Libraries become popular hangouts during finals week
Watson and Anschutz will extend hours, provide refreshments to students
When finals week rolls around, the libraries fill up with students trying to find a quiet place to study.
By Rustin Dodd (Contact)
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Lauren Hopper and Aubrey Bachand sat together, studying on the fourth floor of Anschutz Library on Wednesday.
With calculators out and books strewn across the table, Bachand, Kansas City, Mo., freshman, and Hopper, Overland Park freshman, prepared for their second semester of finals at the University of Kansas.
Anschutz was quiet on Thursday, but with finals approaching, more students have been going to campus libraries to study.
“We do see a definite increase during finals week in traffic through our doors,” Rebecca Smith, KU Libraries’ director of public relations and advancement, said.
Photo by Mindy Ricketts
Nick Kostner, Murdock graduate student, browses through the stacks at Watson Library. The library has been pretty busy lately...something from story please
But Smith said she didn’t think overcrowding was a problem.
“It’s definitely a popular place,” Smith said. “But with the number of different types of study places and different types of areas we are looking at, we can accommodate a huge number of students.”
Bachand said the cramped libraries could be annoying, “But I still get all my stuff done,” she said. “I’m always at the library.”
For some students, it’s all about finding the right place to study. For Nick Kenning, Hutchinson junior, that means secluding himself on the bottom floors of Anschutz.
“I go back to one of those cubbies, and I find a spot in the dungeon of Anschutz,” Kenning said. “It can be noisy upstairs.”
Hopper said she tried to avoid the main floors of Anschutz and Watson libraries.
“I go downstairs,” Hopper said. “Watson is a lot easier to study in. It’s a lot less crowded.”
Smith said KU Libraries would provide additional hours and free coffee and hot cocoa at night during finals week. KU Libraries will be offering coffee, lemonade and cocoa from 7:30-11 p.m. from May 11 to 15 in Watson and Anschutz.
“Nights can get a little long,” Smith said. “The libraries are here to serve the faculty, staff, and especially the students,” Smith said. “And as your needs change, our services evolve to meet those needs.”
Jeromy Horkman, Service Desk supervisor at Watson, said Watson would add addition hours during finals week.
Watson’s service desk, which is usually open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Fridays, will be open until 10 p.m. on Friday, May 9. The service desk is usually open 10 a.m. on Saturdays, but would operate from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Horkman said Watson library services will be open midnight Sunday, May 11 through Thursday, May 15, while Watson will remain open as a study hall area until 3 a.m.
Anschutz will remain open 24 hours during finals week.
Smith said she hoped students could find a place where they could comfortably study.
“It’s probably the most important time academically and we want to make sure we help you succeed.”
— Edited by Sasha Roe
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