Students will be able to study at Stauffer library around the clock during exam period this year because the library will be open 24 hours from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31.
“It’s really extending the use of a great facility,” said Martha Whitehead, associate university librarian. “Stauffer is in such heavy use right now. It seemed the demand was there, so we wanted to meet the demand.”
Whitehead said little extra effort is needed to keep the library open during its extended hours.
“We’re already open until 2 a.m.; it’s just an extension of our services,” she said.
The new, late hours will mean that the current minimum staff on shift will continue after 11 p.m. Cleaning services, which normally occur after hours, will not be affected.
The University is covering the costs—about $10,000 for the fall and winter semester exam periods– to keep the library open.
Whitehead said the University decided to go forward with the program during the summer.
The program will be enacted on a trial basis, and if all goes well, Stauffer will also be open from April 2 to 28.
“It is a pilot and we want to see if any issues come up in December,” she said. “Many libraries have done this we don’t anticipate any problems.”
From 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., only students, staff, and faculty will be allowed to enter Stauffer. Anyone in the library during those hours will have to provide identification upon request.
Mazim Naqi, Comm’08, said he plans on taking advantage of the library’s extended hours.
“I can catch up on more work because I usually procrastinate during the day,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about being kicked out.”
Nikolina Petrovic, ArtSci’09, said she thinks the new policy is a great idea, but that safety walking home at night might be a problem.
“The only time I would be [worried is] getting back home,” she said. “Here I would definitely feel safe but walking might be a problem.” Although the AMS’s Walkhome service currently ends at 2 a.m., Campus Security will walk any student home to on campus locations, as per usual.
Walkhome Head Manager Adam Day said Walkhome is considering extending its exam hours.
Day said safety concerns raised by individuals will factor into this decision.
“The biggest thing is concern for student safety—it’s what we’re here for,” he said. “Any decision we do make will be talked with to all of our staffers.”
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