20,000 Lamont Volumes Used in 3-Week Period

Undergraduates studying for examination flooded Lamont Library and used more than 20,000 books in the three-week reading and exam period, reported Philip F. McNiff, Assistant Librarian in charge of Lamont.

"The unusual demand, 15 per cent more than previous exam periods, was due to a shortened reading period," continued McNiff. He said that there had been no increase in books taken from the library at night, but that those used in the building during the day had risen markedly.

The reading period was cut from 15 to nine days. McNiff felt the large freshman class was an important factor in the increased use of books.

The most concentrated call for books came Saturday, January 10, when more than 2,300 were taken out for weekend study. McNiff compared this figure to the 3,000 books used over Christmas vacation, commenting that the undergraduate must have done his studying "in rush."