Editorial: Extension of library hours inefficient according to survey
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Opinions
The Student Senate continues to throw around the idea of extending the Booth Library hours.
In an ideal world, this would be a good idea.
However, we don't live in an ideal world. We live in a world that is going through some tough economic times. Everyone, including universities, has had to make cuts or think more about their spending.
Extending the library hours would not be a good investment for the university and Allen Lanham, dean of library services at Booth, seems to understand.
Lanham said the library would probably not expand because of budget concerns and students would have to demonstrate a need for extending hours.
In an article printed Jan. 16 in The Daily Eastern News, Lanham said since the last extension, he does not have enough people to fill additional hours; meaning additional employees or longer shifts are needed.
He also said a staff of seven is required, even late at night for the safety of students.
At a library forum held Tuesday night, Lanham said there should also be no need for hours to be added because the library is open 98 hours a week.
Additionally, in a survey conducted by the Academic Affairs Committee, students don't seem to demonstrate the need for extending hours.
The survey had 180 responses, which was far less than the 1,000 responses Chris Kromphardt, Academic Affairs Committee chair, said was desired.
According to the Library Advisory Board minutes from Nov. 12, Lanham wanted about 1,240 students to answer the survey.
The senate got nowhere near close, so the sample they have is a poor representation of Eastern.
But of the students surveyed, 53 percent of the students were satisfied with the current hours while only 40 percent were dissatisfied and 7 percent were neutral.
When asked if the students would use the library during the proposed hours, it was an overwhelming no or unsure.
Of 160 respondents, 45.7 percent said "do not know," "probably will not" or "definitely will not" use the library at 7 a.m. opposed to 24.4 percent who "definitely would."
Only 36 percent out of 161 respondents said they would use the library Friday evening as opposed to 34.8 percent who "do not know," "probably will not" or "definitely will not" use the hours.
These numbers are too small to be once again considering extending the library hours.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
In an ideal world, this would be a good idea.
However, we don't live in an ideal world. We live in a world that is going through some tough economic times. Everyone, including universities, has had to make cuts or think more about their spending.
Extending the library hours would not be a good investment for the university and Allen Lanham, dean of library services at Booth, seems to understand.
Lanham said the library would probably not expand because of budget concerns and students would have to demonstrate a need for extending hours.
In an article printed Jan. 16 in The Daily Eastern News, Lanham said since the last extension, he does not have enough people to fill additional hours; meaning additional employees or longer shifts are needed.
He also said a staff of seven is required, even late at night for the safety of students.
At a library forum held Tuesday night, Lanham said there should also be no need for hours to be added because the library is open 98 hours a week.
Additionally, in a survey conducted by the Academic Affairs Committee, students don't seem to demonstrate the need for extending hours.
The survey had 180 responses, which was far less than the 1,000 responses Chris Kromphardt, Academic Affairs Committee chair, said was desired.
According to the Library Advisory Board minutes from Nov. 12, Lanham wanted about 1,240 students to answer the survey.
The senate got nowhere near close, so the sample they have is a poor representation of Eastern.
But of the students surveyed, 53 percent of the students were satisfied with the current hours while only 40 percent were dissatisfied and 7 percent were neutral.
When asked if the students would use the library during the proposed hours, it was an overwhelming no or unsure.
Of 160 respondents, 45.7 percent said "do not know," "probably will not" or "definitely will not" use the library at 7 a.m. opposed to 24.4 percent who "definitely would."
Only 36 percent out of 161 respondents said they would use the library Friday evening as opposed to 34.8 percent who "do not know," "probably will not" or "definitely will not" use the hours.
These numbers are too small to be once again considering extending the library hours.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
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