Hillman Library looks to extend operation hours

Late-night studiers may eventually be able to crack open their books in the wee hours of the… Late-night studiers may eventually be able to crack open their books in the wee hours of the morning at the Hillman Library, but not yet.

Pooja Patel, the chair of the Academic Affairs Committee for the Student Government Board, has made it her primary initiative to work with Pitt’s administrators to extend the library’s hours of operation past the current closing times of 2 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. The library held a trial run in October, extending the closing time by two hours, which did not result in the extra hours becoming permanent.

Patel said the library plans to hold another trial period of extended hours next semester around midterm season to help the library weigh the pros and cons of extending the hours.

Each weekend in October, library hours were extended two hours to midnight. Library staff made rounds through the library and counted the number of students present after 10 p.m. each Friday and Saturday night.

Patel said that during the first weekend, about 50 students were counted and by the last trial weekend, about 300 students were present during the extended hours. But the amount of students present past normal operating hours was not significant enough to result in an extension of closing time for this semester.

“We weren’t sure the extension would happen until a few weeks before, so a lot was done to raise awareness later than it should have been, which I think reflected in the numbers,” Patel said. “I am satisfied with the progress, especially now that I appreciate how long change takes. It’s been a far longer process than I would have thought possible. At the same time, I am happy to see that the administration is receptive to ideas, and that we have made progress.”

Since she became a college student, sophomore Patel has believed Pitt students should have access to library resources at any time of the day or night.

“We are a large research university, and we deserve the same resources offered at other top-ranking schools such as our own,” Patel said, referring to schools such as Carnegie Mellon, Michigan State University and Stanford University. “24/7 library hours are implemented in many universities and I firmly believe University resources and study space should always be available to our students.”

With the support of SGB board member Alex Zimmerman, Board liaison to the Academic Affairs Committee, and other members on the committee, Patel worked with Hillman Library administrator Fern Brody, who agreed to allow a trial period of extended hours of operation.

On any given weekday night, students can be seen studying in the nooks and crannies of the library until they are required to leave at 2 a.m. One such student is Kuwar Rajora, a graduate student studying occupational therapy.

“There are so many students studying here late at night,” Rajora said. “Most students work part-time jobs during the day. After the whole day is gone you only have the night to study, and you need a place to go.”

Rajora said he usually stays at the library until 2 a.m., but that he would stay the whole night if he could.

One of the main concerns of extending the library hours of operation is the cost of staffing and keeping the library running for a longer period of time.

“When the library was open longer in October, students utilized it more,” said Simone Boykin, a student worker at the lending desk. “I don’t think [extending the hours of operation] is a big deal, but I don’t think we need to be open 24/7. I would just have to do work more. I did like the extended hours in October though.”

“I think I’d use it more if it was open later. I’m a night owl,” said Sarah Pawlik, a junior who studies nursing. “Because it’s only open until 2 [a.m.], it hinders me using it. By 11 p.m., I’m tired and don’t feel like going to Hillman if it’s only going to be open for three more hours. If more people know about it being open longer, it would be packed.”