UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES TO BE OPEN TILL MIDNIGHT

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES TO BE

 OPEN TILL MIDNIGHT

The University of Kerala is planning to extend the working hours of its libraries at Palayam and  campus to 12 a.m. to help students with their studies. Now the libraries close at 8 p.m.TheKaryavattom decision was taken at the last Syndicate meeting. To take the plan forward, the university would shortly convene a meeting of representatives of employees union to ascertain their views, said Syndicate member K.S. Sashi Kumar.“We have received proposals from our libraries at Palayam and Karyavattom campus seeking Syndicate approval to extend the working hours. In principle, the Syndicate has approved the proposals and to start with, the Karyavattom campus library will be opened till midnight. We expect to take a decision in this regard shortly,” he said.However, a senior university staff attached to the Palayam library maintained that a number of issues including augmenting the staff strength need to be looked into before implementing the decision. “We will need more people if working hours are to be extended. That will require posting employees in two shifts. With the present strength it will be difficult to manage,” the staff added.

Another point raised is the security, particularly of girls. “That aspect needs to be addressed especially on Karyavattom campus. The present security arrangements will not be sufficient. They should consider installing surveillance cameras inside and in the vicinity of the libraries,” the staff added.Reshmi, a member of the library at Palayam, too seconded the demand on security.“The move to extend the hours is good as it will help students particularly those staying in hostels,” she added. Deputy librarian in-charge L. Saraswathy told The Hindu that extending the working hours had been a long-pending demand from not just students and faculty, but from the public too.

Prof. John Kurakar