Related Articles:Middleton Library to stay open until 2 a.m.  – 10/2/08Middleton Library to remain open until 2 a.m. starting Sunday – 10/2/08Middleton ends extended hours trial period  – 11/3/08Extended hours to last into spring  – 11/13/08University budget cuts have forced serious on-campus changes, including 5 percent of Middleton Library’s budget and a roll-back of operating hours.The library has moved up its closing time from 2 a.m. to midnight. to cope with extensive campus-wide budget cuts.The hours were extended until 2 a.m. on a trial basis last fall with provisions they would return to normal hours if enough students did not utilize the late-night hours.When budget cuts came down on the University, and all non-education units were forced into 5 percent total cuts, Middleton gave those extra hours the ax.”When we knew we needed to cut some hours, we definitely tried to consider use patterns,” said Nancy Colyar, assistant dean of libraries. “Of the times when we are open when there are not classes going on, we thought this would be the least painful.”Colyar said she noticed the library was generally empty during those late-night hours last semester and said she thought other hours were more beneficial for students.”If there weren’t a lot of students coming in, then keeping it open wouldn’t make a lot of sense,” said Alicia Knight, communication studies junior. “If they had to cut hours, then this would hurt the least.”Knight said she rarely uses the library past 10 p.m. because she lives off campus. She said the changes would not affect her much.Some students have been known to spend many hours of their days in Middleton, and even new students said they could see the importance of late-night hours.”I can imagine in the future those two hours could be a lifesaver,” said Nick Matchett, mechanical engineering freshman. “It’s necessary to make cuts, but the library is the heart of the University; it’s the essence of why people go to college.”Colyar said the library has had to cut more than just operating hours. The library will buy fewer books this year and allowing access to fewer electronic journals, according to Colyar.Library staff were also asked to make small changes to their work habits, such as printing on both sides of any paper and using fewer supplies. No new computers will be available for staff this year either.Colyar said staff members seeking tenure who are expected to attend conferences across the nation will have to pay their own way this year. She said there may be grants available, but wasn’t sure for how much longer.Though no student workers were fired because of budget cuts, Colyar said the library is trying to hire more work-study employees because its payroll comes directly from the University budget instead of the library’s.Colyar said the increased minimum wage was another factor in changing the library’s hiring policy.Several unfilled library positions were also eliminated to help control costs. Colyar said those funds were being used to buy new books in the past, but have now been eliminated from the budget.————Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]