THE UST Miguel de Benavides Library won’t revert to its pre-pandemic schedule yet due to lack of personnel, its chief librarian said.
Before the onset of the COVID-19 health crisis, the library was open Mondays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It now operates during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. without noon breaks.
“As much as we want to return to the pre-pandemic schedule from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., we have insufficient staff,” UST Library Chief Librarian Maria Cecilia Lobo told The Flame in an email interview.
Lobo said the San Lorenzo Ruiz scholars were a big help to the library’s operations but they are not yet allowed to report onsite.
“We are waiting for the casual employees who will replace them,” she added.
Lobo explained that manpower was one of the factors considered in determining the library hours during the pandemic.
Despite the manpower limitations, Lobo said the library is thinking of “innovative and creative ways” to serve the Thomasian community better.
Last Friday, the oldest library in the country announced that it would operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no noon breaks starting Feb. 20 to accommodate students who will be taking their preliminary exams this week. F – Prince Ronson Sabado
