24 Hour Library

sganyfx

So for the 24 hour Library, are there any requirements to use it, or do I just go in with my Student ID and that is that?

Amirani

You have to already be on campus before midnight to use it. That's about it.

Caonima

A nice pillow will be useful, too

sganyfx

NiallSparky wrote: »

You have to already be on campus before midnight to use it. That's about it.

Okay thanks

saltyjack silverblade

Where's the 24 hour library? Is this the reading room?

Amirani

saltyjack silverblade wrote: »

Where's the 24 hour library? Is this the reading room?

First floor of the Usher Library. It ceases to be a library at night though, merely a reading room.

Unshelved

Don't forget that the Hamilton Library is also open until 23.00, Monday - Sunday, until 6th September. Access is for TCD Students ONLY so bring your ID Card.

Kez1

Right, so christmas exams are around the corner. Everyone with exams are stressed and piling into the 24hr all day everyday.

You know what really annoys me? Students that ''reserve'' seats from the night before. Fair enough if you left late and you're in early the next day that's fine. But showing up at 1pm and getting sulky if someone has moved your stuff cos there's no other seats is wrong.

Another thing, a table near me has had some dentistry books on it ''reserving'' the seat for the past 3 days. So many have come in and left thinking there's no seats. That's not fair on them. And, not trying to blame the dentistry students cos it doesn't apply to all of them, but from what I've seen it's mostly dentistry students ''reserving'' seats. C'mon guys, cut it out!

If you want to leave your shít here, leave it in the corner of the room and hope for a seat like everyone else.

Rant over!

Unshelved

The Library's 15-minute rule is as follows -

Readers are not permitted to reserve seats by leaving their belongings or books on seats and desks. The Library staff may move any property left at unoccupied desks or seats for more than 15 minutes except for officially reserved seats and carrels.

If there are books or other belongings in place for longer than 15 minutes then move them - just do it. If you encounter any problems having done this, report to a member of Library Staff immediately. If you want a member of Library Staff to do it for you, then just ask.

saltyjack silverblade

Unshelved wrote: »

The Library's 15-minute rule is as follows -

Readers are not permitted to reserve seats by leaving their belongings or books on seats and desks. The Library staff may move any property left at unoccupied desks or seats for more than 15 minutes except for officially reserved seats and carrels.

If there are books or other belongings in place for longer than 15 minutes then move them - just do it. If you encounter any problems having done this, report to a member of Library Staff immediately. If you want a member of Library Staff to do it for you, then just ask.

That is easier said than done. As a postgrad student I have a desk in the Lecky. Every time I get there some undergrad is sitting there but never ever had a problem having them move. Few times I have gone back and stuff is spread around including money, laptops and phones. Some staff are willing to move the stuff for you but in my experience "what do you want me to do about it?" is the usual response.

lfqnic

Yeah, the carrel system really doesn't seem like the easiest way to do things - they should either be open to everyone or exclusive to post-grads, not this awkward having-to-shift-someone-twice-a-day business. It just makes it unpleasant. I tried to put up a sign to avoid that but it got removed.

Kez1

Unshelved wrote: »

The Library's 15-minute rule is as follows -

Readers are not permitted to reserve seats by leaving their belongings or books on seats and desks. The Library staff may move any property left at unoccupied desks or seats for more than 15 minutes except for officially reserved seats and carrels.

If there are books or other belongings in place for longer than 15 minutes then move them - just do it. If you encounter any problems having done this, report to a member of Library Staff immediately. If you want a member of Library Staff to do it for you, then just ask.

I don't want to be going around the library like a security guard removing peoples personal belongings. I do it only if there's nowhere available and someone hasn't come back in a long time to their ''reserved'' seat. And as the person below said, the library staff are fed up with us complaining about lack of places available.

I think the solution would be to have more 24hr study rooms (I know a study space has been opened recently thanks to the SU). Because at this time of the year it's so busy in the study spaces and I know a lot of students feel they study better in college (rather then at home) or simply can't afford the cost of heating for all day study sessions or require some of the books in the library for a few hours.

Unshelved

As a postgrad student I have a desk in the Lecky. Every time I get there some undergrad is sitting there but never ever had a problem having them move. Few times I have gone back and stuff is spread around including money, laptops and phones. Some staff are willing to move the stuff for you but in my experience "what do you want me to do about it?" is the usual response.

Undergrads are permitted to use carrels if they are not being used by their current "owner". Seriously - just dump the stuff on the floor if this is the case - I can see while it might make you feel awkward, but you'll only feel slightly badly about it the first time - honestly!

Believe me, Staff do sympathise, but there is a limit to what we can do - especially outside working hours.

