As hundreds of students pass the tall pillars and enter Pattee Library, a set of words, inscribed high above their heads, often remain unnoticed -- "The true university is a collection of books."

Last week Pattee, like so many other University institutions, succumbed to the effects of Gov. Robert P. Casey's $12.6 million cut in University funding.

Pattee cut operating time by eight hours a week in an effort to save money. Although this change will inconvenience many students, library administrators have been as careful as possible in handling a desperate financial situation.

In response to state budget cuts, library administrators also plan to slow down the rate at which they buy new books and equipment to help return the 1.25 percent of revenue each academic unit at the University has been asked to give back to central administration.

Administrators tried to cut hours during the time students use the library least. If Pattee's hours had to be cut at all, library administrators should be commended for not cutting them when many students are using the facility. Cutting back on a few library hours is better than discontinuing periodical subscriptions.

However, since the library is the focal point of much of what goes on at any institution of higher learning, funding must be restored and increased as soon as possible.

Fewer library hours will be potentially difficult for everyone, but especially for students and faculty with busy schedules who have to do research. In addition, the cuts may affect returning adult students and those who have to work throughout the week even more.

Until regular hours are restored, students will need to plan ahead to get the most from the resources available. Pollock Library will remain open on a 24-hour basis for those who need a quiet place to study and Pattee's new hours will be 7:45 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday; 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to midnight on Sunday.

It is important that administrators view this as a temporary, unpleasant, emergency measure and not a permanent way to save money at the ever-underfunded University.

The library, under normally tight levels of funding, must not be viewed as a place to cut corners. Ten years from now, fall of 1990 should not be remembered as the last semester Pattee was open until 9 p.m. on weekends.