2008 Woodie Awards
Library may extend hours
By Rob Ambrosino
Issue date: 4/8/05 Section: News
The Board of Directors of Cooperative Activities (co-op) voted unanimously yesterday to allocate $9,000 of student money for the installation of a security system in Bailey Library, given the university provides adequate staffing to allow all three floors of the library to open an additional 15 hours a week.
The extended times would keep the library open Sunday through Thursday until 2 a.m. instead of 11 p.m., for a minimum of one academic year. The year will be a trial run so the popularity of the prolonged hours can be determined.
The finalization of the extension is still contingent upon Bailey Library accepting co-op's offer. Co-op Business Manager Kathy George said the process of extending the hours has lasted nine months.
Co-op Chairman Mario Bernardi said the notion of adding the security system came from recommendations made by InterTECH Security, LLC, a company with which the university frequently works, and who the library hired to perform a safety screening of the building.
The security system shall be comprised of several video cameras, a monitor and a DVD burner, Bernardi said.
The total cost of the system should approximate $17,250. Co-op is providing about 51 percent of the funding for the security system, SGA President Jude Butch said, and Bailey Library will need to generate the remaining amount.
Bernardi said the library has worked to obtain funding to support five student workers and two professional workers, i.e. librarians, information specialists, to work between the proposed hours of 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Before the board voted to pass the motion, there was 30 minutes of open debate. Mark Chase, professor of communication, said co-op, which controls student money, should seek out to provide funding for activities not subsidized by the university, like Bailey Library.
"I'm also concerned about the precedent this sets," he said. "So what happens when another administration wants to extend the hours of Career Services or Academic Records?"
Robert Watson, co-op administrative advisor, said that two years ago, money taken in by tuition paid to the university covered 70 percent of its operating costs; currently, it only covers 30 percent.
"The administration is not to blame for this shift," he said. He said in reference to Chase's question of necessity: "not only is the library benefiting, but the students will feel more secure."
He said the board needs to consider how the environment changes on campus over the late night hours.
"Yes, perhaps we could open the library without the security system," he said, "but it would not be a wise decision."
The extended times would keep the library open Sunday through Thursday until 2 a.m. instead of 11 p.m., for a minimum of one academic year. The year will be a trial run so the popularity of the prolonged hours can be determined.
The finalization of the extension is still contingent upon Bailey Library accepting co-op's offer. Co-op Business Manager Kathy George said the process of extending the hours has lasted nine months.
Co-op Chairman Mario Bernardi said the notion of adding the security system came from recommendations made by InterTECH Security, LLC, a company with which the university frequently works, and who the library hired to perform a safety screening of the building.
The security system shall be comprised of several video cameras, a monitor and a DVD burner, Bernardi said.
The total cost of the system should approximate $17,250. Co-op is providing about 51 percent of the funding for the security system, SGA President Jude Butch said, and Bailey Library will need to generate the remaining amount.
Bernardi said the library has worked to obtain funding to support five student workers and two professional workers, i.e. librarians, information specialists, to work between the proposed hours of 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Before the board voted to pass the motion, there was 30 minutes of open debate. Mark Chase, professor of communication, said co-op, which controls student money, should seek out to provide funding for activities not subsidized by the university, like Bailey Library.
"I'm also concerned about the precedent this sets," he said. "So what happens when another administration wants to extend the hours of Career Services or Academic Records?"
Robert Watson, co-op administrative advisor, said that two years ago, money taken in by tuition paid to the university covered 70 percent of its operating costs; currently, it only covers 30 percent.
"The administration is not to blame for this shift," he said. He said in reference to Chase's question of necessity: "not only is the library benefiting, but the students will feel more secure."
He said the board needs to consider how the environment changes on campus over the late night hours.
"Yes, perhaps we could open the library without the security system," he said, "but it would not be a wise decision."
