There were 112 students working in Bapst Library’s Gargan Hall at 1 a.m. on December 6, the Boston College Chronicle reported on December 14, taking advantage of a pilot program to provide a 24-hour study space in a central location. Equipped with plenty of electrical outlets, wireless access, and two new vending machines, the hall, whose lofty ceiling, stained glass windows, and wood paneling distinguish it as a gem of collegiate gothic architecture, was identified as an ideal location for extended study hours by a University committee that began work last summer.
At the urging of Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) leaders, who have promoted the concept for several years, James Kreinbring, executive assistant to the vice president for student affairs, convened a working group over the summer composed of representatives of UGBC, the University police, the executive and financial vice presidents, the dean for student development, and the space management office. “When students ask for study space you certainly want to respond,” Kreinbring told the Chronicle.
The 24-hour pilot program will run through the spring semester and be evaluated this summer. The extended hours may become permanent—an outcome that will please many students and come as no surprise to Bapst librarian Adeane Bregman, whom the Chronicle quotes: “I can’t tell you how many alumni make a point of visiting Gargan when they return to campus. And one of my all-time favorite comments was from a student who said, ‘When I come here, I feel so smart.'”