Palmer Says Widener Will Not Use Suggestions Made in HCUA Report

Widener Library will take no action this year on the HCUA recommendations for libraries, Foster Palmer, associate librarian at Widener, said yesterday.

"The main HCUA proposal was that we stay open until 12 midnight and there is no immediate prospect that this will happen," Palmer said. He cited "financial difficulties" as the main obstacle to an increase in Widener's hours.

He added, however, that he is not yet convinced that there is a good reason for increasing Widener's hours. "It would be nice," he said, "but after all, Lamont and the Radcliffe libraries are presently open until midnight."

Palmer pointed out that the Library cannot afford to pay members of the present staff at a time-and-a-half rate and would therefore have to hire new employees if there were any increase in Library hours. But he fears it would be extremely difficult to find experienced men who would be willing to work the required hours.

Another problem would be the increases that would be needed in security precautions. The later Widener stays open, the greater the chances of theft or some other incident, he said.

The HCUA report on libraries, which the Council passed in mid-February, also recommended an increase in Widener reading space and an improvement in circulation procedures.