On a different tack - anyone who leaves valuables behind on a Library desk needs a reality check. Don't do this - ever!!

saltyjack silverblade

Unshelved wrote: »

Undergrads are permitted to use carrels if they are not being used by their current "owner". Seriously - just dump the stuff on the floor if this is the case - I can see while it might make you feel awkward, but you'll only feel slightly badly about it the first time - honestly!

Believe me, Staff do sympathise, but there is a limit to what we can do - especially outside working hours.

On a different tack - anyone who leaves valuables behind on a Library desk needs a reality check. Don't do this - ever!!

I have no real problem with the undergrads using the carrels if they are not being used. My problem is if I move the stuff belonging to another student and they say I broke their laptop or took money, then I am in a precarious situation. I went to a porter before and asked him if he could move the stuff that had been sitting there for 30 minutes. Told me wasn't his problem or his job and would be illegal for him to move. Also told me if anything was missing then it would be my fault. There lies the problem.
Moving the stuff to the side or to the ground doesn't have a huge advantage either. There is a limited space and if someone has left their stuff there, it can be difficult to operate around them.
There ought to be a system similar to a lost and found. 15 mins can be moved, after 30 minutes it is lost and found.

Unshelved

Don't think I'm not sympathetic but the truth of the matter is that if someone leaves a laptop, a wallet or other valuables unattended anywhere, then they are very lucky if it's still there on their return. Anyone who might accuse you of damaging or stealing property hasn't a leg to stand on, and if this happens to you, then bring it to the attention of the Duty Librarian immediately.

Don't bother operating around someone else's stuff. Dump it on the floor or on another desk - it's not up to you to look after a careless person's property.

Again, if you feel that the property owner is aggrieved, refer him or her to the rules and tell them to talk to the Duty Librarian.

Just Like Heaven

Regent House open until 10pm as well for study if anybody's stuck later.

shopgirl195

Unshelved wrote: »

Don't think I'm not sympathetic but the truth of the matter is that if someone leaves a laptop, a wallet or other valuables unattended anywhere, then they are very lucky if it's still there on their return. Anyone who might accuse you of damaging or stealing property hasn't a leg to stand on, and if this happens to you, then bring it to the attention of the Duty Librarian immediately.

Don't bother operating around someone else's stuff. Dump it on the floor or on another desk - it's not up to you to look after a careless person's property.

Again, if you feel that the property owner is aggrieved, refer him or her to the rules and tell them to talk to the Duty Librarian.

Unshelved, do you work in the library? If so I was wondering if maybe something like this suggestion could be implemented? Everyone knows about the 15min rule but no one actually implements it unless really desperate/moody. Maybe the library could send out an email asking anyone leaving a desk just to jot down on scrap of paper the time they left or if they'll be back after a lecture so that anyone looking for a desk will be able to see clearly whether someone has been away for way over 15 mins. Probably fair not to have the rule strictly applied during normal lunch time too.

Lawliet

shopgirl195 wrote: »

Unshelved, do you work in the library? If so I was wondering if maybe something like this suggestion could be implemented? Everyone knows about the 15min rule but no one actually implements it unless really desperate/moody. Maybe the library could send out an email asking anyone leaving a desk just to jot down on scrap of paper the time they left or if they'll be back after a lecture so that anyone looking for a desk will be able to see clearly whether someone has been away for way over 15 mins. Probably fair not to have the rule strictly applied during normal lunch time too.

I vaguely remember people being asked either by email or the SU facebook page to do this in the run up to summer exams.
Everyone ignored it.

People leave their stuff on desks because they want to be able to come back hours later and still use it, they're not going to be considerate enough to let everyone know how long they've been gone for.

I see this discussion come up during every single exam season and it always boils down to the same problem; people are selfish dicks and there's no one to enforce the rules.

Tweej

New rule, trinity provide 15 minute egg timers. If you're not back by the time your egg timer goes off, your desk is free game. If you don't leave an egg timer, your desk is free game.

Kez1

Lawliet wrote: »

I see this discussion come up during every single exam season and it always boils down to the same problem; people are selfish dicks and there's no one to enforce the rules.

I partially agree with you…. Yes, there are definitely some students that act selfishly and try keep seats for hours then return with a sulk on their face when someone moves their stuff. And there was an incident yesterday that made everyone uncomfortable in regards to someone taking someone else's seat.

However, the real issue is lack of study space. I'm in the Health Sciences and many of us have christmas exams that count for a lot at end on year. Then add in Arts and Humanities and Sciences and whatever other courses that may have continuous assessments, thesis, essays etc to submit prior to christmas. It's a lot of students with a lot of work to do but little study space to use.

Also Unshelved, gathering from your casual tone I doubt you work for the library but if you do please suggest more study spaces be made available. Regent house is not a fit alternative to the 24hr (in my opinion) it's too small.

