GSO resolution to extend summer library hours

At UH-Manoa, we have shorter library hours during the summer, causing major inconveniences for students taking summer classes.

While this summer is almost over, that doesn't mean we can't advocate for that to change for future summers.

I drafted a resolution (with editing suggestions from others) for the campus Graduate Student Organization (GSO) to officially advocate as an organization for extended library hours for future summers.

It got approval at last night's  GSO meeting.


Here is the final draft

UH MĀNOA GRADUATE STUDENT ORGANIZATION

2445 Campus Rd., Hemenway Hall 212

Honolulu HI 96822

A resolution to increase the library hours  at Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library for future summers!

WHEREAS,   during the Fall and Spring semesters, Hamilton Library is open on Monday -  Thursday (8am - 10pm), Friday (8am - 6pm), Saturday (9am - 5pm) and Sunday (noon - 10pm); and

WHEREAS,   during the Fall and Spring semesters,  Sinclair Library is open continuously from Sunday at noon until Friday at 6pm, and on Saturday(noon - 6pm); and

WHEREAS,   during the Summer Sessions, the library hours are dramatically reduced, with both Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library only open Monday-Friday ( 8am - 6pm) and Sunday (noon - 6pm) with no Saturday hours; and

WHEREAS,   during the Summer Sessions, the students lose 28 hours of access to Hamilton Library every week due to the reduced library hours; and

WHEREAS,   during the summer sessions, students lose 76 hours of access to Sinclair Library every week due to the reduced library hours; and

WHEREAS,   the lack of available nighttime hours at Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library deprives library access to students who have daytime responsibilities; and

WHEREAS,   the students at UH Mānoa are reliant on Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library for access to books, audio and visual materials, computers, research materials, microfiche, archives, a quiet individual and group study space,  presentation practice rooms, and reference librarians; and

WHEREAS,   not every student at UH Mānoa has their own home computer and need to use the computer labs at Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library to do online research and complete their assignments; and

WHEREAS,   not every student at UH Mānoa has a quiet study space at home and need to use Hamilton Library as a quiet study space to concentrate on their required readings for their classes; and

WHEREAS,   the compressed nature of the Summer Sessions give students less days to complete their assignment, it becomes more important that Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library be accessible for longer daily hours during the summer; and

WHEREAS,   there are at least 7,000 students who are taking summer classes at UH-Manoa, many of whom could benefit from the increased summer library hours; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED    That the Graduate Student Organization requests the Summer hours at Hamilton Library and Sinclair Library be increased beginning in Summer 2016.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED         That this resolution be sent to Interim Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman, Office of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Interim Vice Chancellor for Students Lori Ideta, Vice Chancellor for Administration for Administration, Finance & Operations Kathy Cutshaw, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Brian Taylor,  Dean of Graduate Education Krystyna Aune, Dean of Students Mike Kaptik, University Librarian Irene Herold, Associated Students of University of Hawaii, and Ka Leo O Hawaii

(note: while most positions listed under BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED have the personal names, the one for Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs doesn't have a name listed due to personnel changes that is currently ongoing. We just listed the Office name instead)

(another note: for the 9th whereas, only Hamilton Library got mentioned because it is more suited to quiet studying whereas Sinclair Library is more suited for group studying (ie. working on group projects, etc.).  While Sinclair's computer  lab has a quiet policy, those who need quiet space to review printed material and do other non-online activities would be better off at Hamilton)




I'll keep you updated if our resolution has significant impact!