12/13/02

AU LIBRARY ACTS ON PATRON REQUESTS FOR LONGER HOURS

AUBURN -- The Auburn University Libraries, responding to requests from its patrons, will extend its hours, starting Jan. 8, says Sherida Downer, interim dean of university libraries.

Downer says the Ralph Brown Draughon Library will be open later on weeknights and weekends on a trial basis. The new hours will not affect the library's holiday schedule.

"I believe that it is important to continually evaluate our services and make changes when neccessary in order to better meet the needs of our patrons," said Downer

Here's the new schedule, effective with the beginning of Spring Semester: Monday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m.-2 a.m. (instead of midnight) Friday, 7:45 a.m.-9 p.m. (instead of 6 p.m.) Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (instead of 6 p.m.) Sunday, 1 p.m.-2 a.m. (instead of midnight)

In April 2001, AU Libraries surveyed its patrons about the quality of library materials and services.

Patrons were asked to rank various services, access to those services and the quality of help available for those services in order. Downer said the library sought to identify areas where the library failed to meet the "minimal" requirements of those surveyed. One of the areas that the survey showed as needing improvement was the hours of operation.

Downer said if AU students and other patrons do not take advantage of the extended hours, the library will return to its existing hours.

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dec02:AU-library