When students return from winter break next month, all of us will face the usual gloom of papers and exams. Many students will stay huddled in their rooms writing, revising and studying all day and all night until the sun rises in the sky. Unlike the students at other universities, Princeton students will not have the chance, however, to write, revise and study until the sun rises within university libraries.
A large number of other universities have libraries that keep their doors open 24 hours a day. Others have more limited hours during the year but adopt a special, substantially extended schedule during reading periods and exams. For example, just over two years ago, Harvard decided to test the viability of keeping their Lamont Library open all day. Due to substantial demand for round-the-clock study spaces, the library has remained open 24 hours a day.
There is no reason to believe that extended library hours would be any less popular or useful at Princeton. Students will study at all hours of the day and night regardless of whether Firestone extends its hours. The same is true of seniors working on their theses. By keeping Firestone open longer, students studying for exams will not be forced to switch to a less desirable (and less productive) location, and seniors working on their theses will not have to haul dozens of books back to their dorm rooms.
It is true that keeping Firestone open longer would present several logistical challenges. More guards would need to be hired for additional shifts. Librarians and staff would be needed if books were allowed to circulate during extended hours.
But the library could overcome these problems easily enough. After all, other universities have, and it is difficult to imagine why Firestone would be any different. In addition, students would be pleased with even small steps in this direction. Keeping the library open all night but not allowing books to be withdrawn would allow students to continue to work and use reference material but remove the need for librarians in the additional hours. Even extending Firestone's hours from midnight to 2 a.m. would be a significant step in the right direction.
Though it may be too late to make changes in time for this coming reading period and exams, the University could use the spring semester to test the viability of a plan to extend Firestone's hours. While many students are content working in their rooms, others seeking the coziness of their carrel or a change in scenery with fewer distractions should be afforded the opportunity.
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