Closing time
By: Brian Highsmith
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Opinions
Anyone who has witnessed the crowds exiled from the library when it closes at one o'clock can see that Furman's library hours do not reflect the needs of its student body. The hour after the library closes is by far the busiest at Einstein's (which stays open until two) and in the 24 hour study room, where it is often difficult even to find a place to sit.
Dr. Janis Bandelin, the director of Furman libraries, visited AFS last spring to talk about library operating hours. She responded to concerns of the council on the matter by promising a trial period, to take place this fall, during which the library would stay open one extra hour on weeknights. They planned to record how many students used the library during the extended hours, and with that information determine whether the library should continue to close at one o'clock or stay open later.
Last Monday, the AFS Council received an update on the plans for this trial run, which will take place from October 26-30. Concerns that this trial period lasts only a week, and that the particular week falls right after students have finished with their midterm exams, were not directly addressed by Dr. Bandelin. The trial period would be publicized (through signs at the library doors and posts to Student News) well enough to inform students of the trial and negate these concerns, she said.
But good advertising does not compensate for a poor estimation, and unless changes are made, the statistics gathered during this trial period will be biased. Students need longer than a week to adjust their study habits, and the period immediately after midterms is simply not representative of Furman workloads and study hours. The library should nix the current plan, and keep the library open late for the entire month of November. The results from that trial would more accurately reflect study habits, and prove a much more useful measure of student demand for extended library hours.
This issue is really about what Furman can do to promote and support learning, and we have got to get it right.
Dr. Janis Bandelin, the director of Furman libraries, visited AFS last spring to talk about library operating hours. She responded to concerns of the council on the matter by promising a trial period, to take place this fall, during which the library would stay open one extra hour on weeknights. They planned to record how many students used the library during the extended hours, and with that information determine whether the library should continue to close at one o'clock or stay open later.
Last Monday, the AFS Council received an update on the plans for this trial run, which will take place from October 26-30. Concerns that this trial period lasts only a week, and that the particular week falls right after students have finished with their midterm exams, were not directly addressed by Dr. Bandelin. The trial period would be publicized (through signs at the library doors and posts to Student News) well enough to inform students of the trial and negate these concerns, she said.
But good advertising does not compensate for a poor estimation, and unless changes are made, the statistics gathered during this trial period will be biased. Students need longer than a week to adjust their study habits, and the period immediately after midterms is simply not representative of Furman workloads and study hours. The library should nix the current plan, and keep the library open late for the entire month of November. The results from that trial would more accurately reflect study habits, and prove a much more useful measure of student demand for extended library hours.
This issue is really about what Furman can do to promote and support learning, and we have got to get it right.