15th February 2010

Students at the Institute of Technology in Tralee will hold a "sit-in" at their campus library today (February 15, 2010) in an attempt to secure more suitable opening hours at the facility. 

Hundred of students are expected to take part in the protest, which will take place from 1pm to 6pm in IT Tralee's south campus library.

At present, the library opens from 9.30am -1.30pm and from 5pm-8pm every day.

These opening hours are proving difficult for students to avail of, and do not fit in with their lecturing timetables adequately.

The students have asked that the library open from 10am-6pm, closing 1.30pm - 2.30pm for lunch.

This would amount to the same opening hours that exist already - total of seven hours.

IT Tralee Student Union President, Katie Sheehy, said:

"What the students here are asking for is not unreasonable. We are asking staff to remain on a seven hour working day - but to adjust their hours to best benefit the students. This proposal has been put to IMPACT and we have been told that it isn't possible to change the opening hours as the library staff are on a work-to-rule at the moment."

We have 4,000 students here at IT Tralee, with 1,500 of these availing of the south campus and its library. These 1,500 students are being penalised because of the work-to-rule. The library is a student service and at present it is not accessible at the times that are most beneficial to the students."

USI President, Peter Mannion, said:

"Education is more than just the lecture hall. Services, such as the library, are core parts of a student's education. The library situation in Tralee is just an example of where students again are losing out. The students of Tralee are asking for something as simple as access to their library when they need it.

We call on those involved to ensure that students and their education are respected and work towards getting the students education back on track."