Carrier Library open 24 hours during exam week

Students will be able to squeeze in a few extra hours of study time at Carrier Library this year because of the library’s new 24-hour exam week schedule.

Beginning 10 a.m. Sunday, the library will remain open continuously until 1 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10.

Last year, the library was open between the hours of 6 a.m. and 2 a.m., closing down for the four hours in between. Student body president Tom Culligan worked with JMU administration to ensure students had a place to study.

"I know different students operate on different schedules," Culligan said. "We want to provide as many options as possible."

Ralph Alberico, dean of libraries, said, "There aren’t that many places students can go at that hour and be safe." Several years ago, the library was open 24 hours during exam week, Alberico said. Due to budgetary constraints, JMU was temporarily unable to continue the policy.

Now that students once again have the opportunity to study in the library all night, Alberico said he hopes students will make use of the libraries extended hours.

"I would encourage students, since we are open, to take advantage of the opportunity," he said.

Culligan said he received a lot of positive feedback for the idea during his campaign for student body president last spring. "A lot of students told me that it was an important issue as I was campaigning, and thought that it would show that JMU took academics very seriously," Culligan said.

Both Alberico and Culligan pointed out that if the students proved there was a need for the library to be open 24 hours, it could lead to longer library hours in the future.

"I think that if there is a proven demand, in the spring the administration would consider other options," Culligan said.