Library to be open 24 hours during finals

When the clock strikes 2 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, May 5, most of the buildings on campus will be closed for the night. However, students desperately in need of a quiet place to study for finals will find the Stockwell-Mudd Library still in operation.

Both buildings in the library will remain open continuously from 8 a.m. on reading day, May 4, until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, the end of finals week.

"Basically, we were responding to student requests," said Mike VanHouten, associate director of the library. "Especially during finals, we feel like [being open 24-hours] is something we can pull off."

According to Kelly Lamson, Farmington Hills sophomore and student senate student affairs committee chair, student senate pitched the idea to the library committee as a result of student requests.

"[The library committee was] very receptive, they liked the idea," Lamson said. "They had talked about it before, but they really didn’t know if there was enough interest in it.

"After hearing from senate, they were ready for it."

The doors to the building will be locked at midnight—entry to the library will be by Albion College ID after that time. In the event that a student doesn’t have a working ID card, however, there will be a full-time staff member at the front desk to let in late-night scholars

"Four full-time staff members have volunteered [for early morning shifts], crazily enough," VanHouten said.

Additionally, there will be a student worker at the circulation desk throughout the night.

Andrew Brennan, Milford Junior, volunteered for three shifts from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m.

"I usually like to get up early anyway, so I can just go to bed at 9 [p.m.] and get up at 3:30 [a.m.], and I’ll be fine," Brennan said. "Actually, on one of the nights, I’m planning on going to a concert, so I might not actually sleep that night."

Students who, like Brennan, are looking to stay up all night will have access to caffeine from several sources. According to VanHouten, Rick Crandall, owner of Real Coffee in downtown Albion, is coming on three of the nights to sell coffee, smoothies and energy drinks from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

When Crandall isn’t around selling his premium beverages, students will have access to free coffee and cookies set out by the Friends of the Albion College Library.

Snacks aside, the library is attempting to acquire additional laptops, to complement the current 24, for student use during finals week.

"We expect that laptops will be popular items for checkout during that time," VanHouten said.

To offset any possible budgetary concerns, Becky Markovich, circulation services coordinator, volunteered to cover several shifts normally taken by students.