Editorial

Library, computer lab hours limited during breaks

How strategic that fall break lands a weekend before midterm papers and tests are generally due. Whether this was a thought-out plan on behalf of the administration or pure luck of the draw, many students take advantage of a Thursday and Friday off from classes to do final preparation for midterms.

Class time is not the only hours that are decreased during fall break. Hours of operation in the library and computer labs have also been reduced. The library is open Oct. 11 and 12 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed Oct. 13 and 14. There are no specific hours that the computer labs are open or closed. Outside the lab doors is a sign that states the normal hours of operation and that those hours may change during breaks.

These lowered hours do not just apply to fall break, but are limited or canceled during Thanksgiving and winter breaks as well.

The hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. are common work hours for daytime clerical jobs; decreased hours are not taking into account students and professors who have obligations at these times. One example is students who are student teaching during the day. These hours also assume that all students go home during breaks, when in reality, many upper-level undergraduates, graduate students and professors live locally.

In the Sept. 12 issue of The Leader, the article "Hours of facilities limited during the first week of classes," discussed the issue of limited access to the library and computer labs during Labor Day weekend. According to Colin Plaister, academic information technology director, he does not know a way to rectify the problem because there is no "full time staff to put in [the library and computer labs]."

However, at the start of each semester, anyone who is registered for classes must pay a mandatory $450 student service, program and college fee in addition to their tuition bill. This fee covers services such as parking, the health center, transportation, gyms and Internet, print outlets and new technology (such as Windows 2007) in the library and computer labs.

Randy Gadikian, Reed Library director, also stated in the article that most of the library's resources are available online and that, "Students just cannot access the physical space [of the library]." However, Gadikian is ignoring the tangible services of the library such as books, microfilms, computers and printers.

Furthermore, there are people who do not own their own computer and/or printer and depend on campus technology to do research and print material. For people who do own a computer but no printer, the new Windows 2007 is not compatible with all older versions of Word. When writing a paper at home, several students and professors cannot open their Word file in the library or computer labs; they must have access to the physical space of the library or computer labs to print papers.

If a lack of financial backing is the reason behind limited hours of operation, where the $450 per student go? It is understandable that this money is branched between different campus services and programs, but having access to the Internet, print outlets and books is an important necessity for students and professors on a campus.

The Leader feels that Reed Library and the computer labs are not accommodating all of the people at SUNY Fredonia. From local to commuting students and teaching/graduate assistants to professors, hours need to recognize people with daytime jobs and those who have limited access to technology.

Hours of operation need to continue into the night and weekends so that everyone at Fredonia has an equal opportunity to get their money's worth and work finished.