Main library extends hours

Some undergraduate parts of the Main Library will be open until 2 a.m. tonight through Dec. 19 following a request for extended hours from the IU Student Association.\nIU Libraries approved the extension on a temporary basis, to gauge whether students take advantage of the extra hours.\nThe first through the fourth floor of the Undergraduate Tower of the Main Library, which normally close at midnight, will be open until 2 a.m.\nCarolyn Walters, head of the Undergraduate Library Services, said the change will be beneficial for students.\n"It's something we feel strongly about and willing to put some of the limited resources toward," Walters said.\nWalters said IU Libraries and the University Information Technology Services have agreed to compensate the additional cost of $500 per week.\nJudd Arnold, the IUSA Student Body vice president, said extended hours at the Main Library was on Kirkwood's campaign agenda.\n"College students operate in what I call 'college time,'" Arnold said. "Midnight for regular people is 8 p.m. for college students."\nThe extended hours at the Main Library is a part of the IUSA's "Work Hard" project, which also includes, distribution of 400 copies of The New York Times and change of grade value of A+ from 4.0 to 4.3.\nWalters said she and other organizers of the change will carefully assess the effect of the new change at the Main Library and make necessary changes for future semesters.\nJunior Corey Agee said he studies on the fourth floor of the Main Library three or four times a week because too many people gather and get too loud in the lobby or the first floor. The second and fourth floors are quiet areas, according to the Quiet Policy of the Main Library.\n"(Now) I can stay until whenever I want, pretty much," Agee said.\nHe said he sees about 30 people leave after hearing the closing announcement around midnight.\nUnder the new open hours, the first floor lobby, including the computer labs, remains open 24 hours a day, but the fifth floor, where group work is permitted, will still close at midnight.\nGroup meetings for Bus X201, Technology in Business, and X205, Business Communication-Honors, were scheduled for sophomore Eric Steele on the fifth floor Sunday afternoon.\nSteele said he would meet his X201 group members four times to finish a project in two weeks, and he will have seven or eight group meetings in between a month and two for an X205 project. \n"I've been here when they shut the lights off," Steele said.\nHe also said he has seen other X201 groups and students for K201, The Computer in Business and other classes leaving at midnight.