Reporter

There have been several changes made at the Walter Stiern Library in CSU Bakersfield. Some changes are immediately visible upon entering the premises. One notable difference is the extended library hours.

A sign outside of the library reads that the library is now open until 1 a.m. every day with the exception of Friday and Saturday when the library closes at 5 p.m., a major difference from last year’s hours of operation.

“We increased the library hours based on a survey we conducted five years ago that identified student needs and desires and also a continuing idea that we want to improve the place and provide students with a place to study during the times they wish to study. The 24-hour room just wasn’t enough,” said the Dean of the University Library, Curt Asher.

While increased library hours may appear beneficial to some students, some believe the contrary.

Junior psychology major Christian Palma believes that the extended hours will increase chances of sexual assault and property destruction as it encourages more students to be on campus longer and at a later time.

Senior and kinesiology major Jesus Castrejon believes otherwise.

He believes that the extended library hours will only encourage students to study longer as opposed to having to leave the library at an earlier time and interrupt their study session.
Apart from the extended library hours, the Walter Stiern Library has introduced new programs such as the Westlaw Campus Research Database.

According to the Walter W. Stiern Library Newsletter, the Westlaw Campus Research includes “primary and secondary law sources, law reviews, business information, and many news publications.”

In addition to the new programs available to students, the library has also remodeled several areas in its interior.

Asher said that about twenty aisles of shelving were moved to different areas or donated to build study areas on the first floor.

“It is the first phase of what we call the library of the future project, and we are trying to provide more space for laptop and portable device use and also provide more segregated study areas,” Asher said.

Still, Asher’s has many more plans in store for the library that he would like to see complete in the future.

“The whole second floor is going to become a collaborative study area and the third and fourth floor; we’re going to replace the old furniture and with new furniture build some sound barriers so we can have silent study areas and then we will also have group areas.”