Come final exams students tend to pull late night study sessions across campus.  University of Dayton’s Roesch Library is open 24 hours during finals week. 

    As a student photographer for UD Public Relations, I accompanied student writer Yvonne Teems to the library at 2 a.m. to see what had students there at all hours of the night.  The series is titled “Night Owls” and featured in UD Quarterly’s Spring 2008 Vol. 17, Num. 3 edition.

    In addition to clicking below, check out the “Night Owls” slideshow that is included on UD Quickly’s website: http://campus.udayton.edu/udq/images/2007/120607latelibrary.htm

Library Photo Essay

Night Owls

     “There is no time during the day for a 12-page paper but, at night, time is endless.  Somewhere after midnight but before daybreak, there is a space where time is nonexistent, where progress is made while the ticking clock sleeps.  It is a space to which the student sneaks, shrouded by darkness, with books and a laptop and three exams looming.

    A familiar space, but quieter.  Bodies fill seats cluster around tables, but voices are muted.  Unnoticed during the day, the library at 2 a.m. becomes audible: Computers murmur steadily, fluorescent lights hold a consistent note.  Pencils scratch.  Pages turn.

    The hum lulls the student.  Here in this space, his beating heart calms.  His brain buzzes with caffeine and his laptop with clicking keys.  The clock rolls over and ignores him, relieves him -- he has escaped its noisy reminder.  Philosophy, history and anthropology are before him, but dawn will never come.

    Before and during finals week, the library remains open late, allowing students to take refuge here.”

                                                                       --  Yvonne Teems ‘09

Winter 2007