Survey of academic library upper management view of 24 hour libr

SURVEY OF ACADEMIC LIBRARY
UPPER MANAGEMENT: VIEW OF 24HOUR LIBRARY ACCESS

©2018 Primary Research Group Inc. ISBN 9978-1-57440-555-2


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
Contents
THE QUESTIONNAIRE............................................................................................................................... 5
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS OF THE SURVEY PARTICIPANTS ..................................... 8
Characteristics of the Sample ........................................................................................................... 11
SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS ....................................................................................................... 14
Current Library Policies on 24-Hour Access ......................................................................... 14
Does the Library Plan to Initiate, Rolle Back or Increase 24-Hour Access? .............. 15
Staffing for 24-Hour Library Access ......................................................................................... 16
Opinion on the Value of 24-Hour Library Access ................................................................ 16
Advice for Peers About 24-Hour Library Access ................................................................. 17
Table 1.1 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? ............ 18
Table 1.2 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by professional title of the survey participant................................................................... 18
Table 1.3 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by field of study of the survey participant .......................................................................... 19
Table 1.4 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by age of the survey participant .............................................................................................. 19
Table 1.5 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out for public and private colleges/universities ...................................................................... 20

Table 1.6 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by Carnegie class or type of institution ................................................................................ 20
Table 1.7 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by enrollment ................................................................................................................................. 21
Table 1.8 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by undergraduate tuition, $ ...................................................................................................... 21
Table 1.9 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies? Broken
out by regional location of the institution ................................................................................... 22
Table 1.10 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour access policies?
Broken out by gender of the survey participant ....................................................................... 22
Table 2.1 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
...................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Table 2.2 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by professional title of the survey participant................................................... 25
Table 2.3 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by field of study of the survey participant........................................................... 26
Table 2.4 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by age of the survey participant .............................................................................. 26
Table 2.5 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out for public and private colleges/universities....................................................... 27
Table 2.6 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by Carnegie class or type of institution ................................................................ 27
Table 2.7 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by enrollment ................................................................................................................. 28
Table 2.8 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by undergraduate tuition, $ ...................................................................................... 28
Table 2.9 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by regional location of the institution ................................................................... 29
Table 2.10 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
Broken out by gender of the survey participant ....................................................................... 29

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
Who staffs the library for off-hours access? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of
institution.................................................................................................................................................30
Table 3.1 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? ...........34
Table 3.2 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by professional title of the survey participant ...................................................................34
Table 3.3 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by field of study of the survey participant...........................................................................35
Table 3.4 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by age of the survey participant ..............................................................................................35
Table 3.5 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out for public and private colleges/universities.......................................................................36
Table 3.6 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by Carnegie class or type of institution ................................................................................36
Table 3.7 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by enrollment .................................................................................................................................37
Table 3.8 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by undergraduate tuition, $ ......................................................................................................37
Table 3.9 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? Broken
out by regional location of the institution ...................................................................................38
Table 3.10 How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access?
Broken out by gender of the survey participant .......................................................................38
What advice would you have for peer libraries about 24-hour access? Broken out by
Carnegie class or type of institution ..............................................................................................39
OTHER REPORTS OF POTENTIAL INTEREREST FROM PRIMARY RESEARCH GROUP
......................................................................................................................................................................45

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

THE QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Please provide your contact information below
A. Name
B. Title
C. Institution
D. Email Address
Field of Study in which you obtained your highest level academic degree:

2. Which choice best describes your age?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Under 40
40-49
50-59
60-65
65+

3. Your college or university is public or private?
A.
B.

Public
Private

4. Your college or university is best described as:
A.
B.
C.
D.

Junior College
BA-Granting
MA or PHD Granting
Research University

5. What is your college/university’s total approximate FTE enrollment for all
schools and programs?
6. What is the average annual price of undergraduate tuition, the so-called
sticker price, before financial aid or deductions?

