Letter to the Editor

February 23, 2000
Dear Editor,

Thank you for your thoughtful editorial in the February 16 issue of The Delphian regarding the hours of the Swirbul Library.  We (the Library Faculty and Administration and the Faculty Senate Committee on the Library) have been discussing the desirability of increased hours.  We assume that at least one of the needs for expanded hours is occasioned by last summer's creation of the "Swirbul Information Commons" and the move of the drop-in Computer labs to the Library.

While it is unlikely that Adelphi can afford to staff a major increase in Library hours, we would like to consider at least a modest increase.  With this objective in mind, we need to determine specifically just what additional hours students would like to see and which of our services and facilities they would like to able to use.  Is the primary need for expanded use of the Computer Labs?  Or, do students need to be able to use the resources and services of our other departments - Circulation/Reserve Reading, Reference, Periodicals, and Nonprint?  Or, perhaps they just need a quiet place to study?

Within the next few weeks we plan to conduct a user survey to help answer these questions.  Meanwhile, any input from students would be appreciated and can be directed to me at the Swirbul Library.  Also, any student is welcome to attend the meetings of the Faculty Senate Committee on the Library.  The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m. in my office.

Sincerely, 

Eugene T. Neely
Dean of Libraries