Before closing the library, always contact the Senior Library Director and the VP for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs' office (210-567-2004) for approval to close.
In the event of an emergency or campus closure, the Office of the President well send an HSC Alert through email and text message to mobile telephones. If the announcement says that only essential personnel must report to work, the Library will be closed.
Notifications: If the library does not open on time or has an early closure, library staff will notify the public of any closures and status of the library through Web site updates, social media and signage.
Inclement weather: During business hours, the Library will close if the University President or his designee declares a campus closure and cancellation of classes due to extreme weather or an emergency or disaster. After 5 pm or on weekends the Senior Library Director or his designee has authority to close the Library in case of extreme weather or an emergency. Hours of work missed will be recorded as Administrative Leave. However, if an employee received prior approval for vacation or sick leave, then the absence will be recorded as vacation or sick leave, respectively.
The Library will open if the weather is severe but the campus is not closed. Staff members are expected to make every reasonable effort to report to work. If staff cannot safely make it to work, they should notify their supervisor by telephone immediately. Hours of work missed if the campus is not closed will be handled like other absences and charged to vacation leave, or pay will be reduced.
Physical disaster that poses a threat to lives or property: the Library will be evacuated and will close immediately.
Power failure: University Police should be contacted at 210-567-2800 (or 7-2800). In the event of a power failure, the following guidelines apply:
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Daylight Hours |
After Dark |
|---|---|
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Library will remain open for 30 minutes, to allow time for power to be restored. |
Library will remain open for 30 minutes, to allow time for power to be restored. |
|
After 30 minutes, the Library will be evacuated |
After 15 minutes the Library will be evacuated |
|
Library staff must remain in contact for one additional hour |
Library staff must remain in contact for one additional hour |
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If the power is off for a total of 90 minutes, then the Library may be closed and staff sent home |
If power is not restored after a total of 30 minutes, then the Library will be closed and staff sent home |
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If power is restored earlier than 6 hours prior to closing time, night or weekend staff must return to re-open the Library |
If power is restored earlier than 6 hours prior to closing time, night or weekend staff must return to re-open the Library |
Telephone outage: As long as there is access to a cell phone to call UT Police, the library will remain open.
Water shutdown: If the water is shut down in only the library building, the library will remain open. If the shutdown affects the Library and lecture hall buildings, then the Library will close due to unavailability of restrooms. If water is restored earlier than 6 hours prior to closing time, Library staff will return to re-open the Library.
Air conditioning shutdown: Generally, the Library will not close if the air conditioning is down for just a few hours or overnight. The decision to close is at the discretion of the Senior Library Director, and can be based upon the outside temperature at the time.