It could be said that the library is the heart of a university, and a good library is certainly important when it comes to attracting prospective students. In fact, satisfaction with library services ranks 8th out of the top ten factors that students consider when choosing where to study. Despite the growing popularity of e-resources, students are visiting their libraries more often, and for longer, than ever. It’s a good thing too, as research suggests that students that are persuaded by their university to engage with library resources reap higher academic results. Here are five more things we think you should love about your university library:
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Online Resources
With the increased demand for remote access to library and university resources, universities are stepping up to provide a ‘digital campus’ for students, so that they can engage fully in their studies regardless of location. Investment in e-resources is key to a universities’ productivity, and so student libraries work to offer content online, to keep you in the academic loop wherever you are.
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A Collaborative Space
In recent years, the need has been recognised not only for a quiet study place for students but also a space where they can also be creative, chat, and collaborate. As educational trends have come to favour creative, hands-on learning, student libraries accommodate this by providing ‘social learning spaces’ alongside areas for more traditional use.
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Round the Clock Access
We no longer live in a 9 to 5 world, and while some students work better during the day, night owls need a place to study too. University libraries seek to accommodate this by opening 24/7 – a policy many institutions have adopted since it was debuted by Bath university in 1996. Even if your library is not open 24 hours a day, increased investment in e-content means that students have access to library resources round the clock.
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Laptops and Computers
Another thing that university libraries do to support students is to provide access to IT resources. This is no longer limited to desktop computers, with students often wishing to borrow laptops rather than bring their own heavy device from home. University computers and laptops are of course invaluable to those students who do not have access to these resources elsewhere, or who are suffering personal IT problems in the wake of course commitments and deadlines. D-Tech international helps libraries to provide this service with our computeIT self-service laptop and charging locker, which gives students easy access to the resources that they need.
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A space to be productive
Perhaps one of the most wonderful things about university libraries is that they provide a calm place to foster productivity, regardless of whether you are using physical or online resources. Being able to escape the distraction that may arise at home or elsewhere is valuable to students, and the ‘positive stress’ felt when being somewhere assigned to quiet and study is often what students need to put aside distractions and plough ahead with work.
At D-Tech, helping institutions to create an optimal library space for both staff and students is our aim. To find out more about us and our products, please complete the form to get in touch or call us on 01394 420077
