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?

Yes I think they are essential and that you should stay open as much as you possibly can. It sounds like the problems you are having are to do with management and if the situation were better managed then you would not be as worried. So perhaps you need to get a group together to speak to the managers.

If the staff are not in a vulnerable category then they should be going in and helping to keep things running where they can. It's really important for students.

I feel like there are some irrational reactions going on at the moment and it sounds like some of the library staff are being a bit irrational and blowing things out of proportion with this. If they're not vulnerable, they can work.

People whose jobs are important and require them to be out at work, are out working. University library staff aren't an exception to that.

As the students need access to materials for their courses I would say yes it's essential, and some don't have computers so need access to them. Students have paid fees and need resources. If the government wants to shut down universities they should refund all fees for the year and restart in September, and letting them have their maintenance loans but turning them into non repayable for this year.

I would say so.

I understand it must be very hard for you. I work ins student support and the last time the library was closed students struggled massively completing their work. As hard as the library staff were trying to get e books, students needed the hard copies to get their work done.

Also, a lot of students live in the family home, the library is quite often the only quiet place they can study, some dont have their own laptops, the uni library is the only place they could access a computer.

It must be very hard for you, but to students, yes, you are essential

My DD uses the uni library to study, but rarely uses the books, as she prefers to access them online. She does ask the library staff for help sometimes. She's paid a years rent, with no face to face lectures, so she might as well get some benefit out of living miles away.

I also work in a university library - we are open for pre-booked study space and browse and borrow but with a very skeleton staff (only one person in a week to do some reshelving - and these are volunteers). All enquiries etc are being dealt with online as in the first lockdown.

Students still have to study. So yeah.

DD tells me they aren't allowed to access the physical books anyway, just use the study space. This is in Scotland so I don't know if it's different.

Of course they're essential to students. I couldn't have done my degree without access to the library books.

Honestly? You just sound like you're looking from time off.

Most people complaining about being in work sound like that tbh.

Yes, you're essential. For students who have had this and the last academic year flipped on its head you are a quiet space with resources for studying which a lot of students don't have.

For time off, not from time off.