Please open the library 24 hours all this week and next week. It's silly that it's only open 24 hours during exam week, when we should be studying at least a week before exam week. Please take this into consideration immediately.

From: an undergraduate student

Pat Flanagan, Associate University Librarian for Public Services, replies...

Thank you for your comment regarding dates of 24/5 Library Lite service this fall. You are correct that we would normally operate this service for a longer period, permitting students to begin 24/5 access to Cabell Library at least a week before exams. It is our plan to provide the full three week 24/5 service at the end of spring semester, however we were not able to provide it for the fall.

Library staffing and services for the fall were scaled back at both James Branch Cabell and Tompkins-McCaw libraries in anticipation of unknown budget shortfalls. As budget circumstances became clear late in the semester it became possible to reinstate 24/5 in addition to reinstatement of Media and Reserve hours and Saturday hours at Tompkins-McCaw Library. However, it was too late to address the staffing needed for the usual 24/5 period that begins immediately following Thanksgiving weekend. We were, however, successful in matching the service periods provided by our Virginia
peers, James Madison University and Christopher Newport University.

We do recognize the importance of the round-the-clock access to library collections and spaces for VCU students at the end of the semester. We appreciate your input and are glad we will be able to offer more hours spring semester.