Mary

We run in 24/7 mode with security staff in the library building from midnight onwards through to 8am.  We are not in the middle of the city centre but are close to the students union and student accommodation.  We’ve had various issues including drunken and distressed students, late night fast food deliveries, an attempted robbery and blocked toilets.  I wouldn’t contemplate running the library in unstaffed mode overnight.  We use a third party contractor to provide the security service.

Tracey

From: A general library and information science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Davidson, Mary
Sent: 25 May 2017 16:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 24/7 library opening

I read with interest the Loughborough University summary report on decision making around academic library opening hours.

Our library will be going 24/7 in the not too distant future.  We are not a large institution and do not have much in the way of pre-existing campus security measures in place.  Additionally we are a mixed economy institution (roughly 50:50 split in terms of student numbers across FE and HE) and a very open campus.  The plan is for the library to be unstaffed every day from 5.30 pm to 8.00 am the next morning (and from 5.30 pm on a Friday until 8.00 am on a Monday).

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has gone 24/7 whether any of the concerns they had were in the end unjustified, or whether additional “issues” reared their heads around security, safeguarding etc. and in balancing student expectation (demand for access vs. an unstaffed service).

With thanks,

Mary

Mary Davidson MSc MCLIP

Lead Librarian

Writtle University College
Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3RR
D: 01245 424243
T: 01245 424200
E: [log in to unmask]
W: writtle.ac.uk

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