To see a video on Middleton Library’s extended hours, click here.
Taylor Mathews admits to getting kicked out of Middleton Library all the time.Mathews, finance senior, hasn’t been accused of vandalism, theft or even talking above the whisper level accepted in the library. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.And in Middleton Library, that’s midnight — closing time.”I wish the library was open later,” Mathews said. “I, along with everyone I know, stay up past midnight. Everyone needs to study at least until 2 a.m.”Mathews’ wish will be granted Sunday.Student Government, in collaboration with the University and Middleton Library officials, announced Thursday the library will extend its hours to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday for a one-month trial period. The library will continue to close at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 5 p.m. on Saturdays. All opening hours will also remain unchanged.Only the first floor of the library will remain open, according to the library’s Web site.At the current operating hours, Middleton Library closes earlier than any other Southeastern Conference universities’ library. Vanderbilt, the University of South Carolina and Auburn’s libraries stay open 24 hours. Eric Monday, interim vice chancellor of Student Life, said this was brought up during the meetings about extending hours. “We had a discussion with the dean about that,” Monday said. “But what works at some institutions may not work at other ones.” Nancy Colyar, assistant dean of libraries, encouraged students to take advantage of the extra time.”We need students to use these extra hours,” she said. “They need to show that there is a demand for the extension.”SG president Colorado Robertson said after the one-month period library officials will review the number of students who stay in the library past midnight.”If enough students use it, they’ll agree to make it permanent,” Robertson said. “If it gets crowded, they might open other floors.”Monday said the library has an entry system that calculates how many students enter the building.During informal surveys conducted by SG, an average of 339 students left the library, and 31 entered after 11 p.m., according to Corey Graham, SG director of Campus Development. “When we get to the end of the trial period, somewhere around the three-week mark, we’ll evaluate the numbers,” Monday said. “From that, we’ll determine if a significant number of students used it and whether to continue it.”The number of students using the library before and after midnight will be compared to judge the extended hours significance. Colyar said library officials talked about extending hours in previous years.”Every now and then, a few students will complain about the hours,” she said. “It’s come up several times before.”Robertson said he heard a high student demand for longer library hours during his campaigning.”Students wanted it done,” Robertson said. “We talked to students, conducted a few informal surveys, and students said they would use it.”Monday said SG played a “critical role” in implementing the new hours. “Student Government felt strongly that students needs late-night study options,” Monday said. “Student Government represents the student body, and it’s our job to respond to the needs of the students.”Robertson said SG is also working with University dining to extend the hours of CC’s Coffee House in Middleton.Robertson worked with the LSU Police Department to ensure police will patrol the area during the extended hours, according to an SG news release.One additional police officer will be assigned to monitor the library during the trial period. Monday said the cost of extending the library’s hours is still being calculated. “The cost will include the police officers’ time as well as the additional staffing,” Monday said. “The University will cover these costs.”Monday said concerns were addressed during the discussions.”We wanted to make sure opening the library later was the best option,” he said. “It’s a big building with a large staff. If students just need a late-night place to study, there are other places on campus that can be used for that purpose.”Robertson said the University’s main concern about extending hours was staffing the library during that time, especially with student workers. “We’re encouraging the administration … to pay them well,” Robertson said.Robert Blue, general studies junior and student worker in Middleton Library, said he was offered a pay raise.”Student workers are being offered $1.50 pay raise, and the closers, who are specially trained to open and close the library, are being offered $2 more,” Blue said.But Blue said he is still unhappy about the change.”It puts the student employees in a bind,” he said. “We’re already understaffed, so who’s going to work those extra hours? I have class in the mornings.”Blue said the extended hours aren’t necessary.”To be honest, it won’t be much different,” he said. “I work until midnight, and I don’t see too many students using the library that late.”
 
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Contact Katie Kennedy at [email protected]