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An experiment gone right: College Library to keep 24/5 hours
By Katie Gilbert
Library Communications
Posted 4/30/2004
MADISON, Wis. -- College Library tried an experiment in which it remained open 24 hours a day, five days a week, serving patrons who relied on the library for late-night studying. The pilot project worked, and College Library will now maintain these hours during the fall and spring semesters . For information on the library’s summer hours, please visit http://college.library.wisc.edu/.
During the school year, the library opens Sunday at 10 a.m. and does not close until Friday night at 11:45 p.m. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m.-11:45 p.m. Full services are available on all three floors of the library, including the computer lab, circulation, reserves, study space on all three floors, vending services and collection access. Students who enter the building after midnight are required to present a valid UW-Madison photo ID.
The pilot project, once available in Memorial Library's west corridor, moved after surveys and petitions taken by the Associated Students of Madison showed that students supported 24-hour service but wanted late-night access to College Library.
According to College Library Director Carrie Kruse, twice as many students used College Library after midnight as had used Memorial Library's late night hours the previous year.
Statistics also show that the number of people entering and exiting College Library throughout all hours increased by more than 62,000 in the 2003 fall semester. According to a count taken at the exit gate, 534,415 patrons left College Library in the fall of 2003 compared with 472,271 in the fall of 2002, an increase of more than 62,000.
"Students told us that College Library was the best location for this service and that there would be greater demand at College Library," UW-Madison Libraries Director Ken Frazier said. "This is the best location for the late-night library and students are proving it."
