Why is There Never Any Space in the University Library?

You’re back at uni for the start of a new term and decide to head over to the library to get a head start on the term’s work, only to find there isn’t a free seat in sight.

You walk around for a bit, balancing all of your bags and books in your hands, only to be met by the fleeting glances of smug students who have got to the library at the crack of dawn to claim a seat. 

So, you go to the ‘alternative study space’ but you’re met with exactly the same problem. Sound familiar?

At this time of year, university libraries and study spaces across the UK (and possibly even around the world) are overcrowded, with too many students and not enough desk spaces. This year, things have got so bad at the University of Bristol that students are being expected to study on the SS Great Britain, a museum ship from the 1800s. 

Is it really fair to ask students to work in such conditions? Some people will read this and say “just study at home”, but this doesn’t work for everyone, especially with the numerous distractions readily available at every corner (most notably the fridge).

With nearly half of young people now going to university, universities are often filled to capacity, meaning there often simply isn’t enough space for everyone to study in the same library, and fighting to get the best seats as soon as the library opens has unfortunately become the norm for many students.

How is this fair when students in the UK are paying £9,250 per year for their studies? It’s understandable that students expect to be able to find a seat in the library in return for their money.

The fight for seats has plenty of other unintended consequences too.

A venture to the library, especially during exam time, is likely to actually increase students’ stress levels, and on top of this, you will most likely waste time searching for a seat – time that could be spent studying.