With up to 16,000 visits per a day and 2.5 million visits in 2008, D.H. Hill has shown a trend of increased use in recent years. Visits per year increased by 42 percent from the 2007-08 year to last year.
Studying in the library for unlimited hours on a weekday seems to be a prevailing trend nowadays for college students, leading many to pull “all-nighters” at D.H. Hill Library.
Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Susan K. Nutter said library use has more than doubled in the past few years since the renovation of D.H. Hill’s East Wing.
“Students are able to collaborate and work together in groups,” Nutter said, adding the library’s hours have helped students find study and leisure space no matter how late. “24 hours is really important to us and it is good that we’re able to keep it that way through all of the budget cuts and everything. It’s something we try to preserve and we value it.”
Nutter said what separates the University’s library from others is that it is student-driven.
“Our standard of service is that students come first,” Nutter said. “If we can inspire you to want to be in the learning environment then my God there is nothing better we can do. I think the library should be for the social and intellectual mixes of the University where people come together.”
utter said the library staff also strives to be receptive to ideas from students to cater its services.
“Students really tell us what they want the library to be and we couple that with what we’re seeing as evidence from research on how the people are using the libraries and how they want to use it,” Nutter said. “It’s pretty exciting. What’s really incredible for all of us that work here is that our sense of engagement with students feels like we’re all part of the same team and it’s just so great and fabulous.”
Karim Ghanem, a freshman in biology and international studies, said most of the time people use the library for studying late at night but there are people who use it for the video games.
“You can do a lot of things in the library. If you want to study you can go upstairs or go to a quiet room. I mean, there are nine floors so there is always a place to study,” Ghanem said. “If you want to socialize then you can socialize too.”
Jeremiah Mangrum, a sophomore in chemical engineering, said he goes to the library to study.
“A lot of times I can come in there and lot of people are studying the same subject as me and it works out really well,” Mangrum said. “When I come to the library, it gives me time to myself and [I get] things done.”
Ghanem said he has slept in the library before for a chemistry exam.
“I’ll study till four in the morning and sleep for a couple of hours and wake up a few hours before the exam,” Ghanem said. “I think it’s pretty cool how the library gives that feature to the students.”
Ghanem said he would like for the Atrium to extend its hours to make his library experience more enjoyable.
“If you want to eat you would have to go all the way to Talley or order a pizza,” he said. “A lot of students have unlimited meal plan but they don’t use it because they have to go so far away. That really does hurt the students.”
Nutter said it would be beneficial if the Atrium could be open later. The Atrium is run by University Dining and has no formal connection with the library system.
”It drives me crazy how it closes at three. We can hardly find a place to eat,” Nutter said. “I don’t think people understand how important food is and that being able to take a break when you study is important. You don’t want to go off somewhere else to do that. You’re not looking for a restaurant; you’re looking for something nutritious.”
Mangrum said it would be helpful if it was open later at night for students to be able sit and take a break from their studying.
“It would be really convenient if they had a dinner schedule for people to go eat there when they are distracted studying in the library,” Mangrum said.
Nutter said students want the library to look more like a home rather than having 600 of the same tables and chairs lined up.
“We’re trying to avoid that,” Nutter said. “It’s my philosophy that the public space available for students should be really comfortable, attractive and feel good and a place you can eat. People want a third place, not their home and not their workplace but a place where they are comfortable and they can come and do the things they can so they are able to bring their personal life and work life together.”
