UW Libraries Blog

October 19, 2021

When will UW Libraries expand hours?

UW Libraries

We hear you. Our entire UW community is working hard to return to operations that look and feel more like pre-COVID times, including expanding evening and weekend hours for the Libraries; but this will take some additional time, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work collectively to increase services and hours.

Increasing hours requires additional staff

Hours of operation for all Libraries (including evenings and weekends for Suzzallo and Allen Libraries) will be limited until sufficient staff are hired and trained to fill the number of open positions required to expand hours.  Like many public-facing service organizations, the pandemic caused a monumental reduction to human resources in the Libraries as well as many other units across campus. Libraries staff and UW administration alike understand the need for expanded services and spaces, and how essential these services are to in-person learning. Hiring is a critical priority right now, and teams are focused on filling open positions as quickly as possible. 

Hiring is a critical priority right now, and teams are focused on filling open positions as quickly as possible. 

The importance of student workers

Hiring efforts have been well underway since early summer; however, in addition to many permanent staff and Librarian positions that need to be filled, there is an unprecedented number of student positions that we are filling to expand operations and hours.  

Since students have returned to campus just over one month ago (September 29th), student applications for positions have gradually started to increase.  While it isn’t feasible to pinpoint exactly how long it will take to complete this hiring cycle, reduced staff and reduced hours are a temporary situation.

Find study space

In the interim, please consider the following options to help find available study space on campus:

  • Odegaard Library is open on weekdays until 10 p.m., and many hours on weekends. You do not need to be an undergraduate student to use this library — it is open to all UW students, faculty, and staff with a current valid Husky Card.
  • SCOUT is an online campus-wide tool that identifies study spaces inside and outside the Libraries based on chosen criteria. While some spaces may not be available on weekends and evenings, you may find some new and interesting study spaces in other buildings on campus, especially when Libraries spaces are busy.
  • The Research Commons: if you prefer to study independently, the Research Commons in Allen Library offers quiet individual study space and one group study area by reservation. Check it out.
  • UW Seattle Branch Libraries are currently open during weekdays to all students, regardless of discipline! If you are on the Seattle campus, check out a library you haven’t been to such as Music, Art, Drama, Tateuchi East Asia,  Built Environments, Engineering and Math Libraries. (Be sure check hours first as not all libraries have the same hours and some are operating on a half-day schedule)
  • 24/7 help – If you are just looking for research help (not study space), remember that all UW Libraries continue to provide online help and access to online collections 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just ASK US.

UW Libraries will expand hours as soon as possible, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through these temporary hiring challenges and reopening logistics. 

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