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Shortened library hours during the weekend causes frustration, students say

The Joseph F. Smith Library.

Having shorter library hours on the weekend can be troublesome, according to Charlene Lee, a freshman from the Philippines studying elementary education. Lee said, “I think having extended hours at the library could help people prepare better and give people another option for their study and to use library services. Friday should be open longer.”

The BYU–Hawaii Joseph F. Smith library is open from 7 a.m. to midnight from Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m.to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, with special hours during holidays and the break.

Lee continued, “During the week people can get pretty busy. For me, Friday is a great time to be studying. One, because curfew on Friday is 2 a.m. The Saturday hours are good to help people prepare for church on Sunday.”

Library Director Michael Aldrich said, “In the past, we have experimented with extending library hours on Fridays and Saturdays, but we never really got the numbers to justify it. It is something we are always willing to revisit and talk about.”

Aldrich said one of the reasons why the library closes early on Friday and Saturday nights is to encourage students to take a break from studying, to go out, and be social.

“We continue these hours, primarily because spending all week and all night in the library isn’t good for anybody. Go out, take a break. You need a social life. Our workers need a social life.”

However, Randy Olson, a senior from California majoring in finance said, “With my major and schedule, I want to be in the library later and sometimes longer. Having the library close earlier on Friday and Saturday really affects me.

“I would love having the option of having the library open later definitely on Friday. Studying is like a full time job, and it would be nice to have more hours to cater for us.”

Olson said it can be particularly troublesome during busy school weeks. “During midterms and finals, it’s frustrating that the hours are shorter. The counter-argument for this is that there are tables outside, but if it’s raining or windy I don’t want to go there. There aren’t many tables anyway.”

Olson, a transfer student, said, “I attended community college in California and the hours were longer. It would just be nice for us to have more access to it. Sometimes the weekend is a good time for us to get our study done.”

Although some students would like the option of having access to a 24-hour library, Aldrich said that is beyond the library’s control, due to curfew policies that they have no say in.

Additionally, Aldrich commented on other limiting factors, “There are also budget constraints. We would need a budget increase from administration, or we might need to be trade off with another time and change the library hours.”

Olson shared that the library provides a good space away from home to focus on school work. “I spend so much time in the library. It’s a good place to study. Having the hours different on the weekend throws me off.”

Writer: Will Krueger