Trisha Lueck sat in an oversized armchair in Library West, her laptop and belongings crammed into a corner within reach of a much-coveted outlet.
She'll be able to use that outlet during the wee hours of the night this semester, thanks to Library West's new nighttime hours.
Library West began its new hours Jan. 9 after Student Government provided funding.
The library is open 24 hours a day starting 10 a.m. Sundays and staying open through 10 p.m. Fridays. It is also open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.
Patrick Reakes, chair of Library West, said about 200 people use the library every night.
He said while there were 120 people in the library at 2 a.m. Wednesday, that number dropped to 68 at 3 a.m.
"What we thought was going to happen is happening," he said. "You hit about 3 and it drops way off until 7, which matches with what other libraries have had happen."
Reakes said the number of students has been building since the new hours began, and he predicts that number will continue to rise after the library further publicizes the new hours and has a kick-off event within the next couple weeks.
Two new staff members, security guards and several students have been hired to accommodate the change, and Student Government paid roughly $60,000 to fund it.
Unlike Student Government, the library is funded entirely by state funds, which are in short supply, Reakes said.
If the library does not get extra money from Student Government in the fall, Reakes said the library will be unable to maintain its new hours during the fall semester.
"The reality is there's a lot of things people want to do on campus, but the funding just isn't there," he said. "At this point, the provost doesn't have the money and Student Government hasn't said they would have the money, either."
Reakes said people have always wanted the library to be open 24 hours, and these pilot hours will be good for students with different schedules.
Lueck, a 19-year-old industrial engineering sophomore, said while Friday was her first time in Library West this semester, she has used the library's extended hours during exams for late-night cramming. She said she plans to do the same this semester.
"I used it all the time during finals last semester," Lueck said. "I get more work done at the library than I do at my apartment, so if I studied all night in my apartment I'd get less done than if I'm in the library."
