Library rant....

[AliceChalliner]

Right, a small but I think necessary rant....

It took me 1/2 an hour yesterday to find a seat in the library, I couldn't find a seat on any of the floors, and only got one in the end cos i spotted someone getting up to go and got in their fast....why were there no seats?

Well, I understand it's busy....as my flat mate described, and I am one of them "loads of fucking undergrads who haven't read a book all year panic-revising". Fair enough, it's to be expected.

HOWEVER - there were SO many seats where people had just LEFT THEIR CRAP and buggered off. I find it really hard to believe all the desks (and there were LOADS of them) with no people at but with notes left on were ALL belonging to people just "popping up to get a book/go to the loo/have a smoke"....I can understand why you'd do it...it's hard to find a seat.....when you've got one, you wanna keep it....BUT IT'S ONLY HARD TO FIND A SEAT COS ANNOYING PEOPLE LIKE YOU MARK YOUR GOD-DAM TERRITORY AND THEN BUGGER OFF FOR HOURS AT A TIME!! Meaning the Library hasn't just got to have enough seats for all the people in at one time (which it can do), but for every person who might want to come in at some point during the whole day! Just STOP IT!!

Does anyone else agree?

[Nelson]

Quoting AliceChalliner from 09:54, 19th May 2008
Right, a small but I think necessary rant....

It took me 1/2 an hour yesterday to find a seat in the library, I couldn't find a seat on any of the floors, and only got one in the end cos i spotted someone getting up to go and got in their fast....why were there no seats?

Well, I understand it's busy....as my flat mate described, and I am one of them "loads of fucking undergrads who haven't read a book all year panic-revising". Fair enough, it's to be expected.

HOWEVER - there were SO many seats where people had just LEFT THEIR CRAP and buggered off. I find it really hard to believe all the desks (and there were LOADS of them) with no people at but with notes left on were ALL belonging to people just "popping up to get a book/go to the loo/have a smoke"....I can understand why you'd do it...it's hard to find a seat.....when you've got one, you wanna keep it....BUT IT'S ONLY HARD TO FIND A SEAT COS ANNOYING PEOPLE LIKE YOU MARK YOUR GOD-DAM TERRITORY AND THEN BUGGER OFF FOR HOURS AT A TIME!! Meaning the Library hasn't just got to have enough seats for all the people in at one time (which it can do), but for every person who might want to come in at some point during the whole day! Just STOP IT!!

Does anyone else agree?

You make a fair point, however if like myself you have had to walk 30 minutes into town from halls, to be there at 8/9am in the morning just to make sure you get there early enough to get a desk then the last thing you want to do is give it up when you decide you have to eat/need more paper/need a break. Obviously there is a problem with space when it comes to exams, but during normal term time there is no problem with finding space. I'm more concerned about the lack of appropriate core textbooks!

[AliceChalliner]

yeh but....if everyone stopped doing that and staking their claim for the whole day, you wouldn't have to be there at 8/9am to get a desk!
I know you're not going to stop doing it but do you see my point??

[munchingfoo]

I don't think people clearing their desks would help the situtation much to be fair. The times when people are likely to be away longest (lunch/dinner) occur at approx. the same time for everyone.

I think it acceptable for someone to leave books out on a desk when they are having a smoke/small break/ getting reading material from the shelves.

It is unfortunate that the library is packed around exam times, but I don't think the solution to this problem is what you described. Perhaps making people aware of other available study areas is a better idea?

[hr]

“ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading”

[Amorphous]

According to my flatmate you also get people who mark their territory overnight by leaving their stuff in the library. I've never experienced this myself because I'm never in the library early enough, but my flatmate has been there at opening time, first one in the building, and found desks already covered in papers.

It's a bit of a vicious circle, I guess - getting a desk is hard because they're all 'reserved' with abandoned papers, so when people do get a desk they want to make sure they don't lose it by marking their place.

Still deeply irritating if you're in the library long enough to see that a 'taken' desk has been abandoned for several hours, though.

[hr]

If Jack Bauer was put in a room with Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and Nina Myers and handed a gun with two bullets, he'd shoot Nina twice.

[munchingfoo]

Perhaps the solution is a "parking meter" style place holder. You set it to the current time when you leave, and if someone encounters a desk which has a time greater than half an hour ago (or, in the future, to avoid cheating) then they can claim the seat.

I think there should be a member of library staff to ensure that no desks are reserved with books over night. Not even the Postgrads who have an entitlement to a booth in the library are allowed to do that. (nor are they allowed to leave books during the day for an extended period of time, but without a method like the one described above, how do you tell how long someone has been away?

[hr]

“ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading”

[careba2010]

Remember they are extending the library considerably in the near future. Not much use to us but the Uni will just come back with the "we are in the process of upgrading the university library" line if you complain.

I hate revising in the Library it is far to stuffy and warm, I love revising with a window open as it keeps you awake.

[Super Jock]

I think some kinda of troll that eats books would be a good method. Though it'd be counter productive to the other problem of not enough core text books.

In seriousness there are loads of places around town to study. If people who needed to read a library book only went to the library there would be loads of room. Perhaps we should have another thread listing all the places people can study that they don't realize.

(From DRA)
* Bistro
* Nisbet Room
* Book out the sound proof music room
* Fife Park computer room
* Your Bedroom

[careba2010]

In Regs

TV Room
Computer Room
Games Room
Laundry (I saw someone doing this last time round)
Hall Garden
Your Own Room


and then you have St Marys and the Bute next door with a whole load of other places

[munchingfoo]

Physics/Maths Library
History Library
Bute
Union (perhaps the union could put desks in the rooms on the top floor that aren't used during the day?)
Gateway (loads of space)
Beach


[hr]

“ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading”

[Spike]

the problem with opening rooms on the top floor is that the salad bowl is being used as an exam venue, and so people moving in/out of the study rooms could be a distraction.

[hr]

From Rock to Opera

[RandomMusings]

Alice,

Why don't you just leave your own stuff there too? I never used to, but desparate times call for desparate measures. Plus, when I'm there from 9am til 11pm apart from an hour in the middle of the day, I think it is perfectly acceptible to leave your stuff out as you are settled into a position and often don't really want to move.
I sympathise, but as is the way at this uni - it's just the way it is.

[hr]

I like paper.

[Jono]

I have never once, in my three years, and six exam diets, had trouble finding a desk! If the cattle-market downstairs is full, try the first and second floors. Don't forget; there are plenty of desks around the sides.

Short of that; embrace the emasculated society, and move the papers neatly to one side!

As for other places:

St Mary's Library (bottom floor was virtually empty all afternoon).
The mediaeval history garden.
The green out back of the main library (Nice trees over by the wall, so you can bask in the shade).
The Irving Computer Lab (Although folding away the keyboard and mouse is a slight stretch of the term 'computer use').



[hr]

I disagree with you in principle.

[Delts]

Just as a side note, the music room in dra is definitely /not/ soundproof!

But I generally use physics/maths to study since I can get in whenever I like

Quoting Super Jock from 10:48, 19th May 2008
I think some kinda of troll that eats books would be a good method. Though it'd be counter productive to the other problem of not enough core text books.

In seriousness there are loads of places around town to study. If people who needed to read a library book only went to the library there would be loads of room. Perhaps we should have another thread listing all the places people can study that they don't realize.

(From DRA)
* Bistro
* Nisbet Room
* Book out the sound proof music room
* Fife Park computer room
* Your Bedroom

[hr]

...Because music is the best thing you'll ever hear!