Nerds are getting a new nightlife thanks to King’s University College. The affiliate’s library will be open for 24-hours during the April exam season.

The extended hours will run Monday to Friday from April 11 to 30.

“I didn’t actually think it would happen this fast,” Pat Searle, president of the King’s University College Students’ Council, said of the decision, which was made public on Twitter yesterday. “It’s honestly been like 10 e-mails and suddenly it’s happened.”

Searle said most students will use the extra hours to stay a little later or arrive a little earlier, rather than pulling all-nighters.

“As for main campus students using it, we have nothing against that,” Searle said. “The doors are open. I’m excited to see students from all across campus.”

Searle began working with librarians last December to launch the program after students started asking for more studying time. He clinched the deal when KUCSC offered to pay for part of the program, according to Claire Callaghan, chief librarian at King’s.

“They’re giving almost a third of what they would need to keep the library open,” she said.

The decision comes on the heels of an unrelated petition to keep the Allyn and Betty Taylor Library open for 24-hours. The petition circulated campus last November, but administration is still deliberating over the idea.

King’s approved the extended hours much faster than main campus because there’s less red tape and fewer costs, Callaghan argued.

“We’re part of the whole library environment but we’re separate as well, so it’s much easier for us to work on things. We don’t have to consult to the same extent they do.”

Costs for keeping the King’s library open are much less than Weldon or Taylor. At King’s, work study students will work the late shift, dropping costs far lower than other libraries like Weldon, where full-time librarians and security are needed.

“Hopefully King’s realizes this is something King’s should always be doing, so we don’t have to [always] fund this,” Searle added about supporting the program through the KUCSC.

Callaghan said her first concern was over security and safety of students. After 10:30 p.m., the shuttle bus running between King’s and main campus stops. With most city busses ending around midnight, concerns were raised about how students will get home at night.

“There will be a period where students, if they want to go home, will have to rely on a ride or a cab, or walking, which we always encourage in groups,” Searle said.

Mary Carol Watters, dean of students at King’s, said she’s meeting with brass at King’s next Thursday to work out the details.

“Our next steps are getting the key players together to make sure we can offer this in a safe and convenient manner for staff and students at the college,” she said.

Currently, two security guards work a night shift at King’s. If needed, librarians could call them and Western’s campus police for help, according to Callaghan.

Another concern is cleaning the library. Searle said cleaning staff will be able to vacuum and run regular maintenance on Saturday and Sunday, which will not be 24-hours.

After the trial period ends on April 30, King’s will use entrance and exit numbers to measure how successful the program was.

“This is a trial. So it might not happen in October or December exam periods next year,” Searle said.

With the program, Western is added to a list of other universities with 24-hour study space, including McMaster and Carleton.

“We did our homework before, just to see. While we know students want 24/7, are other libraries offering this? And indeed they are,” Callaghan said, adding rather than catching up, she believes King’s is simply “joining in.”