HCL plans to conduct an initial evaluation of the pilot program at the end of the spring 2006 semester.

In response to safety concerns, shuttle services will be extended to run throughout the night, according to Lynda Leahy, the associate librarian of Harvard College for research and instruction.

According to Cline, keeping Lamont open late will require at least four library employees to staff the building.

But Cole added that members of Lamont’s current staff do not need to worry about changing their schedules.

“We will recruit from the...pool of potential staff who are prepared to work long hours late at night,” she said.

Ryan A. Petersen ’08—who co-wrote the UC report calling for a 24-hour library along with John S. Haddock ’07—said the new hours should accomodate students’ study habits.

“The time that the libraries close right now doesn’t correlate to the time that students go to bed,” Petersen said. “Opening up the library for 24 hours might be a step in the right direction to improve students’ mental health.”

But David J. Lokshin ’08 questioned whether Lamont had to stay open the entire night. “Having it open until 3 [a.m.] would have been fine with me,” he said.

Cline, however, said that she hopes that the pilot program will help fulfill students’ needs.

“If we can do this and find a way to fund it on a continuing basis, it will be a very important investment,” she said.

—Staff writer Daniel J. T. Schuker can be reached at dschuker@fas.harvard.edu.