UConn needs 24-hour library

The hours of operation of the Homer Babbidge Library are not extensive enough to meet the demands of the student body. For this reason, the university should approve a plan to keep the library open continuously for twenty-four hours.

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) has approved a statement of position urging the library to expand service hours. Furthermore, the Library Leadership Council agrees that extending hours to students and faculty should be considered.

If UConn were to create a 24-hour library, the university would become part of a select group of institutions in the country. Such an action would enhance the university's reputation while also raising the bar for academic achievement relative to other competing universities.

After researching, it is safe to say that most university libraries - at least in the Connecticut region - do not provide 24-hour access. However, there is a select group of libraries at the national level that do, in addition to an extremely large number of libraries that are at least open continuously during final exams.

The University of Washington and UCLA provide 24-hour weekday access to persons in possession of valid university identification. Other universities, like Wayne State University provide study centers open to students for a 24-hour period.

UConn should look closely at the University of Washington's example. Washington is open continuously from 1 p.m. on Sunday to 6 p.m. on Friday. The library also offers limited hours of operation on Saturday. Between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the library is only open to university students or faculty with identification. Round-the-clock services available include circulation, information, reserves, a common computer lab and the copy center. Items such as the media center, librarian staff and the reference desk maintain traditional hours.

Using the University of Washington as an example, the Babbidge Library should adopt a similar policy. However, in the name of progress, the Babbidge Library must be challenged to take the policy one step further. As such, the university should seek to provide access for 24-hours, seven days a week. Given the number of people who use the library at 10 p.m., identification for entrance to the library should be required between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. Librarian and reference staff can keep similar schedules, as the university would not provide full services. However, all floors of the library should remain open continuously and provide services such as information, circulation, reserves, copying and computer labs.

Such a revolutionary policy has several benefits, but also has a number of costs. The majority of the costs are financial. The incurred financial costs for additional library staff will be partial because of limited services after hours. As a result, the majority of costs would be to pay for library security, maintenance and cleaning, in addition to staff or student workers to help run circulation and information desks.

For this reason, some students have suggested that the library only extend hours slightly. Some proposals include the expansion of Bookworms Café, creating more quiet study areas and the creation of a better wireless network. Others argue that the university already provides a 24-hour study space. Ultimately, the academic success of the university cannot be compromised. Adopting an aggressive access expansion plan will bring the university the maximum number of benefits.

First, the university has a chance to start a trend of increased services. Without a doubt, a continuously opened library would be one of only a few in the country and will increase the university's reputation and college ranking. By stretching the limit, other top universities will be challenged to follow UConn's example. Ultimately, the creation of a continuously opened library is not a demand unique to this university. With any luck, large institutions will adopt such a policy nationwide.

Second, students would benefit from a continuously opened library. When the library closes at 2 a.m., a number of students are still using the resources of the library. Yes, students can pack up and go study at Bookworms Café, but they will not be privileged to all of the library resources. Students study late and students need an appropriate place to work.

Nevertheless, why open 24 hours? Could the university have just extended the hours slightly? Knowing the needs of every student is impossible. However, on any given night there are students who will be working until all hours of the night. Perhaps it is easy to label such students as irresponsible or procrastinators. Either way, all good students work through the night on numerous occasions. Sometimes working until the early morning hours is simply the result of being caught up in one's work or making progress with research. For this reason, 24-hour access to library collections, data, resources and journals is essential.

Having a 24-hour library will also be a valuable tool for students, graduate assistants and professors who have research carrels in the library. Many times, these individuals with an office in the library are displaced when the library closes. The result is that they cannot access their own research materials in their own office. For this reason, a continuously opened library will be valuable to those individuals who are doing research out of a library carrel.

Ultimately, the university will probably not adopt a seven-day a week continuously open library. If UConn wants to be a unique trendsetter, the administration will take a chance and adopt the aggressive policy. However, at the very least, UConn should consider the model proposal of the University of Washington.

If the university wishes to improve its standing in the public school rankings, UConn must consider policies that are outside of the box. Only by accepting unique and creative policies can UConn continue to distance itself from competing public institutions. A 24-hour, seven-day a week library is unique to this era of education, but it is certainly going to be the wave of the future. If UConn does not implement the idea first, it is likely another local institution will do so in the immediate future.

Sources:

www.lib.washington.edu/about/hours/

3 Feb. 2005. "USG supports added library service hours." Daily Campus.