TOEFL Speaking Task 2

The university has announced that the campus library will now close at 10 PM on weekdays instead of midnight, citing budget cuts and a decline in late-night usage. The library will also reduce its weekend hours to 10 AM-6 PM. The administration believes this change will save energy costs and allow staff to focus on daytime services.

Woman: Did you hear about the library hours? I can't believe they're cutting them back so much. Man: Yeah, it's ridiculous. I'm a night owl, and I always study there after dinner. Midnight closing was perfect for me. Now I'll have to leave at 10, just when I'm getting into my work. Woman: I agree. Plus, the weekend hours are worse. On Saturdays, I usually spend the whole afternoon researching for my papers. With 6 PM closing, I'll lose three hours of valuable time. Man: Exactly. And they say it's because of budget cuts, but why not just close one of the smaller reading rooms instead of penalizing everyone? They could save money by turning off unused lights on other floors. Woman: Right. The library is the heart of campus for many of us. They should find a better solution.