Group members in the library at 1 a.m. working on final projects Photo by Ashley Velazquez
With what most students call hell week here and finals, Hunter Library is open 24 hours in the next 5 days.
During 24/5, many students come to camp out all day and overnight in the library to finish assignments and study for final exams. While finishing up the semester in the library, many students bring with them not only their school materials but snacks, drinks, and blankets. Many students even bring alcoholic beverages with them to try and handle the stress once it gets too far.
The head of the library’s Technology, Access, and Special Collections, Mark Stoffan, said that about 14,000 students were counted between April 28 and May 4.
When looking at the expectations of students coming in, Stoffan said: “We find most of our students are focused on studying, but we occasionally have issues with groups making excessive noise. We have no hard rules (other than university policies) as long as the behavior doesn’t disturb other users.”
In the library, they offer free coffee every night starting around 10:30 p.m. to students and occasionally offer snacks provided by student organizations. This is to help provide motivation to students to keep pushing when some feel like giving up.
A girl asleep in the booths on the first floor of the library. Photo by Ashley Velazquez
“I wanna cry, runaway, and graduate all at the same time,” says Kaitlyn Barker, a senior. Barker is one of many students who has been staying in the library until 6:30 a.m. when they have to move their cars from near the library to the right spaces.
Students quickly move to book study rooms for themselves and friends as most times people plan on taking naps throughout their time in the library. While some get the study rooms, others rush to grab a booth or more comfortable seating so when they are ready to rest they have a comfortable space.
Using the new features of the library, the booths, for napping areas is something different from what librarians and other students would see five to six years ago. In the past, students would set up tents at the base of the main stairs on the ground floor so when they need to sleep they have a place to sleep.
To help get students to come, a Cat Tran, starting at 2:30 a.m., waits at the library stop until 7:30 a.m. taking students specifically to their locations. This helps those who want to come to the library but feel unsafe traveling late at night.
