The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution this week to change the Mary Couts Burnett Library hours on Fridays and Sundays.

Allegra Hernandez, SGA Addran representative and political science major, said the library would close at 7 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. on Fridays and would open at 11 a.m. on Sundays rather than noon.

Since more students study on Sunday mornings than on Friday nights, Hernandez said the change would allow the library to better serve a majority of students.

Library Dean June Koelker said she approves of the resolution to change the library’s hours but now needs to plan with supervisors and staff.

“I think it can and should be done, but I just don’t want to force staff members to come to work if the new hours cut into church or other lasting obligations on Sunday mornings,” Koelker said.

Koelker said she would work on scheduling with staff members in the coming weeks. She said a minimum of three staff members and additional student workers may open the library at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

“The changes could be seen in a couple weeks, but definitely before finals week,” Hernandez said.

The proposal came from Laura Simard, SGA Neeley representative and business major. Simard said she got the inspiration to write the resolution after seeing many students waiting for the library to open on Sunday mornings. She saw only a few students studying on Friday nights.

“With the library construction going on, space is very limited,” Simard said. “So any way we can ease the troubles is worth it to me.”

Koelker said the change will be monitored. If library supervisors see more students benefitting from the new hours, they would be likely to keep the adjusted hours, she said.

“I like the idea of changing the hours because the hours would reflect the study habits of most of the students,” said Jackson Durham, a junior engineering major.

Simard said SGA questioned students about the idea before the resolution was written. She said students then began talking about the library hours with their friends.

“The students are talking about going to the library,” Koelker said. “I always like to see that.”