Assessing the 24/5 library: does data matter?

Abstract

Belk Library's 24/5 hours model has experienced multiple changes since first implemented in 2006. First we started small, then expanded, then reduced, and finally expanded again. Looking through the lens of an assessment cycle, we learned that the importance of data to make decisions about hours all depends on perspective. Students want to have the library open regardless of cost; campus administrators think about effective use of state monies; and the library falls somewhere in between. This presentation will tell the story of Belk Library's 24/5 evolution within the assessment cycle framework; describe student led advocacy efforts; provide valuable data on overnight headcounts; and offer a glimpse into the types of activities engaged in by students during overnight hours. Libraries considering 24 hour operations as well as libraries analyzing their current 24 hour models will find value in this presentation.