Beginning Saturday, Nov. 21, the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno will reopen Saturday afternoons.

Dean of Library Services Peter McDonald made the announcement Wednesday, Nov. 18, that one-time federal stimulus money will make it possible to open the library from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 21, Dec. 5 and 12. The library – and the rest of campus – are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday break Nov. 25-28.

To help students through the fall semester’s flurry of term papers and final examinations, the Madden Library again will be open extended hours Dec. 5-16.

The Saturday schedule will be retained during the spring semester, McDonald said.

“We regret that earlier this year, budget limitations forced us to cut hours, so we are very happy that this money will help stay open again when students need us,” McDonald said.

Associated Students Inc. President Jessica Sweeten said students have been asking for the library to be open more hours since the curtailed schedule was announced. “This should definitely help students,” Sweeten said, “and we appreciate that the library is being responsive to our needs. Now it’s up to us to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

The money for this initiative is part of the federal stimulus package that helped Fresno State restore 200 spring 2010 class sections eliminated earlier by budget cuts.

The Madden Library’s schedule this semester is 2-10 p.m. Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Historically, the library has not been open Friday nights because of a lack of student interest.

The Library’s final exam extended-hour schedule will be 2 p.m.-midnight Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday.

There has been study space available on campus throughout the semester at the University Student Union (7 a.m.-midnight every day) and the Student Recreation Center (noon-11 p.m. Sunday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday).