Do you think university libraries are essential?

[louderthan1]

Because the government seems to and so do university bosses.
I work in a uni library and at the moment we are open.

Students have to book a study space online, but once they're booked in they are free to browse shelves for books.
First day back yesterday and it was surprisingly busy.
There are strict social distancing regulations in place, they have to wear masks at all times etc etc but not all of them are complying.

I think students have had a really rough time this year and obviously aren't getting the full university experience, socially or academically. But that is the responsibility of university management and the government to address, not library staff on relatively low wages.

Most of the staff in my office use public transport so are putting themselves at additional risk in that way as well.

I just think it's so dangerous and irresponsible for us to be open, I don't see how it can be justified. During lockdown in March/April/May we were closed, it was hard but we managed. We provided extra online resources, purchased ebooks on request etc.

However I'm aware that I'm not a student or parent of a student who has been massively disadvantaged already, so I don't have a stake in it in that way.

What do you think?

I think there are too many loopholes in this lockdown and we’ll never get on top of the virus infection rate if people don’t start making more sacrifices. It’s hard but needs to be done.

No I don't, especially now that so much material can be accessed online but seeing as postgraduate research students are being told no further extensions to funding or end dates, they will be screwed if libraries aren't open.

Could they do book and collect like public libraries have been doing?

I would have agreed with you OP, until DD told me about a girl on her uni course who lives at home with 6 brothers and sisters who are all significantly younger. She has to go to the library to do the online lectures and seminars as there’s no quiet space at home. DD said when she’s had to do the Zoom lectures at home you can always hear her family shouting in the background. So I think for some students it really is essential

If you’re studying and need the library then yes, it’s essential. Not everyone has study space at home - in fact, I’d go as far to say that the students that don’t are probably those at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. I do take your point though and if open, measures should be taken to ensure they operate as safely as possible.

Yes I definitely think they are essential.

I'm a student, started in September. I've no idea even where the library is on campus. I've never been in it. But I'm doing a foundation year so what I need is different to what a post grad or final year student needs and there have been resources I have wantes to use that aren't digitally available, plus had to buy a couple of texts I could have borrowed. Ereaders are really good but not brilliant to flick through quickly etc.

I do think they are essential while ever students are expected to continue studying. As are other uni services, not all students went home at Christmas, for some uni is home and the amount a degree costs, they should absolutely have access to a vital part of their resources. Obviously in a covid secure way.

For some courses yes - Classics have very little online source material, it's all still in books

So it should be open IMO to a very limited number of students

Very very limited

There's a pastoral issue too relating to the students OP :-( Not only do they need access for academic purposes but there's a lot of pressure to create a sense of community and access to campus in as many ways as possible. I'm sorry, I'd feel the same as you

Yes, they are essential. Many books are not available in e-book format.

Yes. I did most of my work in them at uni. Writing a literature essay and being able to quickly find relevant books to use was essential as most aren't available online for free.

Yes

yes, essential for some, online as well is also very inportant

Yes, they're essential for some students.

But you should have a means of ensuring compliance with the regulations. I'd have thought violations could lead to suspension of being able to book more slots.

Yes essential for some degrees. Wouldn’t have got mine without hours spent in libraries accessing books that I couldn’t afford. Material not available online and still wouldn’t be...

How is that any different to supermarkets and other shops, where the staff are low paid, but are risking covid because of shoppers not wearing masks, not respecting social distancing etc??

Uni students have had an awful time anyway, being stuck in their rooms and having to do everything online. For many, being able to go to the library is the only thing they're actually allowed to do to leave their rooms, and some need to use the computers for specialist software that they can't download onto their own laptops.

You are being very, very unreasonable to want to make students' lives and their uni experience more miserable than it already is.

For the students using them they are absolutely essential yes. For the reasons posted - plus mental health, lack of facilities at home etc. I'm saddened you have so little awareness of that actually.

I appreciate you're concerned about lack of mask wearing, and students picking up piles of resources, but you need to talk to your manager about enforcing mask wearing, and improve your covid procedures. For example asking students to place any books they've touched onto a particular rack so those books can be removed for a few days.

Please don't blame students or university management.

Yes I think they are essential and also there is no reason why they cannot also be safe. I really think that working in a library should be a really safe job and that to ensure it is a safe environment it is not unreasonable to expect both students and staff to wear masks, wash their hands, use hand sanitizer and respect social distancing.

In addition a library may be the only safe, quiet, warm space a student can access.

Also as others have said, how on earth can post grad and final year students continue their studies if they can’t do the necessary research. You need to get the books out and look at them to know whether they are relevant or not.

No one is offering students extensions or a student furlough to pay their fees or cover their accommodation costs. Who knows what the next challenge that our country will be, we really need to ensure that we have got these young people coming through to fill these future roles.

Libraries must remain open, but, they must also put as many measures as they can in place to keep everyone working in a safe way.

My DD final yr in Scotland. Dissertation to write. Freezing flat with intermittent WiFi and continual noise from next door. Therefore yes. It bloody well is essential. Or she gets the chance to have an extra, non Covid year for free. (obs that won't be happening). However, in their infinite wisdom Edinburgh University have shut the library, such as it was, so she now has zero resources. Great.

Can all the books and resources be accessed online? If not then it’s definitely essential. Most students can’t afford to buy all the books needed.

I did a course that finished at the end of December, the university library there under tier 3 was only open for the click and collect of books that you could reserve online. Seemed very sensible.

For most undergrad courses key literature is available in e-book form online. I imagine most people who studied a few years (or longer) ago would be surprised at how much is now in ebook form.

My DH’s university only has the campus open to post graduate researchers which makes sense as they are largely paid for their research.

Yeah we've been doing click and collect for books since June and opened for study in July.

I fully believe in the pastoral/social/community aspect of libraries, that's one of the main reasons I became a librarian. I'm well aware that some students have difficult home lives and need space and time to study in peace. A big part of our job is and always has been providing support and signposting students to other sources of support, checking in with them etc.

I have nothing but sympathy for students and please know that all uni staff are desperate to support students in any way they can, if they're having problems they can come to us and we will help them.

I just don't feel very safe or supported at work currently, but that's partly down to poor management.

I dunno. Tis aw a muddle!

Absolutely essential in my opinion

I understand how you feel and I have some sympathy, but I am afraid I see them as essential.

Just the atmosphere and resources of a university library are very conducive to studying effectively and not all books are available in e-format.

When I think back to my own student days (far too long ago) I always found that keeping "home" as in my student digs separate from where I studied as often as possible worked the best, so I liked the library for that reason.

I don't remember our library as a place for large social gatherings, we worked at individual desks which were in cubicles and had screens around them anyway. I would have struggled without that.

Yes I think they are essential. Hopefully it is fairly easy for you to social distance in them.