“It's ideally suited for that purpose, so we won't be using it that way”

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine possible reasons behind apparent absurdities in the library. Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at a renovation project at Daniel Library, Charleston, South Carolina and the problems encountered because of its previous history. Findings – The paper finds that some changes are unavoidable as cost‐saving measures; some might be due to the sort of person who enters library work. Research limitations/implications – The paper highlights personality types in library work and the history of library security systems. Practical implications – The paper reveals that not all planning decisions are as stupid as they look. Originality/value – The paper encourages readers to think about why they make the decisions they do.