INSIDE BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
Library offers extended hours
Starting in the spring semester, the library will be open 24 hours a day from Sunday through Thursday.
The “24x5” schedule reflects a nationwide trend, said Susan Currie, associate director for public services. “The use of libraries and resources across the country has been changing.”
The main library has always been open 24 hours a day during exam week, she noted. But student demand has been increasing for the extended schedule during the regular semester.
Currie said staffing was a challenge, especially since the library is not devoting any additional resources to the expanded schedule. Vacancies allowed the library to staff the new 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift without asking existing employees to change their hours, she said. Two staff members will work overnight; additional employees will continue to work until 2 a.m. Library officials will assess the schedule after the spring semester to see if there’s the right mix of staffing and to review building use, Currie said.
Fine arts materials will not be available during the overnight hours, but periodicals, the reference room, most reading rooms and the stacks will be open. Traditional desk service will be offered from 8 a.m. to midnight; after that self-checkout machines will be available.
Bartle’s Friday hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday hours of noon to 8 p.m. will be unchanged, as will the schedule for the Science Library.
