They came armed with backpacks and brains.
Averaging about 17 heads per minute, the students flowed into Library West around 1:30 p.m. Monday, the revolving door whirring about and around.
As the semester’s end approaches, Library West and the Marston Science Library are seeing a high volume of students, especially those cramming for exams. Both libraries have extended hours.
“We do this as a service to the students,” said Vernon Kisling, department chair of the Marston Science Library.
More students go to Marston to finish projects rather than study for exams, he said.
Monday and the weekend were some of the busiest days, Kisling said.
About 20,600 students visited Library West Nov. 26 through Nov. 28, said Patrick Reakes, department chair of Library West. Those numbers only count those who came up the escalators, not students who went to Starbucks or the downstairs study area, he said.
Though the number of people who use Library West has been consistently high over the past few years, it often sees a spike in attendance during finals time, Reakes said.
On Sunday night, a Library West attendant opened an instruction room to make space for more students, he said.
He expects to have more than 7,000 students per day throughout the next week. “We’re just solid busy from here to the end of the semester,” Reakes said.
