Library attendance climbs as finals week looms ahead

As finals week approaches each semester, the number of students making their way to the University of South Dakota I.D. Weeks Library increases dramatically.

Dean of Libraries Dan Daily said the number of students coming to the library begins increasing in November.

“From about Thanksgiving on (the number of students in the library increases), and then it builds up to finals week,” Daily said.

During a non-finals week at USD in 2013, the average number of students on the second and third floors of the library was 74, but doubled during finals week, with the average number of students coming in at 135, according to data documented by library staff.

In 2012, the number of students on the second and third floors of the library nearly tripled, jumping from 67 students during a non-finals week to 189 students during finals week.

Currently, Daily said the library is becoming increasingly busy as students anticipate the upcoming finals week full of exams, projects and papers.

Despite the increase in students utilizing the space, Daily said the library doesn’t undergo many changes to prepare for finals week.

“We are fully staffed and stay fully staffed,” Daily said. “The level of services have been in place all fall.”

Resources and services available to students include the reference desk, writing center, computers, printers and the presentation center.

While some students will make their way to the library for the first time this semester, other students like sophomore Madeline Schmitt have been taking advantage of the resources available in the library all semester.

“I like the ability to have the computers,” Schmitt said. “I also get help from the reference desk all the time.”

Schmitt said she is busy writing a 15-20 page paper, so using the reference desk for assistance finding resources has been useful to her.

Schmitt prefers the second and third floors of the library because those floors require students to be quiet.

“I have a theory book, so I can’t have any noise when I’m reading it,” Schmitt said.

Because it gets busier in the library, Daily said the activity on first floor increases. For a quieter environment, students may find the higher floors better suited for them.

Daily said there are many tables, desks and secluded areas for students to study on the second and third floors. Additionally, Daily said the third floor also has many windows that let in the sunlight, which may make studying more enjoyable.

Graduate students like Pat Artz also find studying in the library beneficial.

“I commute, so whenever I’m down here, I’m in the library,” Artz said.

Artz prefers sitting at a desk with a computer in the back corner on the first floor of the library so he is less distracted and can avoid conversations when he is trying to get work done.

“Productivity definitely increases,” Artz said.

Because it is busier in the library this time of year, the library gets a little dirtier than usual, Daily said.

“Toward the end of finals, especially when it crosses the weekend like this, the trash piles up,” Daily said. “The custodial staff comes in Friday, and they don’t come back in until Monday morning.”

Daily also said the study rooms are in high demand around this time of year, meaning many students are being turned away.

Schmitt said she will continue using the library into finals week, and notices how much busier the library gets as the semester winds down.

“Students realize ‘Hey, the library’s actually a thing,’” Schmitt said.

For future finals week study sessions, USD students may look forward to remodeling projects taking place in the library possibly in 2015 and 2016, Daily said.

Daily said more study spaces will be opened up on the first and second floor of the library, and the private nooks all over the library will also still be available for students.

But for now, Daily urged students to explore the library and find a place that works best for them.

“Know a good study spot,” Daily said. “There are study nooks on second floor that are good for prepping for finals and writing papers.”

(Photo: The number of students who use the I.D. Weeks Library usually doubles or triples during finals week. The library offers services such as the reference desk, writing center, computers and printers and the presentation center. Malachi Petersen / The Volante).