You wrote:
We need the library to be open later than 10:30pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends.
If the issue is lack of staff, an idea is to hire students as part time. Many students are still looking for jobs and would gladly work there for a students wage.
Thank you for raising this question with us; you are not the first to do so, and the Library staff is sympathetic to your desire to extend the Library's opening hours. You are right that we do not have enough staff to extend our hours. Our plan to increase staffing for the move to the Harris Learning Library was not accepted by the university, and indeed our staff level was cut in September this year.
The job descriptions of library employees are agreed with Human Resources at the university, and specify certain qualifications and levels of education and experience. In addition, the Collective Agreement between the university and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union representing support staff precludes the use of students to perform the work of union members. Canadore's Collective Agreement has similar provisions. As a result, we have limited scope to hire student employees.
We will of course bring our proposals for increased staffing forward again for the coming budget year and hope that we will be able to extend our hours in the near future.
Brian Nettlefold
Executive Director, Libraries
