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Many students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa have, at one point or another in their academic lives, fallen victim to procrastination. To better accommodate the demands of students pulling all-night study sessions, Hamilton Library will now be open 24 hours, Monday through Thursday.
"The library exists to support the academic mission of the Mānoa campus, and we are constantly looking for ways to better serve our campus community," said Jonelle Sage, the library communications assistant. "The students made it clear that they wanted 24-hour library access, and we are delighted to meet that need in both Hamilton and Sinclair libraries."
Starting this week, Hamilton Library, located at the top of the grand staircase off McCarthy Mall, is open from noon on Sunday through 7 p.m. on Friday, in addition to being open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
One year in the making
Increased hours for both Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library were approved in the 2006 Legislative session, with a rough estimate in funding of $80,000, said Paula Mochida, the interim university librarian. The approval came in response to requests submitted to the Legislature by the UH Mānoa libraries as well as student and administrative organizations at the university.
"The library is grateful to the Chancellor's Office, ASUH and the state Legislature for their support for the extended hours," Sage said in response to the implementation of the planned extensions.
Sinclair began its extended hour schedule last Fall semester, needing only the additional help of one security guard during night patrols. However, Hamilton Library's extended hours, although approved at the same time as Sinclair's, took a full year to become realized.
"It took us much longer to do because we needed more staff," Mochida said. "We had to recruit and train more."
Mochida said that to accommodate Hamilton's extended service hours, they needed to hire an additional full-time library assistant along with two to three security guards. Because the library assistant job was funded by the state as a state service job, it took the library much longer to interview, hire and train for the added position. She added that the Chancellor's Office will cover the cost of the additional security guards.
Increased benefits ... and security
The extended hours are exclusively for UH students and faculty. Between 11 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., students and faculty will have to show a validated UH ID to the security guard on duty. This measure will help to provide a secure study and research area for students and faculty.
Although there will be library staff present and a security guard at the door, some students are concerned for their safety upon exiting the library in the early morning hours.
"Knowing that it is open 24 hours is a definite plus, but I am concerned about the safety of the students, especially females," said Soon Kim, a freshman business student. As a result, security personnel will be available throughout the night to escort students and faculty, whether on foot or in a Campus Security vehicle, to any university parking lot.
While some students said they still prefer to reserve those late-night hours for sleeping, many look forward to the benefits. Sophomore Jessica Kim said she thinks it is a great idea that Hamilton Library extended its hours because not many places are open throughout the night where students can study.
Electrical engineering major Brian Birgado said he would take advantage of the extended hours. "I would use (the services). Even if it wasn't for last minute assignments, as a senior, I have a ton of work to do and I always need a good place to study late at night because home has too much distraction."
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