24/7 Library – how to get the best from it
Published on 12 April 12
Remember to respect your fellow students, respect the library and respect yourself – and to go home for proper breaks, food, rest and a nice hot shower
During the exam period the Main Library throws open its doors and extends its opening hours to twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. This is because everyone works in different ways – you might have your most inspirational thoughts at four in the morning, realise you need a certain book first thing on a Sunday morning, or you don’t have a quiet study space to work at home. The Library wants to accommodate all your revision needs and help you achieve your potential – and that certainly doesn’t mean working day and night.
Just because the library is open 24/7 doesn’t mean you should work 24/7. If you are tired and feel like you need to sleep before you can do more work, don’t rest your head on your desk and nap – go home! Sleeping at your desk won’t refresh you properly, and you are preventing other students who want to work from using your desk space. You are working your body and your mind over time and you deserve real breaks and a proper night’s sleep. An exhausted brain will be no use to at all in an exam.
Feeling hungry? Snacks from the vending machine can be a great boost but make sure you take proper breaks for nutritious, filling and regular meals. That doesn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen if you’re busy- it can be as simple as heating up a tin of soup or throwing together a quick omelette. There are plenty of places around campus serving cheap and healthy meals if you need something quick, but keep an eye on your money – five pound a day for lunch with the odd large coffee here and there, quickly adds up to near on £140 over two weeks of revision. Swing by a budget supermarket on your way home from uni, such as the Lidl by Whitworth Park; picking up a loaf of bread and a bunch of bananas could save you a lot of your student loan! Or if you don’t get the chance to pop the shops, why not arrange an online delivery from the likes of Tesco or ASDA?
Want a study boost? Don’t believe the adverts – plain old tap water and fresh fruit will boost your productivity a lot more than a expensive caffeine drinks, which only provide a temporary sugar high before you crash, and can end up feeling really sick and even more tired than before. And remember, only bottled water is allowed outside of the Main Library’s Social Zones (Blue 4, Green 2 and the Library Lounge).
- 24/7 opening hours begin on Monday, 23 April (8am) in the Main Library until Wednesday, 6 June 2012 (11.30pm).
- Need to use a computer to revise? There are hundreds of computers available around campus (not just in the Main Library). You can check the latest availability here.