Which library do you use?

Degsy

Which library does everyone use and what are its individual pros and cons?Does anybody else think the Lecky is too bloody noisy?

Crash

Berkely

Thats cus the lecky is a fecking thoroughfare from the arts block to the rest of the BLU complex - its an utter disgrace that the library dont do more to shut them up.

I'm an Ussher fourth floor man myself - pro's - great view to calm you, decently lit, some people dont get up that far so it can be quiet at times, has wireless.

cons - if the click of keyboards drives you mad, dont go here.

Degsy

I'm a fan of the fifth floor ussher,its got the best natural light..

Crash

Berkely

Yeah but the postgrads can kick yeh out of their seat

gilroyb

Lecky

Lecky: Too much noise. people have no shame answering their phones and whisper shouting into their phone, ie they know they should whisper but want to make sure the other person can hear them, but so doing means everyone in the entire library can hear them.

Berkley: Too cold, squeaky chairs.

Usher: Can hear staff phones ringing and staff talking. These are particularly noticable when you're sitting in the basement.
Basement- can be good, the doors bang constantly though with people going in and out.
Upper floors- good during the day, usally quite quiet and proper temperature, but in the evenings the air vents open and close constantly meaning the whir of a motor can be heard almost constantly for an hour or two.

All in all, great architecture all round. I would love to know why open plan libraries are so popular as it just means they can't be heated properly or noise dampened.

Bartronilic

I once went down to the Hamilton library - I was traumatised for years (as most arts end people are venturing down that far).

I am a 3rd floor Ussher person but too many people I know have got up here so up to the 4th floor soon!

Thirdfox

2nd floor of Berkeley... close to all the law books/case reports

has wireless... but as been mentionned already: the bloody squeaky chairs!!!!!!!!

Nietzschean

Usher

Ah i'm a fan of the ham, have been for the 4 years, though know wayyyy too many people here but sure i'd probally dos off anyway.......

snorlax

Random departmental library (fitzgerald, maths, geology etc.)

i used to be a 4th floor Usher kind of a person but then i didn't want to have to walk so far to get a coffee/ chocolate/ popcorn...also normally a glare from me keeps people quiet in the lecky (except for those notable goms that we're there last week)..im only really in there when it;s quiet enough aka Saturdays..am stuck out in James nomrally. however at the moment out there there's actually no seats free as the libraries completely jam packed..

wheresthebeef

Berkely

2nd floor Ussher, or John Stearne Library at Trinity Centre (James hospital). Gotta love the nursing section of the library, and our own little librarian, Greg!!!
Hail Greg!!!

Usually 4th Floor Ussher - the right hand side. Or straight if you are going from the door. Though lately I've been going to the Berkeley Basement, since it is completely empty.

You know, those seats which are larger then normal. The 5th floor is better but the PG drawback is the one Neil mentioned earlier.

cuckoo

Ham library if i need to use the books, otherwise the upper floors of the Ussher for some peace to study. I find the Ham can get a little air less if i'm sitting in the quieter parts, and in the noisier, more oxygenated areas it's too difficult to concentrate.

Plus, the lighting in the Ussher is fantastic.

snorlax

Random departmental library (fitzgerald, maths, geology etc.)

I didn't know nurses used the John Stearne! i thought your library was in the Usher? god that's a little insane trying to fit all the meds, therapists of various sorts and nurses in that tiny little library.

John

None of them, I really can't work in a library.

europerson

I generally use the Ussher or the Lecky. Here follows a brief description of the pros and cons of the various libraries I've used, as I see them.

For Lecky:

• Close access to subject books for me
• Big desks
• Convenient access to the Arts Building
• One can write on a single sheet of paper on the desks there, because they are kind of spongy
• One can laugh at BESS girls wondering where the Lecky is
• According to Seán Barrett, it's the best place to go to chat up people

Against Lecky:

• The noise (O rly? Ya rly!)
• The people (according to Seán Barrett, it's like a giant catwalk [as in the walk down its middle])
• Depressing concrete everywhere
• Too many people using phones
• Lighting can be very dull
• Dusty books and shelves
• Sociologists

For Berkeley (Upstairs):

• Very quiet
• Bright
• Access to interesting government publications and local history books, should the mood take one
• No BESS student will ever find you there

Against Berkeley (Upstairs):

• Too many zealous postgrads
• Little natural light
• Law students hogging the photocopiers for hours, as they copy whole books, in spite of their assumed knowledge of copyright legislation
• The squeaky chairs beside the law section
• The squeaky chairs beside the history section
• The squeaky chairs beside the research area
• The squeaky chairs beside the psychology section

Those squeaky chairs bug me.

