Category: studyspaces

books, casual working, customer service, durham, libraries, library, Library Help, staffing, studyspaces, technologyLeave a comment

January in the Library

C Donlan

I’ve been working quite a lot of shifts in Clayport Library in January, sometimes 3 a week. I do like it, it’s interesting and you see a wide range of people. I’m amazed by how many books some people read and it makes you realise what a good life skill and blessing it is to enjoy reading. I have been hopeless at reading this month and have only finished 2 books, but the good thing about working in the Library is that you see lots of books when they come in especially reserved books and so get tempted to read more.  I’ve been … Continue reading January in the Library

books, customer service, Digital, durham, libraries, library, Library Help, studyspaces, Uncategorized, warm spacesLeave a comment

Why it is essential to have free access to a public library (with examples from this week)

C Donlan

This is a quick post based on working in the library this week.  I know that to some people, especially those who work in the library sector, it is stating the obvious to say that libraries are essential, but I think a lot of people don’t quite appreciate the reality of the situation on a day to day basis. I work in Durham County Libraries as a casual staff member (Library Assistant) and have always been a keen advocate for libraries from a personal and professional (mainly academic libraries) perspective . It is really interesting seeing who uses the library … Continue reading Why it is essential to have free access to a public library (with examples from this week)

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Libraries and Warm Spaces – the despair and the delight…

C Donlan

I’ve hesitated to write about Libraries and warm spaces because it is so important and because I feel very conflicted about it. My first read about it when it was tweeted by Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert and then CILIP produced and circulated information about it A Warm welcome to the Warm Spaces Scheme. A report was produced ‘Setting Up a Warm Space in Your Community” Since then there has been lots of information and publicity from local authorities, councils, libraries, leisure centres, charities, including the Libraries Connected Cost-of-living crisis: how libraries plan to support the vulnerable this winter … Continue reading Libraries and Warm Spaces – the despair and the delight…

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December – the difference in Library usage depending on exam times and format.

C Donlan

There is definitely a difference in the use of academic libraries depending on when exam take place. This may be stating the obvious but I think it is one of the most important factors influencing study space management and availability. In Scotland, it is usual for exams to take place in December at the end of Semester 1. Therefore the last 2 weeks in November and first two weeks of December at Heriot-Watt were the busiest time of the year. Semester 1 was often busier than Semester 2, as the exams were scheduled for a two week slot rather than … Continue reading December – the difference in Library usage depending on exam times and format.

books, Click and Collect, customer service, library, Library Help, student experience, studyspaces, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Day to day October 2022

C Donlan

October has mainly been about business as usual. The Library here at Newcastle has been busy but not packed out. There seems to be an average number of UG students using the building and study space. The Library here has 4 floors and, in the current environment and times, enough study space for everyone who needs it. The entrance floor and lower floor are for collaborative work and group work. The two upper floors are for silent study. I have noticed that the students here do tend to be good about noise levels, better than other places I have worked … Continue reading Day to day October 2022

books, Click and Collect, customer services, libraries, library, student experience, studyspaces, Uncategorized, updateLeave a comment

Back blogging – September 2020 and 2021 to 2022

C Donlan

I didn’t blog between April 2020 and February 2022 as explained in a previous post Blogging again…since 2020 . I did however take photos, post to Twitter and Facebook and write blogs on the Heriot-Watt InformS blog. I’m going to … Continue reading Back blogging – September 2020 and 2021 to 2022

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Term time – what to expect in the Library

C Donlan

Here at Newcastle, the first day of term is Monday 19th September. It is difficult to know what to expect – how busy will it be? How many students will be on campus? How many students will use the Library? In the years before 2020, there was always that conversation or comments, with some staff saying that it was ‘suddenly busy’ and then others saying ‘what do you expect, it’s the beginning of term’ (in a possibly, slightly scathing way). However, now, in Autumn 2022, it is a genuinely unknown situation. There is the obvious factor, that we have had … Continue reading Term time – what to expect in the Library

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Monitoring University Library spaces during revision and exam time

C Donlan

It’s a common practice in nearly all academic libraries when it comes to revision and exam time, to monitor the study spaces. (This is because there is rarely enough study space available at peak times but would not be effective to have more during quieter times). There is no perfect way to do the monitoring and no way to guarantee success. Basically, it’s a matter of trying different things and seeing what works. It’s always a balance between encouraging students to use the spaces well and being firm but fair about calling out ‘bad’ behaviours. The usual problems are noise … Continue reading Monitoring University Library spaces during revision and exam time

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Day to day work

C Donlan

I work on a two week pattern – Week 1 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Week 2 Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I work 8:00am – 1:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am – 2:00pm weekends. I thought that I wouldn’t like working weekends, but alternate weekends is fine and although it is an early-ish start, it does mean that I have the afternoons to do other things including book shop stuff. At work there is a rota for Co-ordinators when you do some shifts on the ‘Front of House’ Hub which means that you are based at the Library Helpdesk and can … Continue reading Day to day work

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The who, what, where…

C Donlan

One of the main challenges when starting a new job is working out who everyone is, what they do, where they fit in to the physical space and into the staff structure and how it all works. Newcastle University Library is bigger than Heriot-Watt University Library as far as the main building and as far as the number of staff that work in the building. Also the Library is a separate service rather than being an integrated Information Services service (in general, I think it is better to have an integrated Library and IT service but it does work well … Continue reading The who, what, where…