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
7. The physical location of most of your college/university’s facilities are:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

In the US South
In the US Midwest
In the US Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
In the US West
Non-USA

8. Your gender is?
A.
B.
C.

Male
Female
Transgender

9. Which phrase best describes the library's 24-hour access policies?
A.
B.

Have no 24-hour access at all
Have 24-hour access to limited facilities in exam periods or other limited
times
C. Have 24-hour access to limited facilities virtually all of the time
D. Have extensive 24-hour access to many facilities virtually all of the time
E. If so, describe the form and extent of access?
10. Do you plan to initiate, roll back or increase 24 hour access to the library?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Don't have it and don't plan to implement it
Roll back or decrease such access
Initiate
Increase such access

11. Who staffs the library for off-hours access?

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

12. How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Too much trouble to serve too few people
A good idea to a limited extent
Only during special periods, such as exam time
An excellent idea that extends library service and serves the clientele

13. What advice would you have for peer libraries about 24-hour access?

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS OF THE SURVEY PARTICIPANTS

Arkansas Tech University
Boise State University
Bowling Green State University
Bradley University
Brenau University
Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo
California State University Channel Islands
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Coastal Carolina University, Kimbel Library
Drexel University
Florida Atlantic University
Iowa State University
Longwood University
Louisiana State University
Macalester College
Manhattan College
Marist College
Marquette University
McGill University
Mercer County Community College
Mississippi Valley State University
Missouri State University-West Plains
The New School Libraries and Archives

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Oral Roberts University
Panola College
Point Loma Nazarene University
Roberts Wesleyan College
Saint Louis University School of Law
State Fair Community College
Stetson University
SUNY Oswego
Syracuse University
UNC Charlotte, Murrey Atkins Library
University of Arkansas Fayetteville
University of California Riverside
University of California San Francisco
University of Central Arkansas
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Kansas Libraries
University of Kentucky Libraries
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Michigan - Flint
University of New England
University of North Dakota
University of Northern Colorado
University of Rochester
University of South Carolina Upstate
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Texas Arlington
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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
University of Vermont, Dana Medical Library
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
West Virginia University Parkersburg

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Characteristics of the Sample
Title

Library Director
Dean of Libraries/University
Librarian
Associate & Assistant Library
Directors & Deans
Department Heads & Directors
Total

#
61
16
15
26
118

Field of Study
#
77

Library/Information Science
Library/Information
Science+Second MA or PHD
Law/Business
Education
Theology
Liberal Arts & Sciences*
Total

15
9
6
5
6
118

*Predominantly History
Which choice best describes your age?

Under 40
40-49
50-59
60-65
65+
Total

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#
18
31
31
20
18
118


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
Your college or university is public or private?

Public
Private
Total

#
75
43
118

Your college or university is best described as:

Junior College
BA-Granting
MA or PHD Granting
Research University
Total

#
16
18
50
34
118

What is your college/university’s total approximate FTE enrollment for all schools
and programs?

Less than 2000
2000 - 4999
5000 - 9999
10000 - 20000
More than 20000
Total

#
29
29
19
22
19
118

What is the average annual price in US dollars of undergraduate tuition the so-called
sticker price before financial aid or deductions?

Less than 6000

6000 - 9999
10000 - 19999
20000 - 30000
More than 30000
Total

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#
22
26
27
18
25
118


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
The physical location of most of your college/university’s facilities are:

In the US South
In the US Midwest
In the US Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
In the US West
Non-USA
Total

#
35
28

30
20
5
118

Your gender is?

Male
Female
Total

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#
45
73
118


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS
Current Library Policies on 24-Hour Access
We asked: Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-Hour Access Policies? We
gave three answers to this multiple choice question; these were: 1) Have no 24-hour
access at all 2) Have 24-hour access to limited facilities in exam periods or other
limited times 3) Have 24-hour access to limited facilities virtually all of the time
4) Have extensive 24-hour access to many facilities virtually all of the time
Slightly more than half – 50.85% -- of all participants said that their libraries had no
24-hour access at all. Another 18.64% had limited 24-hour access periods limited to

exam time or other limited periods. 20.34% had 24-hour access virtually all of the
time but it was only to limited facilities. Finally, 9.32% had 24-hour virtually all of
the time to “many facilities.”
For reasons not well understood by us, it was older survey participants, those in
their 60’s and older, who were much more likely than others to say that their
libraries had some substantial form of 24-hour access. Differences were not great
between public and private colleges with public colleges more likely to offer access
all the time to limited facilities and private colleges more likely to offer 24-hour
access to broad range of facilities. Research universities were much more likely
than other institutions in the sample to offer at least some 24-hour access some or
most of the time, while only 20.59% of the executives at research universities
surveyed said that their institutions did not offer any kind of 24-hour access at all,
compared with 61.11% of BA-level institutions and 87.5% of junior colleges.
Also, in general and with some notable exceptions, the larger the college, the greater
the propensity to offer 24-hour access. Only 13.79% of the colleges of those
interviewed from institutions with fewer than 2,000 students offered 24-hour access
to limited facilities virtually all of the time, and the same exact percentage of those in
institutions with between 2,000 and 4,999 students did the same. However, those
with from 5,000 to 9,999 students offered it 21.05% of the time, rising to 22.73% for
those with from 10,000 to 20,000 students, and to 36.84% of those at institutions
with more than 20,000 students. An exception should be noted, that the percentage
of those offering 24-hour access to many facilities also increases with institutional
size, until the size reaches more than 20,000, when it plummets, probably because
these institutions have very large libraries and it would not be feasible to keep so
many departments open at night.
We also asked those with some form of 24-hour access to describe when the policy
was in effect.
Some noted that access was restricted to a main floor, or to various study rooms; in
some cases access is also provided to certain specialized libraries; a few provided
24-hour access to all library facilities. In addition to space or area restrictions, many

