The Echo

Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Rachel Sauls Study Buddy: Chary Durnell, a Memphis junior, and Brittany Byrd, a Memphis senior, use a library- issued computer to do homework on Monday night. As finals approach, students use the library more, but with the threat of cuts, extended library hours may be in jeopardy.

The Lupton Library trimmed 13.75 operating hours after $100,000 was cut from its budget last year, Theresa Liedtka, dean of the library, said.

Instead of the library opening earlier in the mornings and closing later at night, the library was forced to cut hours in both directions. However, library hours were not the only thing that had to be cut after the budget plan went into effect.

"We cut $90,000 in serial subscriptions, working with the academic departments and the faculty, and then we needed another $10,000 so we managed to trim $5,000 from our operating budget," Liedtka said. "We are just trying to use less paper, buy less supplies, and the last little bit comes from the hours."

Since this was the first year for library hour cuts, students have questioned if the opening of the new Aquatics and Recreation Center has anything to do with these cuts.

"We have received a lot of complaints from students wondering why the new recreation center is open more hours than the library," Liedtka said.

The ARC on campus is open seven more hours a week than the library. Both of these buildings, however, are funded in different ways.

The library receives state funded money and tuition money from Education General Funds. Student fees are used for ARC operation costs.

"I think it's important for both of them [to be open] because the library is the icon of academia and the ARC is the icon of recreation, but as far as judging the importance, it is hard when you look at it from a funding stand point," SGA president, Tyler Forrest, a junior from Athens, Tenn., said.

"From a practical stand point to sum it up, I think it's extremely important for both of them to be open because you are still serving the students either way," Forrest said.

Milena Cegielska, a sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., said the new library hours have greatly affected her because it is harder to find a good time and place to study since she works and is involved with other organizations on campus.

"I work after my classes during the week and I can't go to the library to study until I get off," Cegielska said. "Students who live off campus, like I do, also don't want to drive to the library if they can't stay for awhile."

The current library hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Officials have not stated how cuts will effect the proposed new library and its hours.

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