Amnesia has set in on Parks Library computers.

Memory from two computer labs on the ground floor of the library was “stolen” last week.

Memory was taken from the Library 160 and User Education Labs. The theft was discovered during a routine staff check by a graduate assistant, said Olivia Madison, assistant director for public services.

In one lab, six 8-MB SIMS (single in-line memory modules) were stolen and in another lab, 40 1-MB 9-bit SIMS are missing, Madison said.

The thief removed the casing from central processing units of eight computers and took the modules. The theft occurred in two phases sometime between Thursday afternoon, Oct. 19, and noon Friday, Oct. 20, Madison said.

It was reported to the Iowa State Department of Public Safety Friday when the graduate assistant discovered the memory was missing.

“The library has ordered new memory and this theft has had a definite effect on the Library 160 class because the computers the memory was stolen from are much slower,” Madison said.

As a result of the theft, one lab will close early and the other will be open only during business hours, limiting student contact time.

“We are very disappointed because labs were open longer than they will now be,” Madison said.

Madison said this is the first such theft at the library.

A task force will be appropriated to investigate alternative security measures.