Library 24/7 2010 - General Feedback

[gwfs42]

Was surprised this was the first instance Durham Uni had initiated the 24/7 hours. Very successful, very useful. Hope to see it applied for the future and the possiblity of having the library open 24hrs/day a couple times a week during non-exam time.

[qrjv51]

I think 24/7 is brilliant as it gives us brilliant flexibility to revise when we want. It's worked really well as the library is unbearable busy during the day.

I do have issues with people reserving seats with books and sometimes find it difficult to find a place. However I appreciate that this is a difficult issue to solve. The current method of putting peoples stuff behind the enquiries desk is a good one and should be enforced more frequently. Perhaps posters encouraging people to report vacant desks would help. People only leave their stuff cos they know everyone else does it and they won't get a desk again when they come back.

Is there a possibility that 24 hours could be introduced during normal term time? Maybe for the last couple of weeks of each term when essay/dissertation deadlines approach? Thanks

[nlhw52]

24/7 opening is, of course, a fantastic idea. However, as a postgraduate, I was disappointed that the library was only open until 8pm during the Easter vacation, and is now open 24/7 for the undergraduate exam period - especially as a lot of undergrads want to study during the Easter vacation, too! Other than that, it's a cracking idea - wish the library had been constantly open when I was doing exams!

[qqwc32]

Great idea, it has been really useful not having to worry about closing time etc. Thankyou!

[d44te3]

This is SO useful, thanks. It's great to be able to get there early in the morning and not be forced out at night, makes using the library much easier and more amenable to different people's working patterns/schedules. Thanks.

[dan2rd]

Important, helpful and necessary. Please extend to the rest of the academic year, if possible.

[vfvr39]

I've got friends who think the 24/7 library is 'unhealthy' but I think people are sensible enough to go to bed when they need to. If it can help even one person who wants to work through the night then it is worth having!
However, I do know of people leaving their books there late at night and not returning till later the next morning where their seat is saved because no one knows how long that person has left their stuff there.
I dont think people should have to take everything with them just when they go for a break or for lunch or to a compulsory lecture for max two hours, because they made the effort to get there early to get the seat, and for a compulsory thing, they shouldn't have to lose any more revision time trying to find another place to work just because they had to take their things with them.

[wbqt83]

Thanks for all your feedback.

Regarding people saving seats. Shelving staff on all floors have been instructed to move items left unattended for any length of time and we have printed flyers to leave in place of anything removed. Security guards on duty over night have the same instruction. Day staff are not able to make regular patrols but if a student wants a space they know has been unoccupied for some time, we would endeavour to speak to the student who has left belongings. If you have a concern, please speak to staff at Enquiries.

[dml0sc]

The library should provide services to students and faculty, and facilitate access to research resources. It seems to me that the Durham library is becoming polyfunctional: we can read, study but also eat, flirt, socialize, relax. Fantastic! But there is a difference between a recreation space and a research space. I have nothing against the former, but I wonder what is happening to the latter. DDS material (most of the time confined items) are accessible only within very limited timeframes. I am here on Saturday at 12:30 (PM not AM), my DDS are here (as they are here during the entire period of the library generous opening hours), but I cannot access them, for they are allegedly "rare items" (in fact common books published in 2008 and 2009), and "rare" items ought to be preserved not consulted: more preserved and confined than consulted. Now, did somebody tell the British Library that their "rare" material could be consulted together with a hamburger, a coke, and some fat French fries? I wonder what the reaction would be. If the problem is to "preserve" their intangible and sacred integrity (for this is the problem, right? "noli me tangere"), the only viable solution is, given the circumstances, to take them OUT of the library as soon as they enter in it. I don't see why and how the library would be a safer place to preserve them than, say, an ordinary kitchen. Hungry students need a place to eat (restaurants are not open 24/h unfortunately) in the same way they need books to read: why is food for the stomach privileged over food for the mind?

[wbqt83]

Thank you for your comment.

Inter-Library Loans are not the property of Durham University so we have stricter security requirements as part of the restrictions agreed with the lending library. Not all staff are allowed to access and issue high value confined items for security reasons.

We understand the concern surrounding eating and drinking in the library. We have allowed eating and drinking on Main Library Level 2 as part of Library 24/7, for contained drinks and cold food. We do not allow fast food in the Library and the YUM cafe space is open through the night for those wishing to consume food outside of the Library. No one should be eating and drinking on Levels 1, 3 & 4. Unfortunately we do not have the staffing levels to patrol the Library and enforce these rules, we rely on students having respect for the library and their peers. We do encourage anyone to report antisocial behaviour to our enquiries desk so we can deal with incidents as they happen.

We do take the environment of the Library seriously, and this is a trial. In reviewing Library 24/7 and making decisions about future provision we will take into account the issues with the way the Library is used. You can find more information in our latest news item http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/news/?itemno=10045