Courtesy of Lewis & Clark
T his Monday, Nov. 11, students were sent the new issue of The Weekly Bark newsletter. In the fifth of six subsections, a short listing advertised a “Survey for late night Watzek Library users,” soliciting feedback for a change to the library’s operating hours. The listing included a link to the Libraries page on the Lewis & Clark website with more information.
“Watzek Library has a tentative plan to end library hours from midnight to 8 a.m. Sunday through Thursday beginning fall 2025,” the site read. “The library will maintain regular weekday hours, evening hours, and weekend access, with extended hours during reading days and finals week.”
The reason for this potential change can also be found on the site.
“We are considering this change because of library staffing needs, light usage of the library during this time, and the availability of alternative study spaces in Fowler Student Center,” the side read.
The goal behind these changes is not stated on the website, though it is possible they would result in reduced operating costs.
Some students have expressed concerns about the reduced hours. This change could impact both students who live on campus and those who commute. Coming after the closure of Maggie’s Cafe in 2022, another third space (as coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a location other than home or work) on campus, it can be difficult for students to find a comfortable spot on campus outside of a dorm or apartment. Addressing these potential concerns from students, the website stated its intention to gather feedback from the community.
“We would like to hear from students to find out their concerns about losing overnight library access. This feedback will help us make adjustments to our plan to minimize the impact on students,” the site read.
The website included a link to the survey, which is also accessible using the provided QR code. Five students who complete the survey will be randomly selected to win $10 in flex points. The survey closes on Friday, Nov. 22 2024.
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