Budget cuts for the Waidner-Spahr Library mean that it is no longer open 24/7 during exam periods, leading to negative responses from students. 

In an email, Director of Library Services Eleanor Mitchell explained that the budget for the library had been reduced, which “required us to identify areas for savings.” Mitchell explained that for the 2020 fiscal year, the library budget has been reduced by five percent, which led to the decision to close the library between midnight and 2:00 a.m.  during exams. “The cost of hiring security officers, which amounted to $8,805 in 2019, was the key factor in this decision,” Mitchell said.

Provost Neil Weissman said that “in the very late hours or early hours of the morning the library was very little used and not professionally staffed,” leading it to be little more than “just as a place of study,” rather than be used as a place of research during those hours. Weissman explained that “as long as there were other spaces on campus available, that it would not be hardship to close it.”

Mitchell continued that the library “received several questions from students and faculty about this,” adding that “people were understanding about the decision when the reasoning behind it was explained.”

Students have raised concerns about the change. Carrie Becher ’22 said “When I first heard that the library wasn’t going to have 24/7 hours during the library I was really confused and kind of angry.” Becher explained that “having the lib[rary] closing at the same time as normal days was really annoying” in part “because I’m a library dweller and I’m there until closing a lot during normal school times too, not just for finals.”

“The library no longer being open 24/7 during finals is disappointing. It seems wrong of the school to change its policy on a whim like this,” added Lucas Economou ’23.

Not all students disliked the change however. Luke Denver-Moore ’23 said “I think the library not being 24/7 during finals is actually better because it encourages people to sleep instead of binge studying, which has been proven to be less productive.”

Jenna Polek ’23 added “they opened up other buildings over night for if you really want to be out of your dorm studying.”

Mitchell noted that while the budget had technically remained unchanged between 2016 – 2019, inflation had caused an effective decrease of five percent in the preceding years. This decreasing effective budget, and “expectations for new [media] formats and research needs of new programs and faculty add complexity to working within a fixed or diminishing budget,” Mitchell said. Mitchell added that library staff are working to evaluate subscriptions to journals and databases to determine if costs can be cut there as well. Replacement of the library website was also noted as a cost saving measure. Mitchell said that the new website “allowed us to cancel a number of expensive add-ons from the past,” resulting in “substantial savings.” 

Mitchell noted that the library had sought to draw attention to other buildings on campus which remained open throughout the night during exams, such as Kaufman, Allison, and the HUB, for students who did want to continue working after the library had closed. 

Becher added that it is “really disappointing to know that because of budget cuts, the school is taking away a safe and great study space during the time that we need it.”

Mitchell added however that “even though the number of students who use the library during those very early morning hours is small, we would like to reinstate the program if the budget permits.”