Ball State University students next week won't have to worry about packing up their books when the library closes at 3 a.m.
Bracken Library will be open 24 hours a day during Finals Week, from Sunday at 10 a.m. to Friday at midnight. This is the first in a two-part experiment to see what type of demand there is for the library to be kept open on a year-round basis.
The idea was brought to Arthur Hafner, dean of University Libraries, about a month ago by Student Government Association President Pro-Tempore Asher Lisec, but she said it is something she has been thinking about since last spring.
"I started to think, 'Why not have it open 24 hours?'" Lisec said. "But I think it's impractical to ask to have it open 24 hours immediately."
The success of the 24-hour experiment will be judged on several factors, including the number of people going through the turnstiles, circulation and computer and printer usage. The data collected will be combined, and Hafner said it will be presented to O'Neil Smitherman, vice president for information technology, in April following the completion of the second part of the experiment.
"If the library is playing a more important role and helping students become more successful, then by God, we've done it," Hafner said.
Student feedback will also be considered in the success of the experiment, he said. So far, students are supportive of the idea.
"When you have all-night projects, you won't have to pack everything up at 3 a.m. when you are going to be up until 7 a.m. working on it," junior Jessica Kerner said.
Although graduate assistant Matt Powell said he rarely uses the library +â-óGé¼" he only goes there about twice a month +â-óGé¼" students should be able to access it whenever they need it.
"There are probably a lot of students who need extra time to get things done," Powell said. "As long as students need it, it should be available to them."
While the entire building will be open, several sections will be closed during the extended hours, Hafner said. To keep the library open all night, he said work schedules for the night shift will begin later.
"Shifting the time when they begin four hours forward will allow them to work four hours later," Hafner said. "When we hired them, we hired with the understanding they might be working late, late hours."
Although the library will be open for only a trial period, Lisec said she is excited and thinks students will use it even late at night.
"I think it will be a very good resource for students to not only have a place to study but have a place to use resources until late at night," Lisec said. "Last week, I was at the library until they kicked me out, and I wish I could have stayed longer."
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