News > February 14, 2008

By Kristen Guth | Staff writer

Beginning Feb. 17, Z. Smith Reynolds Library will be open 24 hours five days a week. The new 24/5 schedule will open up sought-after study space for students and alleviate crowding in the all night study rooms. Rhoda’s Cafe and the study rooms by the entrance of the library are open at all times and often in frequent use during the semesters. During mid-terms and finals, however, spots are scarce and the noise level fails to provide an appropriate study environment when peak concentration is required.

“The 24 hour rooms get overcrowded, they get hot, the florescent lighting hurts after a while and they get kind of loud because everyone likes to talk even though they’re not supposed to,” said junior John Isley.

Each week during the fall and spring semesters, the library will now remain open from Sunday at 10 a.m. until Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday hours, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., will not change.

The extended schedule will open the entire library facility for study space and access to collections in the main stacks.

Students, faculty and staff will need to swipe their Deacon cards to gain access to the building.

“Ever since I became ZSR director in 2004, students have been asking for longer library hours. First we stayed open until 1 a.m., then we started ‘Wake the Library’ during exam week and now we are pleased to remain open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week” said Lynn Sutton, ZSR library director.

“I think it’s a good idea because a lot of people have wanted more study time in the library for a long time,” said junior Keith Hill.

“I’m afraid that some people are really going to try to live here, though, and that’s not good for them. Some people are just devoted to studying.”

The lack of close campus parking may still be a deterrent for students concerned about safety.

“I’d just rather do homework at my apartment off-campus because I don’t like having to walk to my car late at night,” said senior Meredith Blunda.

A campus police security guard will be posted at the entrance security desk overnight. “The security guard will ensure that only currently registered students and currently affiliated staff and faculty are the only people that can come into the library between 1-8 a.m.,” said Mary Beth Lock, head of ZSR library access services.

This regulation will be enacted to attempt to ensure the safety of those who use the library during the late hours of the night.

The circulation desk will be the only place in the library fully staffed during the extended hours. Other areas will not have their normal staff members, or will not be staffed at all. The reference desk, information technology center (ITC), periodicals, government documents and microfilm sections will not have any staff members present during these new hours.

Regardless of staffing, students will still be able to use the entire library as a study area all throughout the night.

The complete library calendar is available online at http://zsr.wfu.edu/hours. The schedule will most likely have reduced hours during holidays, between semesters and over the summer.