Students pulling all-nighters may soon have another place to spend those frenzied hours.

A group of students are circulating a petition asking for the Allyn and Betty Taylor Library to be open for 24-hours a day during final exam periods.

Currently Taylor library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. for studying, with the circulation desk closing at 9 p.m.

“We see this as something that is needed for students at Western,” Arjun Chandra, an organizer of the petition and a third-year medical sciences  student, said. “This has nothing to do with bad study habits and just cramming at the end. Everyone studies at the end [of the year] despite how they study during the year.”

The petition will be sent to Kim Cornell, assistant university librarian for Taylor library. Cornell will then submit the proposal to the Taylor library committee.

She thought the current arrangement was meeting student’s needs, but added she valued the feedback.

“Certainly the number of signatures [on the petition] would indicate support [for a 24-hour library], but we have to look at other factors,” Cornell added.

In order for the petition’s plan to take effect, budgeting and housekeeping issues would first have to be addressed. Cornell also pointed out security was a concern, both for the Natural Sciences Building and students.

“We need to ensure our students are safe,” she said.

She also expressed concerns about transportation, since the exam season shuttle buses are timed with the library’s current hours.

Chandra’s plan to address these concerns is by increasing security.

“Already the last few hours of the library are manned by one security personnel — maybe two on some days. We would like for that only to be extended by 6.5 hours,” Chandra explained.

The University of Toronto has designated the first three floors of its Robarts Library as a 24-hour study space during weekdays. Security issues were also among their top priorities.

“You just have to take a good look at your space,” said Lari Langford, head of access and information services at Robarts Library.

According to Langford the elevators and stairwells had to be locked off from the upper floors. They also added security cameras and hired more security staff. Students are now checked for a U of T student card before close, and need one to get into the building.

There were also renovations to include more power outlets and more seating.

“Students asked for it […] and basically the University said we need to do this,” Langford said.

Langford’s tally counted over 10,000 students had used the library during the overnight hours since September.

Chandra felt Western needs to follow U of T’s example.

“One more thing to mention is that we are not doing anything new. Twenty-four/seven libraries already exist at a lot of good universities,” Chandra explained. “It has been done before and it works.”

“The library has been great with this,” Chandra pointed out, noting he has met with Cornell who agreed to pass on the petition.

In the end, the committee will have the final say as to whether the petition is approved.