For Berkeley (Basement):

• Quiet
• Interesting reference books such as Thom's Directory (I know where you live...)

Against Berkeley (Basement):

• Very few seats
• People photocopying are generally very noisy
• Sitting under the stairs feels weird
• One can't stretch one's legs at the desks along the wall

For Early Printed Books:

• The delightful Charles Benson
• Very quiet

Against Early Printed Books:

• Only being allowed to use pencil
• Having to sign in
• Having to leave one's bag in a locker
• The minging tunnel to get there

For Ussher (Basement):

• Quiet students
• Loads of photocopiers

Against Ussher (Basement):

• Exceptionally noisy staff on the Basement Mezzanine (BM)
• Is either suffocatingly warm or freezing cold, never just right
• Too many people leave a random selection of New Scientist, The Irish Georgian Review and Omega around on desks: we know you just left them there to save a good seat
• Poor lighting

For Ussher (Floors 1-4):

• Very quiet, except when there are BESS exams coming up or when brooding would-be mothers are there comparing Mothercare purchases for their "little nieces" or when Angry Banana and I are there (sorry: it's my fault!)
• Comfortable ambience
• Hot Arts girls (sneak it in there, Mattie, no-one will notice)
• Nice views
• Good lighting
• One can sneak a peak at the Conservation Department
• The fun of throwing paper aeroplanes from Level 4 to see will they reach the basement

Against Ussher (Floors 1-4):

• Noisy subject librarians with clanky doors and shrill telephones
• Queues for the few OPAC computers
• Nurses: they just don't fit in somehow
• Constantly hearing the Windows start-up tune

For Ussher (Level 5):

• Wonderful views
• Magnificent natural light
• Quiet students
• Long desks
• Humorous reading nearby (I've found some great titles up there)

Against Ussher (Level 5):

• Despite the signs, the postgrads always make undergrads feel uncomfortable
• The postgrads can take your desk
• One wonders for hours about the trolley for cleaning the windows (is that what it's even for?)
• It's a long way from my lectures and my subject books

For Hamilton:

• Easy to navigate
• Many OPAC computers
• Big desks

Against Hamilton:

• Uncomfortable chairs
• A long way from the Arts Building
• Uninspiring views
• Rude security guard
• It's just not as much fun as the BLU complex, in my opinion

For Map Library:

• Maps
• Nice man at the reception desk

Against Map Library:

• No pens allowed
• No books other than what's in there allowed
• No natural light
• Limited opening hours
• One can see the Ussher Basement

I've never been in Manuscripts or the Freeman or the Stearne or Santry or the 1937.

ApeXaviour

Usher

^^ should you not be studyin?

This really needs a poll. /me puts off beautiful sweet sleep to make poll


I've probably forgotten some, remind later and I'll add/edit. Better yet crash do it

europerson

ApeXaviour wrote:

^^ should you not be studyin?

Yes, I'm just heading that way now...
I don't have an exam tomorrow anyway.

wheresthebeef

Berkely

snorlax wrote:

I didn't know nurses used the John Stearne! i thought your library was in the Usher? god that's a little insane trying to fit all the meds, therapists of various sorts and nurses in that tiny little library.

Yeah our nursing specific library is now on Ussher level 2, but there are psychology, sociology, and other health sciences related books in stearne. think multidisciplinary and holistic approaches.

europerson wrote:

Nurses: they just don't fit in somehow

but why not??? :-( we like you, why don't you like us?

europerson

europerson wrote:

etc.

:eek: That really is impressive. Susan, you have a challenger for random lists.

Awayindahils

Berkely

If you have to study in the Lecky and i mean really have to, because you havn't got that long to spend and going from the Lecky over to the Ussher always involves stopping to talk to someone, then if you can get a seat beside the balcony wall, such as it is, on the upper floor of the Lecky then go for it. The view isn't spectacular but then as a result less time is spent looking out the window. Apart from that one might aswel give up. I mean the library staff get so upset about a bottle of water on the desk and walk past people on phones. *shakes head*

I once sat in the lower level of the Lecky at the window which looks out to ground level. It was very distracting and kinda of disconcerting for some reason.

