Widener Austerity Program Begins; Stack Service on Saturday Halted

A modified austerity program will begin tomorrow in Widener library when the first measures counteracting the new five day, 35 hour week will go into effect.

Stack service and circulation will no longer exist in Widener Saturday afternoons although students with permission may still use the stacks. Both the archives and the official catalogue will also be closed at that time.

The changes in Widener will be the only major ones in the library system for the time being. Houghton Library will hire three men to take the place of its regular employees on Saturday mornings, and thus will be able to maintain its normal hours. Lamont's staff will also be augmented in order to offset the decreased work week.

Keyes D. Metcalf, director of the University Library, said that the increased staff will be paid for out of gifts and tuition. He added, "We have tried to shorten the hours where it would hurt the fewest people."

Phillip J. McNiff, Librarian in charge of Lamont Library, remarked that the freshman request to have Lamont open Sundays was received just at the time when cuts in library service were being meditated. "Granting this request would have produced a 10 to 18 percent increase in wages," he said, "while our economics in Lamont are only a five percent decrease."

The libraries will also be closed on the Saturdays before Christmas and New Years, December 23 and 30.