As the library undergoes its largest facelift since its erection over 40 years ago, the inconveniences to students need to undergo a remodeling as well. The locations of books, the hours one can get them, and the usefulness of the university’s resources are the most serious issues.

First, the hours of operation of Olin Library, the main campus library, have been an issue needing mending for quite some time. Currently the library closes at 2:00 a.m. Sunday – Thursday, 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 10:00 p.m. Saturday. There is a very upsetting, although basic, economic principle here that is mistakenly being used by the university. True, fewer students frequent the library late at night and on the weekends; and, true, if the library were open 24 hours there may even be a time when no one is inside at all. But the responsibility of the university to provide a place to study and do research 24 hours day outweighs the slight economic advantage the school gains from being closed for a few hours each day.

Access to copy machines, study rooms, the internet, maps, newspapers, and, of course, books is precious to students at the most unpredictable times. With such strenuous academic workloads placed on the average student, one would think the same school that was cracking down on alcohol would want you to be in the library, or at least want the hours of the library reflecting the school’s supposed super-studious atmosphere. The university is solving economics equations and one of the variables is a student’s education. Further, if the hours of Olin Library cannot be extended, the hours of the Arts and Sciences computing lap in the basement of Eads must change. The other schools’ computing labs are open 24 hours; is there an assumption that students in Arts and Sciences don’t work that late? Is there an assumption all students have access to computers off campus? There certainly is, again, the university operating more as a store than a resource. The hours must change.

Though the renovations of the library have been needed for a long time, and inconveniences are to be expected while changes are being made for the students, some of the new accommodations are simply unbearable. The amount of books relocated to the West Campus Library is understandable; they simply have to be somewhere. West Campus Library, however, closes at 8:30 Monday-Thursday and 5:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Students are particularly affected by the books moved (history and political science texts, among others), and have been frustrated with the little ability they have to conduct research thus far this year.

Lastly, the library needs to better train some of its student staffers, who often can be of no help to library patrons, and are often the only ones around during later hours. The librarians and other skilled staff are extremely helpful and erudite; but some of those who are not over-informed about a student’s needs are often entirely uninformed, and seem to lack any sort of formal training (effective formal training, at least). And at West Campus the problem is even worse, because of professional staff are usually not present.

It should be reiterated that the renovations to Olin Library, after some time, are going to be great. The entire social allure of Olin is going to skyrocket very shortly, and researchers as well as socialites will be able to enahance the efficiency with which they conduct their academic work. In the meantime, the academic usefulness of the library needs some immediate attention.

Contacts to complain about library policies

Student Union has a student action committee that meets regularly with the library officials, providing contact between the administration and students. This committee is a sub-committee of academic affairs and the head of this sub-committee is Michelle Leavitt.
 [email protected]

West Campus is run by David Straight, Berry Weller, and Anthony Spraggins. Their number is 935-9889.
 [email protected]

The Dean of University libraries is Shirley K. Baker (935-5400).
 [email protected]

The Assistant Vice Chancellor is Jan Weller (935-5400).
 [email protected]

The Assistant Dean of Administration is Virginia Toliver (935-5400) .
 [email protected]

The Administration office in the library is managed by Sharon Balsman,
 [email protected]

The best way to get directly involved is to send an e-mail.
 [email protected]

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