Olin Library hours extended during 2012-13 school year

Library to remain open 24 hours Monday-Thursday; will be open 24/7 during reading, exam weeks

Olin Library will feature extended hours during the 2012-13 academic year. (Credit: Jerry Naunheim)

New extended hours are coming to Olin Library on a trial basis during the 2012-13 school year.

The 24/4 trial hours (open 24 hours, Monday-Thursday) begin the week of Sunday, Sept. 9, in the fall and the week of Sunday, Jan. 27, in the spring.

24/4 hours are: open Sunday 10 a.m. through Thursday and into Friday morning, closing at 2 a.m. Then open Friday 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

During reading and exam weeks in the fall and spring, Olin Library will remain open 24/7 (24 hours, seven days per week).

24/7 hours are: 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, through 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19; and 9 a.m. Saturday, April 27, through 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 8.

During 24/4 hours, students will have an extra 22 hours per week of study time in Olin Library. During each reading and exam period, students will have an extra 38.5 hours of study time in Olin.

The new schedule is a trial program for the fall 2012 and spring 2013 semesters only and is being offered in response to student requests, says Sarah Laaker, circulation librarian and chair of the Library Hours Committee at Olin Library.

“Students have asked us to be open all night, and we are happy to be responding to their needs by running a thorough trial of this service over the course of this academic year,” says University Librarian Jeffrey Trzeciak.

Olin Library’s extended hours are a result of requests by students. (Credit: David Kilper)

The extended hours will be evaluated at the end of the academic year to determine whether they can be continued in subsequent years, Laaker says.

The Library Hours Committee — comprising Laaker and librarians Tony Chang, Brad Short and Rina Vecchiola — planned and proposed the new hours.

When Olin Library is open all night, Help Desk services end and library staff leave at 2 a.m. Olin will be staffed by three security guards from 2 a.m.-7:30 a.m.

Access to Olin Library after 9 p.m. requires a current WUSTL ID card.

On days Olin Library is open 24 hours, regularly scheduled cleaning will take place during nighttime hours.

“We strive to keep the Olin Library building clean and comfortable for students, and we appreciate their patience and understanding when cleaning takes place during the overnight hours,” Laaker says.