Reply #172: The UCLA library is open to the public until 11 pm,

[pnwmom]

when its use is restricted to members of the University community. That's why they were checking the ID's at 11 p.m. Up till then, they weren't required.

Yes, students pay tuition. But you forget that taxpayers are also supporting the facility. And since UCLA is a public facility, not a private institution, it is open to members of the general public during the day, who are free to "waltz in and use the library" but not to check out books.