By Sobia Ali
I am sure this discussion has been touched on by many others. My topic today is about the current status of seating in the library. Summer is almost over! As usual, libraries are less busy in terms of students during this time but those starting school in September will be looking for places to study.
While there are 4 other libraries on campus, students still aren’t able to find a seat in the library. I know that is a unique problem in its own and at the same time it’s a campus wide issue. What is the library doing to help students find a seat? I struggle to find a seat during regular hours but I don’t try and find one when I have to study for exams or work on my own laptop. Those are the only times when I don’t care about a seat. I would simply sit on the floor and work on things. But I find students doing this most of the time. Why do you think they do that?
I do it because I like studying in the library and any other space on campus doesn’t have the feel of a library. Libraries are a motivation in itself. Secondly, because that is how I study at home. I get lots of space to spread out my material and stretch my legs as opposed to dangling from the chair if I was sitting.
Fortunately, I have been able to make a studying plan for the upcoming year. I am going to plan ahead where and when I am going to study. At the same time I will explore what times the library isn’t greatly busy so I can drop by to for a print resources or go through materials when I have a break between classes. I have also decided to diversify and explore spaces in other libraries. Do you think this plan will work? What are your suggestions for students looking for a space? What would you have done?
York University Libraries is one of the busiest systems in Canada, particularly in the fall and winter terms between 10 am and 7 pm Monday through Thursday. During these hours seats are at a premium – that is to say there are not enough. Each year we add 50 to 100 additional seats and last year was no exception. Therefore, one strategy is to come early or just before classes change. The other time that it gets very, very crowded is during exams. The midnight to 8 am study space in Scott Library has seating for 180 people and this area also fills up early in the evening.
The Libraries also strives to provide the types of study space you emphasize in student surveys. Many of you want space to collaborate in groups. Last year 7 additional group study rooms were established on the second floor of Scott behind the Learning Commons help desks. Other students are seeking quiet and silent places in the library to work. There are a few areas in the libraries that are deemed quiet study i.e. no talking – Steacie has an area by the windows, Frost’s second floor and the 4th floor of Scott are three areas that can be very quiet. It is probably not widely known that Bronfman has a silent study room as does Scott. Our goal is to expand the number of study spaces on 4th and 5th floor Scott Library and declare both floors quiet.
During particularly busy days, especially around exams, I will entirely forgo trawling for a seat and just make do with setting up an improvised standing desk. The ledges/planters along the inside of the upper levels of Scott (overlooking the Learning Commons) are excellent candidates.
Great view, great lighting—plus, being surrounded by plants can trick you into thinking you’re studying outside. Especially when you’re two lattes deep and you have that exam-mode studying fugue going on. The wooden ledge is wide enough to support a laptop and if you’re between 6’1” and 5’1” you’re at a workable height to type without looking like a 21st century mad scientist.
I speak of laptops because I’m among those terminally bound to their screen at the library, but you can read and take notes with relative ease too.
There’s been a lot of studies suggesting that sitting down for too long is liable to bring you to an early end. HowToGeek has a terrifying infographic that can explain it better than I. Anyway, food for thought for the health-conscious scholar.
If you do take this idea, don’t toss garbage into the planters. Very rude.