Just Like Heaven

Kez1 wrote: »

Also Unshelved, gathering from your casual tone I doubt you work for the library but if you do please suggest more study spaces be made available. Regent house is not a fit alternative to the 24hr (in my opinion) it's too small.

Unshelved does work for the library and the issue should really be raised with the SU, the library didn't open regent house. Yes regent house isn't great and somewhere more suitable needs to be opened, but it's probably unfeasible to open more permanent spaces. This is just inevitable at exam periods.

Taco Chips

The early closing on Saturdays and not opening at all on Sundays is where the problem is. It's ridiculous that in the exam period the library closes at the weekend. There's no need to have 24 hour libraries at christmas time, but the libraries should be open until 10pm. That way people could use the Ussher spaces upstairs for the majority of the night and day. The 24 area has enough room to fit the hardcore all nighters. No library open on Sundays, the day before exam week is absurd. Even if they just kept the Ussher space open and closed the Lecky/Berkely upper floors.

papu

Taco Chips wrote: »

The early closing on Saturdays and not opening at all on Sundays is where the problem is. It's ridiculous that in the exam period the library closes at the weekend. There's no need to have 24 hour libraries at christmas time, but the libraries should be open until 10pm. That way people could use the Ussher spaces upstairs for the majority of the night and day. The 24 area has enough room to fit the hardcore all nighters. No library open on Sundays, the day before exam week is absurd. Even if they just kept the Ussher space open and closed the Lecky/Berkely upper floors.

Some people have exams at christmas.

saltyjack silverblade

papu wrote: »

Some people have exams at christmas.

Papu don't preach, she's in trouble deep.

Taco Chips

papu wrote: »

Some people have exams at christmas.

I know, I do and am in the 24 hour most nights until after 12. Most people drop off around 10/11 and a lot of desks become available. No point in opening an entire library for the night when the 24 hour space is sufficient after that time. But it's the time before that when space is problematic i.e, at the weekends from 5pm-11pm and on Sundays. That's when you see people sitting on the floor waiting for a desk to free up.

Having said that, it's only really applicable to Xmas time when just the Health Science faculty has exams. Come summer when it's the entire college the Ussher should be opened up for the entire night and probably the Berkley. All floors. The Lecky is useless for most people because of the lack of plug sockets.

234

I have never understood why all the Ussher can't be opened on a 24hr basis. Just open the back stairs and you can still segregate the seating areas from the book-stacks.

Security monitoring is minimal anyway so it wouldn't be a greatly increased burden for them.

Unshelved

Maybe the library could send out an email asking anyone leaving a desk just to jot down on scrap of paper the time they left or if they'll be back after a lecture so that anyone looking for a desk will be able to see clearly whether someone has been away for way over 15 mins. Probably fair not to have the rule strictly applied during normal lunch time too.

There was a system like that in place a long time ago. You could ask for a sticker at the Library counter, and then you wrote down the time that you absented yourself and stuck it to the desk. That way it was clearer just how long a desk was unoccupied. It never really caught on though - the Students at the time didn't like it. If you are interested in resurrecting it though - or implementing something similar - then talk to the Education Officer in the Students' Union.

Come summer when it's the entire college the Ussher should be opened up for the entire night and probably the Berkley. All floors. The Lecky is useless for most people because of the lack of plug sockets.

I have never understood why all the Ussher can't be opened on a 24hr basis.

The BLU and Hamilton Libraries were open on a 24/7 basis from early March until the end of the exam period last year. If there is a need for this to take place earlier in the year then contacting the SU Education is the way to go.

Bears and Vodka

I asked Jack Leahy to address the problem of sockets (or lack thereof) in the Lecky, and he told me that the library is gonna buy extension leads and install them in the few existing sockets in the Lecky. It's not ideal but it will help somewhat if this happens.

Regarding additional study space, isn't the Hamilton building open 24 hours? If so, can we not have a big lecture theatre like the Joly open as study space? The problem with Regent, apart from being cold, is that you cannot study too well sitting on chairs with collapsible desks on them, it's far too awkward. Whereas the Hamilton lecture theatres have a better desk to put books on.

FaoiSin

Does anyone know if there is any other way out of college past midnight other than the front gate?

Anywhere near the Hamilton end? I'm living on Pearse Street and it'd be a bit handier :P

Bears and Vodka

JeaicMaG wrote: »

Does anyone know if there is any other way out of college past midnight other than the front gate?

Anywhere near the Hamilton end? I'm living on Pearse Street and it'd be a bit handier :P

Nope.

timmywex

JeaicMaG wrote: »

Does anyone know if there is any other way out of college past midnight other than the front gate?

Anywhere near the Hamilton end? I'm living on Pearse Street and it'd be a bit handier :P

There is - be fecked if im explaining it though, its a maze to find at the best of times!