Lamont Will Abandon Extended Exam Hours

Last spring's late-hour experiment at Lamont Library yesterday was labeled a failure by Keyes D. Metcalf, Director of the University Library. As a result, the library will not open Sundays or until midnight weekdays during reading and exam periods.

"We just don't feel the use of the library during the extra hours warrants the cost of keeping it open," Metcalf said. He cited statistics compiled last spring which showed that as few as 113 students used the library at 11 p.m. on one night during reading period.

A further reason for dropping the late hours was the misuse of facilities. Lamont librarian Phillip J. McNiff pointed out that cigarette damage was incurred to tables and cork floors, and that lunches had been discarded in the building.

Male Employees Needed

Such abuse is unusual, McNiff said, adding that one of the distinctive features of the library operation has been the high level of student responsibility.

Metcalf also emphasized that there was little use of House libraries. "On many nights," he said, "all the students using Lamont late could have easily been accommodated in the House libraries."

To continue the extended hours during reading and exam time would mean revision of the Lamont personnel schedule, with only male employees working until midnight. Such a change might mean a revision in the basic payroll amounting to $10,000, Metcalf pointed out.

Good Service Sought

Cost of operating the library on a skeleton basis for the additional hours last spring only came to $1600. This would evidently not be sufficient for satisfactory operation in the future, however.

"We would rather have a first-class library with limited hours than a second class library with longer hours," Metcalf said.

"We want to provide good service to the students," he added. "While there is no question that the plan was a convenience, our usual peak came about 8:30 p.m., and by 10, over half of the students had gone." The experiment, financed by the College, ran for five weeks.