Officials on Monday directed Gelman Library staff to work on Election Day after declaring the day a University holiday in July, citing a “changed understanding” of campus needs in an email to employees.

Provost Chris Bracey on Monday afternoon requested that the Libraries & Academic Innovation staff open Gelman Library on Election Day, requiring the Access Services staff — who manage the library’s entrance and exit desks — to report for work, according to an email sent by LAI’s senior leadership team to library staff members on Tuesday. A library employee, who requested anonymity due to job security concerns, said Bracey’s last-minute instruction has forced some staff to change voting plans because they had intended vote in person on Tuesday but now have to vote early at a less convenient location so they can work.

Officials in late July announced that the University would observe Election Day as a holiday to ensure students, faculty and staff members could vote in the election.

The library employee said the decision has left other staff members “panicked,” especially those with children who are now struggling to secure childcare arrangements on Election Day. They said other staff members voiced safety concerns about working on Election Day because they fear the city could become unsafe with potential protests.

“There were people who avoided taking shifts on that day out of safety concerns because the campus is going to be in safety mode and people don’t really want to be out in public in D.C. during Election Day,” they said.

The employee said staff in their department are paid on an hourly basis and will be paid for their work next Tuesday, while also receiving a “floating holiday,” where they can take an additional day off at their discretion to compensate for their work during the holiday. They said staff are overall upset about official’s short notice on the opening because although Access Services staff understand they are expected to work on holidays, they received only a week’s notice in this case and working on Election Day is “more serious” than working on Thanksgiving.

Gelman Library will open from 8:30 a.m. to midnight on Election Day, according to the Election Day Safety website.

“The library is open for some holidays, and we’re fine with working,” they said. “We take turns working holidays, but we know a year ahead of time, not a week ahead of time.”