, but the damage is done, these texts circulated. And ever since that news item, all the wannabe blood drinkers quote it on GalNet at every opportunity. It happens on the Summit channel as well.

There are many in the Federation who romanticize the Sani Sabik, such as pop star Midna Lyre. Her songs texts are on the Index. That is short for the index librorum prohibitorum, a list of forbidden books, texts, songs and holoreels. The Theology Council - with input from the Ministry of Internal Order - keeps the index up to date. It is part of the hard work of a librarian to regularly purge newly added items from the library.

In Gottin's Lamp's library, the works are not destroyed, but moved to a restricted access section of the library. They can still be consulted by scholars, capsuleers, and others who get permission to do so, but must always be consulted in the presence of a librarian or a member of the clergy. And very strict records must be kept about who reads what.

Until now, the forbidden books section never caused any trouble. It is behind a closed door with a large red cross, and "no access" in the most common languages of the Empire printed on the door. There are cameras monitoring it for unauthorized entry. Frankly, in the years that I have been around, it has not been visited by scholars more than a handful of times. It is mostly collecting dust, and new books moved onto the Index. 

However, the news along with the presence of a visitor from Delve may have sparked a new interest by some of our capsuleers. In turn, this may draw unwanted attention from non-capsuleers. So, I have been thinking about beefing up security in the forbidden works section. Nowadays you can get modern book shelves with a force field, that can be programmed so only the librarians can take the books. Perhaps we should buy those. 

It will be a costly business. And a time-consuming work to replace the old shelves: the forbidden works section is vast, taking up many floors beneath the public part of the library...