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
libraries only offered 24-hour access five days per week, or only during or near
exams, or from Sunday to Thursday, among other arrangements.

Does the Library Plan to Initiate, Rolle Back or Increase 24-Hour Access?
We asked: Do you plan to initiate, roll back or increase 24-hour access to the
library? We offered four possible answers to this multiple choice question. These
were: 1) Don't have it and don't plan to implement it 2) Roll back or decrease
such access 3) Initiate 4) Increase such access
10.17% did not answer the question and 54.24% said that they don’t have it and
don’t plan to implement it) while only 2.54% said that they plan to roll it back or
decrease this access and 10.17% said that they plan to initiate it. Nearly 23%
planned to increase 24-hour access. Those a bit lower down on the administrative
totem pole, such as associate and assistant deans, associate and assistant library
directors, and department heads and directors, were more likely than library
directors or full deans or university librarians to want to increase such access.
For example, 33.33% of assistant and associate deans and directors wanted to
increase 24-hour access, and another 13.33% wanted to initiate it. The same data
for library directors was that only 16.39% wanted to increase such access while
8.2% wanted to initiate it. Another variable that correlated strongly with tendency
to want to initiate or increase 24-hour access was library high level executives with
degrees in law or business vs those with the more traditional library science
degrees.
In addition, support for initiating or increasing 24-hour access was much, much
greater among public than private colleges and universities. 13.33% of those
surveyed working in public colleges wanted to initiate 24-hour access and 28%
wanted to increase such access. For those working in private colleges, the same data

was that 4.65% wanted to initiate (about a third the level of the public colleges) and
13.95% wanted to increase such access (about half the level of the public colleges).
Institutional type or Carnegie class was also strongly related to the tendency to want
to initiate or increase 24-hour access. For research universities, 14.71% wanted to
initiate 24-hour access and 38.24% wanted to increase such access. For BA-granting
institutions none wanted to initiate such access and only 16.67% wanted to increase
it.
Size mattered a lot. For higher education institutions with more than 20,000
students, 52.64% wanted to increase 24-hour access and another 15.79% wanted to
initiate it. Region did not seem to mean much except when it came to Canada; 60%
of Canadian institutions in the sample wanted to increase 24-hour access.
Male respondents were much more likely than female ones to want to initiate 24hour access if an institution did not already have it, perhaps suggesting greater
wariness from women of the security issues involved in 24-hour access.
Interestingly, there was not a great difference in the percentage of men and women
who wanted to increase such access for institutions that already provided it at least
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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
to some degree – 21.92% of women and 24.44% of men wanted increased 24-hour
access, perhaps suggesting that if security concerns are met, gender differences on
the issue would more or less disappear or at least significantly diminish.

Staffing for 24-Hour Library Access
We asked: Who staffs the library for off-hours access?
The range of solutions was broad. For many institutions, libraries have no staff, not
even students, at their off-hours locations. A few staffed it only with campus
security. Some used part timers and/or student workers. Some staff it with full time
librarians and offer an array of services; others rely on graduate students; still
others on adjunct librarians. While some staff only with a campus security officer,

others rely only on card swiped access with security monitoring closed circuit
cameras.

