The OU library system is experimenting with 24-hour access to the Bizzell Memorial Library during dead week rather than finals week due to low attendance.
OU Student Government Association, in partnership with University Libraries, conducted a fall 2025 student survey to determine library attendance during extended hours. Caleb Robinson, Undergraduate Student Congress chair, said the survey’s results showed students preferred to use the library as a study space during dead week despite indications that library usage was decreasing.
University Libraries first shifted its 24-hour policy from finals week to dead week for the fall 2025 semester to determine if more library access at a different time would be beneficial for students. Previously, the library has offered 24-hour access during finals week.
A University Libraries headcount determined fewer students used the library with the access change.
The total headcount for 24-hour access periods has varied between semesters. The fall 2024 finals week turnout was 874 students, while the fall 2025 dead week turnout was 555 students total, according to University Libraries Dean Denise Stephens.
Stephens said the headcount has never been high during 24-hour study periods, but SGA and University Libraries want to continue to examine the impact of extended hours on turnout this spring.
“There’s not an immediate plan to change whether we have 24-hour (access), but we certainly would have to consider what the trends are telling us,” Stephens said.
Maddie Porter, an accounting and economics sophomore, said she uses the library at least once a week during the regular semester. During finals week, she said she uses the library’s 24-hour access frequently.
Porter found both dead week and finals week beneficial for 24-hour studying. She said she liked how dead week allowed students to study ahead of time, but prefers finals week.
“It has its pros and cons. I think with it being open 24 hours during dead week, it allows students to study ahead of time, but I would also prefer to have those (hours) during finals week, because I spent about 40 hours in the library during this past finals week, …” Porter said. “It would have been really nice to have the option to be there at whatever time, whenever I could find time to study, especially because I work as well.”
Porter said the 24-hour access periods were useful to her and would be disappointed if they were taken away altogether.
“It's very beneficial for the library to be open that many hours during dead week and finals week, because it's so heavily utilized by students,” Porter said.
The week before finals, colloquially known as dead week, is a time for students to study for final exams. Professors are instructed to go light on assignments and instructional material.
According to the Office of the Registrar's final exam policies, no assignments or projects may be due in the last two days of dead week. Quizzes may be given, but they cannot account for more than 3% of the student’s final grade, according to the handbook.
During dead week, the Bizzell Memorial Library offers students 24-hour library access Monday through Thursday and closes at 9 p.m. Friday. Dead week will take place from May 4-8 and spring finals will be held from May 11-15.
This story was edited by Audrey McClour and Anusha Fathepure. Andrew Paredes and Tori Pham copy edited this story.
