Library hour cuts hurt student learning and success

Because of a cabinet decision, the library staff must reduce hours by a whopping 26 percent in the spring. The Southwestern College Library/Learning Resource Center will go from being open 54 hours per week to only 40. All this is because the school will not replace a retiring library aide.

Our library will now have banker’s hours. It will be open just nine hours per day Monday through Thursday, and four hours on Friday. Saturday hours will be no more. The cabinet voted not to fill the aide position knowing full well library hours would be cut.

It is important that students voice their opinion. This decision will negatively affect all students. In times of scarce resources, political apathy is a luxury we can ill afford.

It is time for administrators to reflect on their priorities. We have a brand new $2 million snack bar, The Time Out Café. The school is building a fancy new football stadium. The board voted to approve a salary increase for incoming vice presidents. Is it worth the $28,000 in the spring to cut the heart and soul of the campus?

While this particular cut in library hours may not directly affect accreditation, it hinders student success. Our school’s mission statement says our college exists to promote “student learning and success.” Cutting a fourth of the library’s hours to save $28,000 dollars is not consistent the hallmarks of a quality school. Students who work during the day will find it more difficult to succeed. They may have to take a day off of work to do research. Those without computers or the Internet will have two less hours to work per day. Students will need to scramble for library space. If they use a coffee house to study they will need to buy a drink.

Less hours means less opportunities to check out reserve materials, speak face-to-face with a research librarian or meet with a tutor.

I was once a student at Southwestern and earned associate degrees in English and history. I wrote my fair share of research essays. SWC librarians taught me how to find quality sources and properly frame research questions. My grades improved and I made the President’s List and the Vice President’s List. This occurred partly because I built a relationship with the research librarians and learned from them. Our many quality interactions taught me how to write well. Now I am an English instructor and a writing tutor at SWC.

If we want students to excel academically we need to offer more than just the minimum amount of hours. Doing the minimum is not the Jaguar Way. Our library plays an essential role in building quality academic experiences. This is why everyone should protest the cut in library hours.

Sadly, in the age of online books and resources, people feel they can get the same quality services online. This is an erroneous belief. Students need the quality services from a library. Claiming that students need only a study space and Wi-Fi is shortsighted. One size does not fit all. Not all students are the same. No cheap imitation will do. The real library needs to be open.

Some point out that if the library did not get the cut, then some other service would have to be cut. This justification is little solace for frustrated students. I know Superintendent Dr. Melinda Nish can do better for our students. I know the Vice Presidents can do better. It is time the school leadership reflects on its values and mission.

I trust that our board and administrators will do the right thing. Hiring one person would keep the library open 12 more hours a week. Rehiring a library aid will enable library circulation staff to properly meet student needs. Doing any less shortchanges student success. That is not the Jaguar Way.