When Baker-Berry library began staying open 24 hours a day during reading and finals period last fall, the intention was to accommodate students' need for a study space well past the library's usual 2 a.m. closing time. The policy, however, has unintentionally generated a battle for prime real estate in the library, with some students securing desks for extended periods of time leaving their belongings in place even while they are gone and other students left deskless and hopeless in their search for a quiet spot to work.
"There are 1,137 chairs in Baker-Berry Library and I can't find a place to work!" is written on flyers encased in plastic frames and placed on tables throughout the library. "Please be considerate, move your stuff when you go!"
With these flyers, the library staff and the Dartmouth Student Advisors for Library and Computing are attempting to counter students' tendencies to leave their belongings unattended at a desk merely to reserve the space for long periods of time, according to Ridie Ghezzi, the head of research and instruction services for Baker-Berry Library.
The advertising campaign began largely in response to student complaints, Ghezzi said. Students interviewed by The Dartmouth expressed their frustrations with lack of study spaces in the 24-hour library.
"What people should do is pick up their stuff if they're leaving for more than an hour," Neil Bhatt '14 said.
Kipkorir Kirui '11 said students' use of personal items to reserve desks is unfair to others who may want to study for just an hour or two during the day.
Safety and Security officers are responsible for the overall security of the library after 2 a.m., but they are told by librarians not to remove students' belongings from desks in order to avoid the appearance of the officers policing the library, according to Ghezzi.
"The biggest financial barrier in making this [24-hour library opening] happen was finding funding for the [Safety and Security] officers," Ghezzi said.
Ghezzi said the ultimate goal is to create a designated area where students can place the possessions that have been left on desks. A library policy endorsing such a system would make students more comfortable with removing others' things, she said.
"We want to find a way to both encourage students to think about their fellow students and give them permission to carefully move people's things," Ghezzi said.
Bhatt said this policy could be effective for the late night hours of the library because unattended items at that time would likely mean that the student has gone to sleep. Students may disapprove of such a system, however, because of the personal and expensive nature of the belongings left in the library, including laptops and wallets, Nii Addy '13 said.
Several students interviewed by The Dartmouth said they would be receptive to a culture in which students left polite notes informing others that their belongings have been moved aside temporarily, as long as the person originally occupying the desk could work there upon returning.
The 24-hour library policy was implemented Fall term in response to student demand, according to Dean of Libraries Jeffrey Horrell. Some students would prefer the library to be open 24-hours for the entire term, but that is logistically unfeasible, Horrell said. The library is generally cleaned after 2 a.m., creating logistical problems for a long-standing 24-hour policy, according to Horrell.
Due to continued demand for longer hours, extended weekend hours were introduced to the library which is now open until 2 a.m. every day of the week at the start of Spring term, according to Horrell. The library previously closed at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, according to the library's website.
