TOEFL Speaking Task 2

The university has announced that the main library will extend its hours to 24/7 starting next semester. The administration believes this will better accommodate students' varying study schedules and reduce stress during exam periods. To fund these extended hours, the library will reduce the number of print journal subscriptions and rely more on digital access, which the administration argues is more efficient and cost-effective.

Woman: Did you see the announcement about the library going 24/7? I think it's a great idea! Man: Really? I'm not so sure. I mean, the extra hours might help some, but cutting print journals is a big loss. Woman: But think about it—most of us use online databases anyway. I rarely touch the print versions. And having the library open all night means I can study whenever I want, especially before finals. Man: I get that, but not all resources are digital. Some older journals and special collections are only in print. If they cut those, research in certain fields could suffer. Woman: True, but the announcement says they'll still have digital access for most things. And the extended hours benefit so many students—night owls like me. Plus, it reduces stress because we don't have to rush to finish before closing. Man: I suppose, but I worry about losing those unique print materials. They can't all be online.