Posted on behalf of Anne Beavan, Aberdeen University Library
Many thanks to everyone who responded to my survey last week. I
received
>31 replies in total - 27 from England & Wales and 4 from Scotland.
>
>Summary
>
>Almost all institutions close completely over the Christmas/New Year
break,
>but there is sharp contrast in practice between England/Wales and
Scotland
>for the other public holidays. The majority of English and Welsh
>institutions close at Easter (for at least Good Friday and Easter
Monday)
>and the August Bank holiday, and many close for the May Bank holidays
as
>well. By contrast most Scottish institutions remain open both over
Easter
>and for the May and August Bank Holidays. Only 1 of those who
replied
>closes on the local public holidays in July and September. However,
as I
>only got replies from 4 Scottish Libraries it's difficult to know if
this
>is normal practice or if these are the exceptions - feel free to let
me know!
>
>Detailed Results
>
>(1) Easter:
>
>England/Wales - 24 libraries close on both Good Friday and Easter
>Monday. 1 closes on Good Friday only. The 2 that remain open are
entirely
>self-service, with security staff only present. 6 libraries close
for
>additional days around Easter, e.g. the Thursday before and/or
Tuesday
>after (so you are already on holiday as I write this!).
>
>Scotland - 1 Scottish institution has closed on Good Friday if it
falls in
>vacation or at the end of term. The others are open both days.
>
>(2) May/August Bank Holidays & Scottish local holidays
>
>England/Wales - 11 libraries close for both the May and August bank
>holidays and 13 close for the August one only (as the May holidays
fall in
>term-time). In some cases the institution is closed but the library
opens,
>and some libraries are self-service or study space only.
>
>Scotland - all of the Scottish libraries that replied are open for
both the
>May and August bank holidays. One closes for the July and September
local
>holidays, and others are open vacation hours only and/or with limited
>services.
>
>(3) Christmas/New Year
>
>Almost all institutions close over the entire Christmas/New Year
break,
>from 24th/25th December right through to 2nd/3rd January. A couple
open
>between Christmas and New Year, of which one is self-service only.
>
>Other comments:
>
>(a) Libraries that do open on public holidays tend to offer very
limited
>services, with reduced staff and reduced opening hours, or are
completely
>self-service with only security staff present.
>(b) Some libraries depend on getting sufficient volunteers in order to
open
>on public holidays, which can be difficult.
>(c) Some report a lack of facilities on campus if the library is open
when
>the institution is closed and problems with lack of public transport
on
>bank holidays.
>(d) Importance of ensuring IT facilities are available if the library
is
>closed.
>(e) More pressure to open on public holidays or between Christmas and
New
>Year because of increasing numbers of overseas students.
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Anne Beavan
>Directorate of Information Systems and Services
>University of Aberdeen
>Queen Mother Library
>Meston Walk
>Aberdeen AB24 3UE
>
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>Tel. (01224) 272583
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