After a flood of student complaints, Marston Science Library is bringing back 24-hour access to the facility, five days a week.
UF Student Government announced the change in December 2025. Last semester, the library operated from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. The change was made possible by SG representatives, the announcement said.
Who was behind this decision, and why did they change it?
The change came after a slew of student outcries during the Fall semester. Many were frustrated by the lack of an all-day study and meeting area on campus.
Funds for extended library hours are not included in the general library budget. Rather, the money comes from the university provost.
“Libraries have never had the 24-hour budgeting included in our actual appropriated budget,” said Patrick Reakes, UF interim dean of the university libraries.
To extend Marston’s hours, SG had to bring a resolution to the UF Board of Trustees. After that, the decision to fund the libraries to operate 24 hours a day lies with the provost.
Why is Marston the 24/5 library?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Library West operated 24/7. The change from Library West to Marston happened after the end of the pandemic in early 2023, Reakes said.
At the time, the libraries conducted a student survey about which library they preferred, and the results were nearly even.
The library staff also considered the number of students who studied in Newell Hall. Newell Hall closes earlier than the libraries do, at 8 p.m., in comparison to Library West’s 1 a.m. closing time. Library staff believed it would be easier for students to move from Newell to Marston than from Newell to Library West, Reakes said.
Marston has a wider floorplan than Library West, allowing security to more easily scan floors late into the night. Located next to the Hub, Marston has a more centralized location, allowing students to avoid walking to a further side of campus in the dark to study.
With this, library staff decided to give Marston 24/7 status because they believed it was safer for students.
Student Government’s role
Amid protests for the return of 24-hour Marston, SG President Blake Cox worked behind the scenes to restore funding for extended library hours. His advocacy to bring back a 24-hours Marston started long before he took office last Spring.
The final decision didn’t come until Cox explained the importance of a 24-hour Marston to the UF Board of Trustees during its December 2025 meeting.
During the meeting, Interim President Dr. Donald Landry voiced his support for a return to the 24-hour library. Reakes also said he believes it could be added without a significant cost increase, according to the committee minutes.
While the administration will monitor Marston's use during the Spring semester, Cox believes the data will show it’s worthwhile.
An Alligator analysis showed library usage dropped off sharply after 9 p.m. last semester, despite the library staying open until 1 a.m.
What do students think?
For Aakash Badree, a 20-year-old UF finance sophomore, the protests for Marston to become 24 hours again showed SG is listening to students and considering their requests.
“I think they're trying their best when it comes to advocating for students,” Badree said.
Another student, 19-year-old UF industrial and systems engineering sophomore Alyssa Zogby, expressed similar thoughts to Badree.
“Sometimes, you just really need to have a late night lock-in at the library,” Zogby said. “So being able to not have to worry about it being closed or having annoying hours is really good.”
Some students also expressed the want to keep Marston 24 hours despite any perceived budget issues.
Frank Urby, a 22-year-old UF political science and philosophy senior, is one of these students.
“School libraries exist as a form of universities investing in the success of their students,” Urby said. “Whether or not 24-hour Marston is profitable, ... I still think it’s important to have that resource available.”
Contact Nevaeh at nbakerharris@alligator.org. Follow her on X @nbakerharris.
