Hi,

Apologies for cross-posting but this is an enquiry more for academic libraries.

I have been asked to investigate academic library opening hours over bank holidays.  Here at CCCU, the University closes over all the bank holidays recognised by the University in its terms and conditions of employment which is basically all English bank holidays.  However there has also been a long standing local agreement whereby Library Services remains open certainly at the larger campuses over the two May bank holidays.  The rationale for this is their proximity to the exams period but this is creating some difficulty as the library is trying to provide a service without any support from other departments as the University is closed.  Over the years, it has been difficult to find staff volunteers for the two May bank holidays and now that we have moved so much towards self-service, there is also a question over the value of being open or at least offering a staffed service when the University itself is closed.  

In order to present a paper on our bank holiday opening, I am interested in how other academic libraries deal with bank holidays.  Just to add to the confusion, the whole issue of bank holidays is rather confusing as the number involved varies between the component countries that make up the United Kingdom!  

Key questions

1.  What bank holidays are recognised by your institution?  Is this recorded in your terms and conditions?

2.  Does the Library open on any of the bank holidays?  Which ones and why?

3. If yes, to Q2, then is the entire university open of is it just the library and a few student facing services?

4.  In what capacity is the library open over bank holidays -

a) To provide access to PCs and study space only.
b) To provide a limited library service - please define what this entails.
c) Normal library service.

5. What is the staffing level and categories of staff that work over the bank holiday -

a) Security staff only?
b) Special out of hours library team?
c) Volunteers from regular library staff?
d) Regular library staff - if the institution is open then so is the library and vice versa.
e) Other - what is this?

Apologies for the rather clunky nature of my questions but there are potentially many opening models that could be followed.

Thanks for any assistance and I will summarise for both lists.

Thanks,

Annette



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Annette Linton,
Bibliographic and User Services Librarian,
Canterbury Christ Church University,
North Holmes Road,
Canterbury
CT1 1QU

Ph:   01227 782516
Fax:  01227 863412

E-mail:  [log in to unmask]


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