Library cuts late night hours

Due to budget cuts, the Carpenter Library will be reducing its hours of operation for the fall semester.

Fifteen operating hours per week have been eliminated due to a reduction in staffing funds, said Robb Waltner, head of Access Services.

“Last fall we knew we were going to have to make cuts, and at that time I started tracking our use from 11 to 3 a.m.,” Waltner said.

A laser beam that counts the actual number of people coming in and out of the Library was used to determine actual use of the facility, Waltner said.

The results showed a decrease in use after midnight hours.

“Essentially, we are very busy until midnight and then there is a general trend of less people every hour until 3 a.m.,” Waltner said.

The reduction will only affect the midnight to 3 a.m. late night service hours between Sunday and Thursday. The Library will remain open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The changes might affect students this semester who pull all-nighters in the library studying on finals week – when the Library traditionally keeps it’s doors open 24 hours.

“It’s terrible they have to cut that because of budget cuts,” senior computer science major Brandon Pohl said. “I stay in the library all the time during exams. I’ve even spent the night there during final exams, so I’m sad to see the hours go.”

Waltner said the operating hours for finals week are still being assessed.

E-mail Jonathan Morles at news@unfspinnaker.com.