In general i go to the 3rd floor of the Ussher, used to be a fourth floor person but it is very far away, its cold neither of which really bothered me till it became infested with Beboers. So i've moved back downstairs to the 3rd floor. I think theres a nicer view also it seems warmer but then its exam time.

shay_562

James'

I'm a Lecky person - I can't study in the dead quiet, so the constant hum of noise and movement is actually a plus for me. Also, in the more serious ones, I feel like I'm disturbing the entire library every time I turn a page or click my pen, since they're dead silent most of the time - it's a little eerie. Plus, I kinda like seeing everyone as they pass by - the random conversations make for a nice study break. Although I will say that there are times when people are carrying on conversations at full volume (which is just friggin rude - if you whisper, it gets lost in the hum, so you're not disturbing people) or on phones (take it outside!), or (and I swear to god this is true) having water fights when I kinda wish I was in a slightly more grown-up library.

Chardee MacDennis

Berkely

crash_000 wrote:

I'm an Ussher fourth floor man myself - pro's - great view to calm you, decently lit, some people dont get up that far so it can be quiet at times, has wireless.

cons - if the click of keyboards drives you mad, dont go here.

100% agree

xeduCat

wheresthebeef wrote:

Yeah our nursing specific library is now on Ussher level 2

Level 1, actually. Look out for the row where people leave books on the floor, on the shelves, on top of other books, and anywhere except the trolleys where they are supposed to go

foxybrowne

Berkely

My favourite library is the Ussher because all the Irish and German books are there, but....I don't like studying in libraries because I can't have tea.

europerson

I left this out!

For Ussher (24 Hour Reading Room):

• Open 24 hours
• Swipe-card access

Against Ussher (24 Hour Reading Room):

• Confusion as to whether it's a computer room or library (some people chat away like in a computer room, while others become really annoyed)
• Very small
• Very dark

wheresthebeef

Berkely

xeduCat wrote:

Level 1, actually. Look out for the row where people leave books on the floor, on the shelves, on top of other books, and anywhere except the trolleys where they are supposed to go

whoops, your right. i didnt take into account the ground floor. i just know how to get there.

Agent Smith

Berkely

xeduCat wrote:

Level 1, actually. Look out for the row where people leave books on the floor, on the shelves, on top of other books, and anywhere except the trolleys where they are supposed to go

And also Right beside The Deaf studies Books....


I use the Ussher ...


Pros: My books are there.
Cons: My books are there.

Beastieboy

Berkely

I generally use the third floor of the Usher but now and again i use the Berkley it's got a lovely feel to it

cuckoo

EduMyth wrote:

:eek: That really is impressive. Susan, you have a challenger for random lists.

I'm in awe. I haven't set foot in half of those libraries, now that's list-compiling research.

europerson, i salute you.

Degsy

Which library has the best staff?

Time Magazine

Berkely

europerson wrote:

[*]Hot Arts girls (sneak it in there, Mattie, no-one will notice)

That's all I saw.

In other news, Ussher for the win!

How're the exams?

kiss103

i know the Luce is gone ( great place to doss) is 1937 reading room still used as a library ?

Time Magazine

Berkely

Economy of Ireland didn't go as well as I had hoped. Very dodgy for the First to be honest. Should have gotten the II.1 though. Depends on how Prof. ARAM takes to my essays.

Degsy

kiss103 wrote:

i know the Luce is gone ( great place to doss) is 1937 reading room still used as a library ?

Yes and no,its now a postgrauduate reading room with swipe card access only

cuckoo

Degsy wrote:

Yes and no,its now a postgrauduate reading room with swipe card access only

That was a nice library, it was a bit busy during the afternoons with people to-ing and fro-ing, but in the evenings it was peaceful, and the large tables in the centre were great for spreading out books.

Very nice library staff person in the Hamilton today, she'd been borrowed from somewhere in the BLU as the Ham lib was understaffed (which meant that there were 2 staff leaning against the shelves behind the desk chatting instead of the usual 3).

But, wtf is it with people listening to music on their headphones? As i moved between the shelves looking for books in the S-Len section in the ham i could hear several seperate, distinct sources of music; one listening to damien rice, another to some 'duch, duch, dushe' techno stuff and then there was some chart pop further down the room. Either i have bat like hearing, or else everyone else there was better at filtering out the distraction.

Nietzschean

Usher

for once techno stuff wuzn't me

John

I normally listen to a compilation of ambient recordings made in libraries when I'm in the library. That or Merzbow

MaxBax

does the library computers really stop letting people renew books after 21:45 or is that a lie told by staff?

Nietzschean

Usher

well its 'possible' they could do that, i haven't tested it, but it'd be lots of effort....what difference does it make?

MaxBax

The difference is, are they lying or not.

Degsy

Its largely a matter of who's on the counter and how long after the time it is..some staff will let ya take books out after the time and some wont!

Ron DMC

We have libraries?

MaxBax

Libraries have books?