In anticipation of next year’s renovations to Hilles Library, the Pforzheimer House Committee (Pfoho HoCo) is petitioning against potential changes that would reduce library hours, librarian services, and access to reserves.

Many students were notified of additional changes to the library in March by flyers hung in Hilles, although initial plans to renovate Hilles were released a year ago,

In April 2004, students were informed that Hilles’ four stories would be reduced to one, with the first floor undergoing renovations and serving as the library. The top three stories would be transferred to the College to be used as a general space for students.

“When looking at budgetary constraints,” said Beth S. Brainard, Harvard College Library (HCL) Director of Communications, “we wanted to accommodate to Quad students, but couldn’t justify keeping a full library open that was basically a duplicate of Lamont.”

While the PhoHo HoCo’s petition addresses the reductions, it does not protest the renovations, according to Jonathan B. Johnnidis ’05, who drafted the petition along with several HoCo members.

“We are thrilled that renovations are happening; the problem is, the library is going to be closed more than it is open,” said Johnnidis.

Pfoho HoCo Vice President Joshua D. Monahan ’06 said that in talking to House masters about the planned changes to Hilles, he found that not many knew much of what was going on.

“We’re petitioning something that we had very little notification of, both students and House masters,” he said.

Since then, he has been working with the Pfoho HoCo on this issue.

“We have an enthusiastic ring of support from students,” said Johnnidis.

Although the petition has only been tabled for two nights in Pfoho, Monahan said that it has already garnered over 100 signatures, mainly from Quad students and resident tutors.

According to Monahan, the committee is making plans to table in other Houses in the coming weeks, especially in Currier and Cabot.

Monahan said he hopes to submit the petition to Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 before the end of the academic year.

Specifically, the petition raises concerns over proposed reductions and urges the University to keep Hilles “accessible” and “useful.”

Brainard said that HCL is “also very concerned about providing a library for Quad students, so what we did was try to determine the best way to still provide service. This decision was made with a lot of thought and input from FAS, students and administration.”