Librarian Claims Students Fail to Use Lamont's New Extended Hours

Student use of Lamont's extended exam-time hours has been "disappointingly poor," librarian Philip J. McNiff reported yesterday. The decision of library officials to keep the library open on Sundays and until midnight on weekdays has led to abuse of privileges rather than increased study, McNiff claimed.

Only a few more books have gone out this year in comparison with last year's totals, although the total reading and exam period this spring is six days longer than it was in 1953, he explained.

An average of 1207 books was taken out of Lamont on each of the first three Saturdays in May this year, but on the Sundays following these Saturdays an average of only 180 books went out, McNiff said. Between 1700 and 2100 reserve books are read in the library on weekdays, but only from 375 to 600 have been used on Sundays. Until this reading period, Lamont had never been open on Sunday.

Between 600 and 800 students come into the library from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., but only from 70 to 250 enter between 10 and 12 at night, the librarian said. Last Monday night, for example, there were 750 men in Lamont a 7:30 p.m. and 300 there at 11 p.m. Most students have left the library by 10:30, though some people come in between 11 and 12 to check out books.

Because Lamont is open later at night, fewer students are using it in the afternoons, McNiff continued. In addition, about 15 per cent of its night visitors are non-College men. Graduate students are frequenting Lamont because it is cooler, quieter, and open longer than other University libraries and because it provides smoking rooms.