Students will soon be able to camp out at a couple of campus libraries for 20 hours straight if they so desire.
Back by popular demand, hours at UF's two main libraries will be extended next week for the third semester in a row. Library West and Marston Science Library will stay open until 4 a.m. from Saturday to Dec. 18.
Although aspects of the program could be tweaked in the future, the expanded hours for exams are expected to be a permanent fixture in library services, according to Dean of University Libraries Judith Russell.
The extra library camp-out time will cost $5,000 to $10,000, which will be drawn from the Friends of the George A. Smathers Libraries fund, Russell wrote in an e-mail.
Starbucks in Library West will remain open until 4 a.m. and Einstein Bros. Bagels will stay open until 2 a.m. to cater to late-night caffeine fixes and snack attacks.
In a new move, librarians will be available for students online via late-night instant messaging. The service, an extension of the Ask A Librarian service, will start Sunday and last from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Library student assistants will be online from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Last fall, nearly 86,000 people came through Library West during its lengthened days, a 36 percent increase from a total taken during a week mid-semester.
In spring, Marston Science Library and Library West saw an increase of 24 percent during weeks with extended hours, based on numbers taken from head counts and gate counts, said Barbara Hood, spokeswoman for UF libraries.
Student Body President Kevin Reilly discussed methods to further extend library hours in a meeting with Russell about two weeks ago.
Reilly said they discussed a year-round extension of library hours, but money is one of the main factors holding them back.
More than $200,000 a year would be needed to provide 24-hour service five days a week, and sufficient staff would be difficult to find for the entire year for the shifts, Russell wrote.
Student Senate President Jordan Johnson said Student Government plans to conduct a campuswide poll to determine student opinion about extending library hours year-round.