Opinion on the Value of 24-Hour Library Access
We asked: How would you best describe your impressions of 24-hour access? We
gave four possible answers to this multiple choice questions; these are: 1) Too much
trouble to serve too few people
2) A good idea to a limited extent 3) Only
during special periods, such as exam time 4) An excellent idea that extends library
service and serves the clientele
Nearly 23% felt that it was “too much trouble to service too few people”, while a bit
more than 22% chose “a good idea to a limited extent” and 23.7% picked “only
during special periods such as exam time” and 29.66% thought 24-hour library
access “an excellent idea that extends library service and serves the clientele.”
Support was clearly lowest among library directors; 31.15% felt that it was “too
much trouble to serve too few people” and only 26.23% felt it was “an excellent idea
that extends library service and serves the clientele.”
Librarians whose primarily field of education was law or business had a much more
favourable impression of 24-hour access than those librarians with an MLIS or other
degrees. For those trained in law or business, none felt it was “too much trouble to
serve too few people” and 55.56% felt it was “an excellent idea that extends library
service and serves the clientele.” Once again those from public colleges were more
enthusiastic than those from private colleges about 24-hour access; only 18.67% of
the former felt that 24-hour library access for patrons was “too much trouble to
serve too few people” while 33.33% thought it “an excellent idea that extends library
services and services the clientele” while for private colleges the corresponding data
was 30.23% and 23.26%.
More than any other characteristic, institutional type was the best predictor of
library upper management support for 24-hour library access for patrons. For
survey respondents from junior colleges, only 6.25% thought 24-hour access “an

excellent idea” and this figure rose to 11.11% for BA-level colleges, and 28% for
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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
MA/PHD level schools; for research universities, it was 52.94%. The largest colleges
also were very supportive of 24-hour access; 63.16% of those interviewed from
colleges with more than 20,000 students thought it “an excellent idea.” Very high
tuition schools were also very supportive; more than 48% of those with annual
tuition exceeding $30,000 annually through it “an excellent idea.”

Advice for Peers About 24-Hour Library Access
We asked: What advice would you have for peer libraries about 24-hour access?
The range of advice offered was broad but a few themes came up often. First, know
your numbers. How many students are likely to use the service? And what library
services, if any, would they use. Two, get buy-in from all necessary players,
including campus security and police. Three, conduct tests to compile the needed
likely traffic info. Think through the safety issues in particular but in general. Most
respondents noted that the policy is very popular with students and that the library
has no regrets – but there were notable exceptions!

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Table 1.1 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies?
No Answer

Entire
sample

0.85%

Have no
Have 2424-hour
hour access
access at all to limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
50.85%
18.64%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities
virtually all
of the time

Have
extensive 24hour access
to many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

20.34%

9.32%

Table 1.2 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by professional title of the survey
participant
Title

No
Answer

Have no
24-hour
access at
all

Library Director
Dean of
Libraries/University
Librarian
Associate & Assistant
Library Directors &
Deans
Department Heads &
Directors

1.64%
0.00%

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Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities
virtually
all of the
time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually
all of the
time

59.02%
43.75%

Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities
in exam
periods or

other
limited
times
11.48%
25.00%

19.67%
18.75%

8.20%
12.50%

0.00%

46.67%

20.00%

20.00%

13.33%

0.00%

38.46%

30.77%

23.08%

7.69%


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Table 1.3 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by field of study of the survey
participant
Field of study

No
Answer

Have no
24-hour
access at
all

Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities
virtually
all of the
time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to

many
facilities
virtually
all of the
time

49.35%

Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities
in exam
periods or
other
limited
times
16.88%

Library/Information
Science
Library/Information
Science+Second MA
or PHD
Law/Business
Education
Theology
Liberal Arts &
Sciences*

0.00%

24.68%

9.09%

6.67%

46.67%

26.67%

13.33%

6.67%

0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

44.44%
50.00%
80.00%
66.67%

22.22%
33.33%
0.00%
16.67%

22.22%
0.00%
20.00%
0.00%

11.11%
16.67%
0.00%
16.67%

Table 1.4 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by age of the survey participant
Which choice No Answer
best
describes
your age?

Have no
24-hour
access at all

Under 40
40-49
50-59
60-65
65+

50.00%
54.84%

51.61%
45.00%
50.00%

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0.00%
3.23%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
22.22%
19.35%
25.81%
10.00%
11.11%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities
virtually all

of the time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

22.22%
19.35%
12.90%
30.00%
22.22%

5.56%
3.23%
9.68%
15.00%
16.67%


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Table 1.5 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out for public and private
colleges/universities
Your college

or university
is public or
private?

