24/7 Access & What It Means for You
| The Pilot: After the library’s usual closing time, 24/7 access to a limited area of the second floor will be available to those who present a U Card. This area encompasses the public computers, some study tables, the small group study rooms, the casual seating near the entrance, and the rest rooms. |
There will be no library services, such as photocopying, printing, circulation or reference assistance, and no access to the print collection of journals and books in the stacks. Access control will be provided by a UM Security Monitor stationed at the entrance to the second level. The pilot will run through the end of Fall Semester.
The Plan?: Since it began, there have been a number of very good questions raised about 24/7's impact on closing and opening procedures. Below are some of those questions and their answers. If you find that you have additional questions, please bring them up! There’s a good chance someone else is wondering the same thing.
1. When should I open the 2nd Floor doors to the stacks in the morning?
Until the library is officially open, leave the doors to the stacks locked.
2. How do I make sure that headphones and reserve materials are returned?
There will be a box for you to place on the desk counter for the return of headphones after hours. Reserve materials should be returned via the drop box in the lobby after hours, and there will be a sign on the headphone return box indicating where the drop box is located. It is up to the patron to return checked out materials.
3. Is there a certain way we are supposed to tell the patrons to wait until we are ready to assist them in the morning?
Yes – there are two signs that should be on the counter when you open indicating the time at which library services will resume.
4. When can we shut off the printers so that no one prints and we can count money?
You may shut off the printers at 15 minutes to closing so that you have time to perform all of the necessary closing tasks.
5. What should we do with Course Reserve materials?
Pull Course Reserves each evening at close and place them on a truck in Pat's office. Please try to keep the reserve books in their author order as you transfer them to a truck. One truck will pretty much hold all of the materials, though you'll have to use all 6 shelves. It isn’t necessary to place all of the blue plastic containers from the course number ordered shelves when they just contain envelopes of photocopied materials. Do move the videotapes and any other items that look like original copies. In the morning, please replace the items on their shelves, taking care to oversee that sections didn't get jumbled in the process.
6. Do the guards go around and ask everyone for U Cards at closing?
It is the security guard’s job to verify the U Cards of patrons remaining in the library on the 2nd Floor at closing. However, do your best to work with the security guards should he or she need your help with verification or clearing the library. Please also make an effort to communicate to patrons that the library will be closing when appropriate.
7. How will we be handling the group study rooms after hours?
The door between the main library floor and the group study rooms should be locked, although the individual rooms should remain open. Patron(s) wishing to use one of the rooms should check in with the monitor, who will record their student or staff IDs. He or she will then allow them entry.