Library hours have changed after 16 positions were cut from the staff which, according to Interim University Librarian Sue Polanka, was due to resignations, retirements and layoffs. This constituted to 25 percent of the staff.
“Many of these positions provided public services through research and instruction, Ask a Librarian, circulation, the STAC and the Special Collections and Archives. Because we maintain 4 service points in the library, some for 98.5 hours per week, we needed to make changes to maintain adequate staffing of the library during our busiest hours,” Polanka said.
The new hours were decided on by analysis of the library’s least busy hours.
“The library will no longer be open on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Students are welcome to use the 24/7 CaTS computer labs in the basement of PLDL during those 3 hours.
During finals study hours, students will have more library hours. We extended our closing time on Friday and Saturday before finals week to 10:00 p.m. and will open at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday,” Polanka said.
While the STAC, information desk, ask a librarian service and special collections and archives will have reduced hours, Polanka says students can still email questions to librarians and archivists or make an appointment here
Several outreach activities and services that were traditionally offered had to be cut so that staff could cover other core functions.
“Regularly scheduled Research Toolkit workshops, Friends of the Libraries workshops, the CramJam study sessions, the STAC’s Ask A Geek chat service, and the research support desk at the Writing Center,” were subject to the cuts according to Polanka. “Our Special Collections and Archives has cut back on the number of special events and guest speakers as well as the development of new exhibits for library display cases.”
A few of the remaining staff members have seen significant changes in position and nearly all of the staff have taken on additional responsibilities and adjusted their own schedules to maintain service to students.
“The University Libraries remain committed to our mission of providing exceptional research services. In order to uphold this mission, we realigned our hours to keep our limited staff on duty during the hours our students, faculty, and staff use most,” Polanka shared.