No Answer

Public
Private

1.33%
0.00%

Have no
Have 2424-hour
hour access
access at all to limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
48.00%
18.67%
55.81%
18.60%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities

virtually all
of the time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

24.00%
13.95%

8.00%
11.63%

Table 1.6 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by Carnegie class or type of
institution
Your college
or university
is best
described as:

No Answer

Junior College
BA-Granting

MA or PHD
Granting
Research
University

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Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities
virtually all
of the time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

6.25%
0.00%
0.00%

Have no
Have 2424-hour
hour access
access at all to limited

facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
87.50%
0.00%
61.11%
11.11%
56.00%
16.00%

6.25%
16.67%
16.00%

0.00%
11.11%
12.00%

0.00%

20.59%

35.29%

8.82%

35.29%

Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Table 1.7 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by enrollment
Enrollment

No Answer

Have no
24-hour
access at
all

Less than 2000
2000 – 4999
5000 – 9999
10000 – 20000
More than
20000

0.00%
3.45%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

79.31%
65.52%

31.58%
36.36%
21.05%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
3.45%
10.34%
36.84%
18.18%
36.84%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities
virtually all
of the time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities

virtually all
of the time

13.79%
13.79%
21.05%
22.73%
36.84%

3.45%
6.90%
10.53%
22.73%
5.26%

Table 1.8 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by undergraduate tuition, $
Undergraduate
tuition, $

No
Answer

Have no
24-hour
access at
all

Less than 6000
6000 – 9999

10000 – 19999
20000 – 30000
More than 30000

4.55%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

77.27%
42.31%
40.74%
77.78%
28.00%

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Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
9.09%
26.92%
22.22%

5.56%
24.00%

Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities
virtually
all of the
time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

4.55%
19.23%
33.33%
11.11%
28.00%

4.55%
11.54%
3.70%
5.56%

20.00%


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Table 1.9 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour
access policies? Broken out by regional location of the institution
The physical
location of most
of your college or
university’s
facilities are:

No
Answer

Have no
24-hour
access at
all

Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities
virtually
all of the
time

Have

extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

45.71%
50.00%
50.00%

Have 24hour
access to
limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
25.71%
14.29%
13.33%

In the US South
In the US Midwest
In the US
Northeast/MidAtlantic
In the US West

Non-USA

0.00%
3.57%
0.00%

20.00%
21.43%
23.33%

8.57%
10.71%
13.33%

0.00%
0.00%

65.00%
40.00%

15.00%
40.00%

15.00%
20.00%

5.00%
0.00%

Table 1.10 Which phrase best describes the library’s 24-hour

access policies? Broken out by gender of the survey participant
Your
gender is?

No Answer

Have no 24hour access
at all

Male
Female

0.00%
1.37%

60.00%
45.21%

Have 24hour access
to limited
facilities in
exam
periods or
other
limited
times
15.56%
20.55%

Have 24hour access

to limited
facilities
virtually all
of the time

Have
extensive
24-hour
access to
many
facilities
virtually all
of the time

13.33%
24.66%

11.11%
8.22%

If so describe the form and extent of access?
1. 24 hours 5 days a week in the main library building.
2. Full facility is open from 2 pm Sunday until 5 pm Friday. Saturday only open
from 10 am until 5 pm.
3. Online access is 24/7 but physical access is never 24-hour.
22 | P a g e


Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
4. 24 hour access to card catalog journals and other databases

5. 7:30 a.m. until 2 a.m.
6. Access to main library is available with activated ID card access to library
building, recording studio and study rooms. Although available for 24 hour
access, security would prefer that students leave the library at midnight with
an escort to their dorm. However, access is not restricted.
7. 24-hour access limited to a three-day period during exam periods during the
fall and spring semesters.
8. Several libraries are 24 hour badge access. The main library has a 24 hour
badge access room.
9. 24-hour access to online resources is available through the library’s website
10. Mostly 24-hour access to our Main Library during two weeks each spring and
fall (leading up to finals). Graduate students and faculty in Physics have 24
hour key access to the Physics Library.
11. 24/7 computer lab and study area
12. Three days before and throughout finals week of the fall winter and spring
quarters one of our libraries is open 24/7. There are no in-person services
between midnight and 7:30am besides security personnel.
13. We are open 24/5 for the weeks of Dead Week and Final Exams
14. 24 hour access is limited to currently enrolled medical students
15. The Library has a 24-hour study cafe and computer lab available 7 days a
week (Christmas-New Year is the only time it is shut down completely).
16. 24 x 5 Sunday- Thursday First floor only All floors open 24 hours during
exams
17. 1st floor of 5 floor building is 24/7/365
18. full access to all of library 24 hours 5 days a week during study week and
finals
19. 24-hour access to the library facilities during last two weeks of Fall and
Spring semesters
20. We have 24/5 access to the entire library during academic semesters ID
swipe between Midnight and 7:30 a.m. The building is open 24 hours during

