Libraries Open Forum update
On 19 November 2025, we held a Libraries Open Forum in partnership with the Students’ Association. The focus was on students’ experiences of behaviour in library spaces. This was a drop-in event with drinks and snacks available (including the ever popular mulled cider). 44 students stopped by to speak to us, and 180 voted in our ping-pong ball survey.
We gathered feedback on behaviour-related issues like desk hogging and noise, as well as on some of the ways in which we try to ensure that our spaces fit your study needs, like Take a Break cards, and the library charter. We also asked for your thoughts on the occupancy monitoring pilot we tried last semester.
Library staff were on hand to chat about anything students wanted to bring up, alongside some of the Students’ Association officers, including the President of Education, Emily Bannister, and the Arts & Divinity Faculty President, Maya Fenyk, who helped plan and deliver the event.
Key findings were:
- Students are mostly happy with behaviour in library spaces – 115 felt that “people generally respect the vibe on different floors”
- There are mixed views on how much of an issue noise/desk hogging are, as well as what to do about them
- Students were not as aware of the desk hogging campaign we’ve been running in partnership with the Students’ Association or the library charter as we hoped they might be
- Students are unlikely to tackle other students who are not observing the behavioural expectations, choosing instead to move away themselves
- About half of those who responded to the questions on occupancy monitoring were already aware of the pilot; most thought it was a useful service, although there were some concerns about accuracy and about how busy spaces are in general
- Some specific feedback was received from Divinity students about St Mary’s College/King James Libraries
- The lighting in the Main Library is problematic for some users, being too harsh and not adjustable in all spaces
In response we have:
- Met with the library rep from St Mary’s College society to discuss specific issues for Divinity students
- Cleared space behind the “librarian’s” desk in St Mary’s and added signage to let students know they can sit there
- Started some conversations around how the library charter might fit with other codes/work on behavioural expectations in the wider University
- Introduced weekly/monthly locker rental options
- Started to explore refreshed signage for the stairwells in the Main Library as the current SILENCE signs are not effective
- Added Take a Break cards to the entrance gates
We will also:
- Do more joint work with the Students’ Association on social media to raise awareness of desk hogging campaign
- Investigate other objects for temporary storage of belongings when taking a break, e.g. daily lockers or cubby holes
We really value all of the insights we gathered which help us to ensure that our services are shaped around your needs. The next Libraries Open Forum will be held on 1 April, 12-2pm at the Main Library. This time we’ll be looking at how you do research and how we can support you better in developing the skills you need.
If you’d like to get in touch to share your experience of using our services, you can use our quick feedback form. You’ll be given the option to enter our prize draw – vouchers for Topping & Co bookseller or Taste coffee shop are on offer – or you can complete it anonymously if you’d preferer. You can also email us at [email protected] at any time. We’re always happy to hear from you.