Library 24/7 2011 - General Feedback

[hxlc46]

The last 2 weeks of exams are when we need 24/7 the most as there is nowhere else to work as all my housemates have finished and so I can't work at home. Is it possible to consider extended hours over the last 2 weeks of exams - especially over the weekend when the library doesn't open until 10am. If it were open 8am-10am minimum that would be a hige improvement. As I can't imagine many people will be in the library from 1am-5am anyway.

I think it would be valuable instead of having a short period of 24/7, to have a longer period of 'extended opening' maybe 7am-11pm everyday including weekends

[dul0jah]

We will take everyone's comments on 24/7 opening hours in to consideration when we plan for next year's exam period during the Easter term, however I'm afraid it is too short notice to organise any changes to what we are already offering this year.
Re-arranging opening hours is complex and involves ensuring we have enough money in the library budget to cover staffing and other costs incurred from the longer opening hours. It also entails finding willing members of the library team to volunteer to work additional shifts or negotiations with our security provider. This all takes a considerable amount of time and effort to organise which means it isn't usually viable to change opening hours at a moments notice.

Yours sincerely
Jane Hodgson
Queen's Campus Library Manager

[tjfv18]

I think you that next year should definitely extend library 24/7 to the whole of the exam period like it was in 2010... Even if that means not starting library 24/7 until a couple of weeks into the term it really is so important that it continues until the end of the exam period for the reasons that people have already stated! The more and more people that finish exams the more hard it is going to be to work at home/in college for those of us who have exams up until the very end...

[d763a5]

Hey,

It seems pretty pointless stopping the 24/7 opening times when it is most need. As mentioned before college can get noisier when others have finished and the few still need somewhere else to work. I understand that this cant be changed now but I would have thought better consultation with students would have shown how important this was. In respect to that I noticed that on the library tab there was a question based exactly on this:

"Library 24/7 runs for 4 weeks this year. With a set budget, taking into account statistics and feedback from last year, we decided to shorten 24/7. We used the budget instead to open over the Easter Weekend, immediately before the start of term (when the University is usually closed). We’ve had lots of feedback already and we’d like to know… Which option would you have chosen?"

Over two thirds said that they wanted 6 weeks of 24/7 showing that the weekend option (when most people were not in Durham) was an unpopular decision.

With the university so desperate to improve its standings on the league table it seems a no brainer that a 24/7 library period during exams increases student satisfaction and gives students access to a very high quality facility.

I realise this has been a bit of a rant but this decision has really annoyed me.

[dlck34]

over the easter break, I worked at university of hertfordshire to finish my dissertation off. It is open 24/7/365. But up here in Durham not even exam period is 24/7. I am going to have to work in my room, when all my friends on my corridor have finished exams, because there is nowhere else to go. Saying that DSU welfare told you to, or you're not sure you can get the staff in are just pathetic excuses.

Durham library remains hopelessly out of touch with the student body.

[sjcq94]

It is a sad state of affairs that an institution of Durham's reputation and history should have to choose between opening for Easter or remaining 24/7 for the full examination period.

Ending the 24/7 during the exam period is particularly unhelpful.

[wbns44]

I understand the reason for 24/7 opening early but surely the library could have operated on normal term time hours for the first two weeks of term (including the Easter weekend) and extended 24/7 for at least another week? People dont need 24/7 access to the library before the exam period but for many people it is extremely beneficial during exams, especially now that exams have started to finish. Living on the Bailey my room is getting increasing amounts of noise from people who have finished, and being able to seek refuge in the library would be highly appreciated! I strongly believe that you should reconsider the timing of the 24/7 period next year so that it benefits those who finish their exams later.