exams.
21. Our facilities are not open 24 hours but patrons can access the library
remotely 24 hours per day
22. We have an area outside the library main doors on a second level that is
accessible for students 24X7 during the academic year.
23. Three libraries out of eight have 24/7 during exam times
24. Main building is open until midnight (S-Th). There is a separate space in the
building that stays open until 2am (3am the last week of classes and final
exam week).
25. Online resources are available 24/7. Key holding faculty have access.
26. Considering 24/7 during finals bit dependent of staffing/funding.
27. 24/5 service for lower three floors. Higher floors close at midnight.
28. Staffed by library staff; access to all resources services and physical facilities
24/7 throughout each semester.
29. 24 hours during final two weeks of semester
30. I am assuming you mean access to physical resources (the building and print
collections etc.) rather than access to online resources. This is an important
distinction which your questions should reflect.
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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access
31. extended hours during exam periods reduced hours during breaks. Latest
closing is midnight.
32. 24/7 access to all library facilities during the academic year (fall and spring
semesters)
33. Online collections are available when the library closed.
34. 24-hr access to limited part of main library building during regular sessions
and an increased area during finals.
35. Access through back door to a general study room and a quiet study room as

well as bathrooms.
36. Most of the libraries are open 8am to 3am but we have one large unstaffed
area that stays open 24 hours. It does not include access to the stacks. We are
open 24 hours on a larger scale during exam periods.
37. One location 24hours five days per week
38. building open 24 hours during finals week
39. The library is open 24 hours at the end of the two major semesters. This is for
about 1 week each semester.
40. 24/7/365 Access is limited to institution ID holders through card swipe
access
41. The last two weeks of each semester we are 24 hours. The only services
available are circulation. Only access to facilities are the main stacks and the
study floors
42. 24X7 during dead and finals week.
43. There is a 24 hour area in the basement with a computer lab and a study
room
44. Computer lab is available 24/7 when school is in session.
45. We provide access to periodical databases eBooks streaming music and video
46. The first floor is open 24-5 during the Fall and Spring Semesters. There are
printers, tables, and study rooms available.
47. plus also to full library during exam periods
48. The library is virtual. We only have an information desk now. Anyone
enrolled in a health science degree minus nursing has 24 hour access to the
School of Med and Health Sciences (SMHS) building. The whole building is
their library.
49. 24 hour access to entire library building the last 2.5 weeks of each semester
50. 2 weeks of 24/7 access to two computer labs (45 seats) and 7 carrels at the
end of each semester. Adjacent to but not part of the library.
51. Both campus library buildings are open 24 hours a day (5 days a week)
during academic semesters. Sun.: 8 a.m.–Friday 10 p.m. Sat.: 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

24/7 during final exam periods.
52. One of our 3 library locations is open 24 hours a day 5 days a week during the
academic year.
53. The building in which the law library is located is open from 6am to midnight.
Students and faculty are able to access the law library all hours the building is
open even when no library staff are present. If the building were open 24
hours so would the law library.
54. 24 hour access is granted to the Central Library during the long semesters to
all affiliates. Affiliates have to swipe their campus id card to gain building
access.

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Survey of Academic Library Upper Management: View of 24-Hour Library Access

Table 2.1 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour
access to the library?
No Answer

Entire
sample

10.17%

Don’t have it
and don’t plan
to implement
it
54.24%

Roll back or
decrease
such access

Initiate

Increase
such access

2.54%

10.17%

22.88%

Table 2.2 Do you plan to initiate roll back or increase 24 hour
access to the library? Broken out by professional title of the
survey participant
Title

No
Answer

Library Director
Dean of
Libraries/University
Librarian
Associate & Assistant
Library Directors &

Deans
Department Heads &
Directors

25 | P a g e

Roll back
or
decrease
such
access
1.64%
0.00%

Initiate

Increase
such
access

8.20%
25.00%

Don’t have
it and don’t
plan to
implement
it
65.57%
50.00%

8.20%
0.00%

16.39%
25.00%

6.67%

40.00%

6.67%

13.33%

33.33%

7.69%

38.46%

3.85%

19.23%

30.77%