Every night at 1:30 a.m., Student Council College Rep. Joe Bilby counts the number of students using Clemons Library.
Bilby said an average of 166 students study at that time - one fact that lead Council last night to an almost unanimous vote to pass a resolution that calls for 24-hour library services during the week.
Bilby sponsored the resolution after three months of meeting with library officials and other administrators.
Council's resolution serves only as a recommendation to the University administration.
Bilby said the number of students studying late at night "demonstrates pretty clearly that there is a need for late-night study."
Clemons Library Director James Self attended the Council meeting to address any concerns raised by the representatives.
Self said the project will cost about an additional $52,000 a year, in addition to a start-up cost of $15,000.
He said the library had factored the added costs into its budget request for the year, but the funding was denied.
"We would be happy to do this if the University would come up with the $52,000 a year it would take to run it," he added.
The library budget is approved by the Provost's Office.
Self said the library now faces the choice of having to divert funds from other initiatives, such as the purchase of books and resources, to have the funds to keep the library open from Sunday morning through midnight Friday.
Dean of Students Penny Rue said she is supportive of the idea, but that funding will prove problematic.
"Most people don't want to fund [extended hours] at the expense of books," Rue said.
According to last year's statistics compiled by the University, an average of about 123 students studied at Clemons at 4:30 a.m. during exams.
Self said other institutions, such as the University of North Carolina, the University of Texas, the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California, have very successful 24-hour library systems.
Council members said they were pleased with the resolution.
College Rep. Matt Madden said the service will be helpful because there are "a great number of students who do work outside of normal hours."
College Rep. Nathan A. Cook agreed with Madden.
"I know I've been tossed out into the cold, dark night at 2 a.m.," Cook said. "I'd be very happy to see a 24-hour library."
Council President Taz Turner said a 24-hour library is long overdue.
"For an institution of our size and academic standing, it's a necessity that should have been done a long time ago," Turner said.
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