UC Santa Barbara quietly announced it would be reducing its library hours for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year. Students who rely on late-night study hours have expressed concerns over the changing hours, sparking the Associated Students Senate to explore possible solutions.
Library leadership conducted a cost-benefit analysis of library services and amenities to determine which resources were most used. Nexus file photo
On Sept. 4, the UCSB Library posted an announcement on its website stating that the library would now close from 1-8 a.m. as well as on all University holidays starting Sept. 25. The library will remain open 24/7 during Dead Week and Finals Week. In response, students started a petition roughly one week ago with over 900 signatures at the time of publishing.
“Currently, the UCSB library’s limited operational hours restrict the academic potential of students who require a quiet place to study around the clock,” the petition reads. “Additionally, having the library open around the clock ensures that students with non-traditional schedules, whether due to work, family obligations, or sleep patterns, have consistent access to vital resources.”
In the announcement, the University stated that these changes were made as a result of “evolving study needs” and “significant, permanent budget reductions.” A March memo from former Chancellor Henry T. Yang said the University would be seeking a 10-12.95% permanent budget reduction across departments due to state and federal budget cuts, alongside rising operational costs. The reduction in library hours is one of several strategies that aim to “position our university for a future of long-term financial sustainability.”
Library leadership conducted a cost-benefit analysis of library services and amenities to determine which resources were most used. According to building occupancy data, patron activity is minimal during late-night study hours, except for Dead Week and Finals Week. Excluding those weeks, no patrons were in the building for more than an hour on 75% of nights during the quarters of fall 2024 and winter 2025.
Signers of the petition argue that “rather distracting” dorm and Isla Vista living conditions make it difficult for them to study at home and that students who work, conduct research, attend classes and compete in athletics during the day rely on late-night study to keep up with their classes.
Third-year philosophy major Maren Alff said that she uses late-night study every couple of weeks. As a transfer student, Alff said resources such as 24/7 library access made her feel “welcome.”
“The late-night study makes me feel like, okay, this place is open at any time, I am welcome here,” Alff said. “I struggle with ADHD, I wake up very late sometimes. I have depression. It’s hard for me to get up and out the door sometimes. So the fact that they’re cutting the late-night study makes me feel like I’m not welcome here anymore.”
In response to student concerns, the Associated Students (A.S.) Senate is seeking student feedback on late-night study hours via a Google Form. Earlier this week, President and third-year global studies, communication and Spanish triple major Le Anh Metzger, alongside Senator and third-year political science major Natalia Pascher, penned an open letter to Executive Vice Chancellor David Marshall, requesting a meeting to address the reduced hours.
“I had a very late night last night, doing research, contacting people, trying to pull a team together to make sure that this is something that we can advocate for,” Pascher said in an interview with the Nexus.
Internal Vice President and third-year history and global studies double major Enri Lala expressed concern over the way the new library hours were announced. He said the Senate is looking into the possibility of allocating funds for the library as a short-term solution. However, the process of transferring funds from the Association to the University can be “very complex.”
“It was announced through just some listing on the website, and then students echoed it on Reddit, and this was not communicated through official channels,” Lala said. “I think it’s part of a broader concern that if we as student leaders are not notified of these things and are not enabled to represent student voices, where is the communication between the administration and us?”
Senator and first-year political science major Evan Sussman said that although the cost-benefit analysis suggests late-night hours are underutilized, it should remain as an option for students who rely on it.
“The library has produced some quantifiable metrics, saying that late-night study has been underutilized, but that doesn’t, in my opinion, give the library the right to take away something that is so useful to all students,” Sussman said.
Sussman also mentioned that student workers may rely on overnight hours to pay rent and tuition. Within the announcement, the University stated that overnight staff would be reallocated to daytime hours, allowing custodial teams to clean and library staff to rest during closed hours.
“It really does affect everyone at the university level,” Sussman said. “I think we want to, as we approach finding a solution, we’re trying to work with all parties to make sure that we have something that’s beneficial to everyone.” This is not the first time campus resources have been cut due to recent budget restraints. In August, the University announced it would close its physical therapy department at the end of the summer. Further effects of the University’s permanent budget reductions remain to be seen.
Yet another cut to are education system do to the cost-cutting of the republitards. I am so sick and tired of these hate-filled morrons coming into are state—a state for intellugint democrats—and inforcing there fashist policies. It takes a village and we must stand up to these petty, idoitic rednecks.