Night Owls program offers support for nocturnal studiers

Attention, late-night, caffeine-fuelled studiers looking for refuge from busy residences and noisy roommates: the “Dal Night Owls” program at the Killam Library has returned.

Insomniacs, last minute crammers and students living in cramped lodgings can now hunker down in the quiet fluorescent buzz of the first floor of the Killam Library until 3 a.m from Sunday to Thursday through the rest of the exam period.

The extended hours began as a Student Services-initiated pilot project two years ago in response to overwhelming student requests for study space and later hours. It has now become an exam period staple, running through December 20 this fall and returning again next semester from March 4 to April 23.

Tina Usmiani, communications officer for Dalhousie Libraries, says that when their comments board became mired in pleas to keep the library open later, staff sat down with Student Services to see just what they could offer the students.

"We debated for a while about how long we should keep it open," explains Ms Usmiani. "We knew that 3 a.m. would only be marginally better than midnight, but, from a financial standpoint we also couldn't justify keeping the library open 24/7, especially as we keep two commissionaires on duty to ensure a secure environment."

With Dal’s growing population, students seem thankful for a refuge away from clutter and noise, even in the wee hours of the morning. Dalhousie ensures a safe and quiet workspace for its late-night library patrons by offering free parking from midnight until 3 am in the parkade under the McCain building, and security is provided by vigilant and amiable commissionaires who require the swipe of a DalCard to access the library after midnight.

"The library is neutral territory, neither work nor home: it's secure and it's friendly" says Ms.Usmiani. "There are people who can't work in residence or at home because it's so hectic, and we really want to accommodate them."

Hunkered down in the Killam

The Learning Commons seems to simmer with quiet productivity at night: there's a stressful and strung-out vibe at times, red-eyed researchers scanning pages and maniacally mashing keyboards. Students working on all manner of assignments are spread out, some camping with thermoses full of tea and MacBooks in the atrium while others have their feet up, cozy with a good book in the plush chairs in the Learning Commons.

"We're finishing a huge end-of-the-term project at the last minute," admits Andrew Drummon, an Engineering student at Dalhousie, as he clicks on the shading brush to touch up his design. "I'm pretty thankful that this place is open late, and I get the feeling a lot of people are in the same boat.”

"I'm just thankful I can get the hell out of my noisy house," chuckles his project partner Mike Greyy. "If they had food here, we'd be set," he adds, with a glint of hunger in his eyes.

"I'm here because I'm wide awake, and thought I'd be productive," says Commerce student Krista Brown, leafing through PowerPoint slides. "I really think that midnight is not nearly late enough for this place to be open. I do my best work after 11 p.m. Sometimes during midterms I'm busier than I am for finals, and I know people who are pretty much swamped all year, so it would be nice to have this place open throughout the semester."

Considering library hours

Ms. Brown is not the only student who’d be interested in more time at the library.

"I have a lot of friends at other schools whose libraries are open 24/7, and I think that it's kind of unfair that I get yelled at and shooed out of the fourth floor at only 11:30 p.m. when I've just found the source I need,” says Jordan Marsh, another Dal Commerce student. “Plus, they could make an absolute killing with a coffee machine in here.”

Ms. Usmiani appreciates the interest in more hours, and says that staff at Dalhousie Libraries are always keen to receive feedback from students as to how to improve the experience. She notes, however, that while Night Owls has been popular, the extra expense involved in creating a safe studying environment for 24 hours is difficult to justify

"Even with the 3 a.m. extension, we haven't reached a point where the Learning Commons is close to full," explains Tina. "For now we’ll be sticking to these hours during both Christmas and final exam periods, but we’re pleased that the students who are coming to campus late at night are appreciating and making good use of the opportunity to study with us for a few more hours.”