Types of Hours

PUL has different types of hours that refer to distinct schedules and purposes:

• Patron access hours are hours that Library branches are open to patrons. Different branches may have different public access hours based on operational needs. These are also referred to as Reading room only service.

• Service hours are hours when different services are open to patrons, generally requiring library staff to be on duty. Different branches and service points may have different service hours depending on the operational needs of each service. Notably, it is possible for Firestone Library to be open to patrons without offering services. 

• Working hours are the hours an employee works for their regular schedule. Any variation of this schedule should be discussed between an employee and their supervisor beforehand. These are distinct from the other types of hours as many staff are able to do their work when locations are closed, or services are not offered. PUL employees are expected to work their regularly scheduled working hours when the University is open.

University Calendar

PUL adheres to University holidays when classes are not in session. During staff holidays that do not fall during the semester, including MLK Day, July 4, Juneteenth, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (or December 26th), Christmas Day, New Year's Eve (or January 2nd), and New Year's Day, all Library locations are closed. Limited library services, varying by location, are available on Labor Day and the weekend following Thanksgiving as these fall during the semester, and Memorial Day as it aligns with class day or other commencement activities. There are other times of year—generally between the fall and spring semesters and days before breaks—when patron and/or service hours may be limited or adjusted. Staff are expected to work their scheduled hours during these times unless arrangements have been made in advance with the supervisor to adjust hours or use vacation or personal days.

There is one exception to the above: When Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday and the staff holidays are on Monday and Tuesday, the schedule is as follows:

• Firestone closes at 5:00 pm on Sat 12/23

• Firestone stays closed to patrons on Sun 12/24-Tuesday 12/26

• Firestone reopens 12/27-12/29

• Branches close to patrons on Friday, 12/22 at 5:00 and reopen at normal business on Wednesday, 1/3

Principles for Patron, Service, and Working Hours

1. Hours are published on a three-year calendar that is tied to the academic calendar, with an annual review.

   1. User experience is improved when hours are simple, reliable, consistent, and easy to remember. Round numbers are better for users than quarter-hour and half-hour limits.

   2. When possible, all campus library locations should prioritize consistency, keeping in mind that there may occasionally be limits imposed by building restrictions.

2. PUL’s physical spaces serve undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and scholars. Keeping undergraduate needs in mind:

   1. During academic semesters, core in-person services for patrons should be reliably available during regular business hours. Such services include circulation/information desks, equipment lending desks, guard/security desks, and the Firestone Access Office.

   2. Core in-person services would be available during limited hours, when possible, on staff holidays during the academic semesters.

3. Service hours should be considered in three categories: building access, self-service uses, and mediated uses.

   1. Self-service uses include browsing general collections and using workstations and study spaces. These should be designed to be staffed by student workers and made available during evenings and weekends. Study spaces in particular should be made available for late-night use on Sundays through Thursdays.

   2. Mediated uses include staffed reading rooms, assistance with specialized equipment or collections, consultations, and research assistance. Since these are likely to require staffing by librarians and staff with specialized expertise, expectations for mediated uses should be clearly set as weekday business hours. There may be a need for occasional flexibility for special events such as Reunions. Access to non-general collections-based services are generally limited to weekday University business hours to maintain security.

   3. Services needed for undergraduate class projects should be reliably available in the evenings Sunday through Thursday.

4. Locations that are dependent on student staffing should develop a clear plan to call in student workers from other locations when needed. Lack of staffing should not be considered a reason to close a location or set inconsistent hours if another location can share staff in a timely manner.

5. Assessment is needed to confirm if spaces that are open outside business hours need to be. If foot traffic is negligible, locations should reduce evening and weekend hours so that student workers and staff are not asked to staff spaces that are minimally used.

Patron Access Hours

Default Academic Semesters

Fall and Spring Breaks

Reading Days and Finals

Extended End of Term 

Firestone stays open till 2 am on the Friday and Saturday nights before Dean's Date each semester.

Summer, Commencement, and Reunions

Semester Holidays and Wintersession

For a three-year full holiday schedule, please visit the HR Holiday Schedules webpage.

Tentative Holiday Patron Hours 2023/4 - 2025/6

These hours are based on the current University Academic Calendar and subject to change.

Remainder of Academic Year 2023-2024

Wintersession

 For FY 2024, Wintersession begins on Monday, January 16, 2025.

Academic Year 2024-2025

Labor Day Holiday

The Labor Day Holiday falls on the first Monday of September. 

Days around Thanksgiving Holiday

The Thanksgiving Holiday falls on the fourth Thursday and following Friday of November. 

Days between the Christmas and New Year's Holidays

For FY 2025, the Christmas holiday is on Wednesday, December 25; Thursday, December 26; and Friday, December 27, 2024. The New Year’s holiday is on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

January before Wintersession

Following the New Year’s holiday and leading Wintersession, PUL has the following abbreviated Patron Access Hours starting Thursday, January 2, 2025. For FY 2025, the Library is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Wintersession

 For FY 2025, Wintersession begins on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Academic Year 2025-2026

Labor Day Holiday

The Labor Day Holiday falls on the first Monday of September. 

Days around Thanksgiving Holiday

The Thanksgiving Holiday falls on the fourth Thursday and the following Friday of November. 

Days between the Christmas and New Year's Holidays

For FY 2026, the Christmas holiday is on Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26 2025. The New Year’s holiday is on Thursday, January 1 and Friday, January 2, 2026.

January before Wintersession

Following the New Year’s holiday and leading Wintersession, PUL has the following abbreviated Patron Access Hours starting Saturday, January 3, 2026. The Library is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Wintersession

 For FY 2026, Wintersession begins on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Firestone default service hours during the academic semester