As the pressure of finals week mounts, the Valley Library becomes more than a study space — it transforms into a lifeline for students.
In a pilot test, part of Valley Library at Oregon State University is extending its hours to operate 24 hours a day during finals week, providing a crucial space for students to prepare for exams, tackle late-night study marathons and polish final projects.
From Dec. 1-10, the Java II plaza will be open for students to access, however, for pilot testing purposes and the need for the library to update its accommodation resources, the Java cafe itself will not be open to provide students with beverages, nor will the rest of the library be made available
The purpose of this term’s finals week serving as a pilot test, is for the university to determine whether this is a good use of university funds or if the cost burdened by students outweighs the benefits of such an initiative.
“I definitely think I would (use the library during this time) … if it ends up happening. I think that if people are willing to staff it and it’s not too much of an issue there, it would be really beneficial for a lot of students,” said Lily Reid, a student at OSU.
The extended hours mark a new chapter for the Valley Library, which has traditionally closed at midnight during most of the year. Both the ASOSU and Valley Library have decided to experiment with 24-hour access this finals week in response to student feedback requesting more flexible study options.
In the wake of the pandemic and the needs of the student body changing, 24-hour access to the Valley Library has been a common request among students at OSU. During the presidential campaign last winter, current ASOSU student government President Audrey Schlotter heard many requests from students in regard to the potential extension of library hours.
“Students are different than they were before COVID, like we’re a different population, we’ve grown up in different ways, we need different resources so being able to navigate that and get that new influx (of information from the student body) of what students are actually using now, not five years and a pandemic ago,” Schlotter said.
For some students, the library being open at round-the-clock hours isn’t just a convenience — it’s essential.
As the library’s 24-hour schedule runs through finals week, administrators plan to evaluate the program’s success and student feedback in order to determine whether or not to make it a recurring feature in future terms.
“We’re just super excited about being able to work with the Valley Library to help students overall,” Schlotter said.
