Negative comments (26)
The desing is terriblr
Sometime there aere people that are too loud
Not everyone respects the no laptop area
People still using laptops im no laptop space
Accessibility centre is disrupted by the constant opening of the door. Silent study area has people eating or
using laptops whenever I use it.
Silent area is not silent, you can hear noise from all levels and the lift is the biggest noise
Cafe vibe in group area - more white board pens please - sofas on mezzanie level on right hand side plug
sockets do not work
Still lots of clattering laptops around.
Is the loud consumption of packets of crisps allowed in a "silent" study area?
The new study area is not personal and there is now no area where you can read quitely and not be sruck at
a table wirh strangers
Still too noisy
You have destroyed the former silent study area which was a lovely room to work in
silent area is open planned when assessing the dsign.
Assistive area is too dark, causes strain in the eyes and is many times used by students who are not
registered with disability, who use their own computers, but take the place from those who would benefit
Sad to have seeen the. Reference library go
The noise spilling out of the GSA can be distracting and students leaving the GSA do not always adjust their
behaviour upon exit.
People arent quiet enough!!!
It is not silent, it is too small. There is no point in trying to create a silent area if you are incapable of making
it silent. The new silent area is also significantly smaller than the old one which means that fewer people can
Prefer silent areas!
Too small
Desks too close together
The silent no laptop area rules are constantly disregarded, and there is rarely enough seating on either the
3rd or 4th floor. I don't want to spend 30 min loitering before getting on with my assignments. Most BBK
students are extremely time poor to start of with...
I am disappointed with the removal of the reading room. The new 'silent study' areas are not physically
separated from the rest of the library and as such are often noisy due to the open plan nature of the
building and noise from outside. I also feel that the lack of physical separation makes it more likely that
library users will be noisy as there isn't a distinct atmosphere as there was in the old reading room (there are
frequently library users listening to music, using electronic devices etc in a way that was less common in the
reading room).
The group study area wastes library space which is already very limited. It takes up a relatively large amount
of space for he benefit of the very few who use it at any given time - but make a lot of noise! If people want
to talk about a project/their studies they can do so in one of the numerous coffee shops in n area or in the
canteen.
I used it for silent study one Saturday morning but moved out when a group arrived wanting to talk. I was
then sitting in the seats outside the group study area (in the area with sockets for computers) and some
young students were very noisy, continuing their conversations as they walked through the adjacent area.
Neither are really silent or comfortable. It would be nice to have a silent study area with more comfortable
seating.
Positive comments (47)
I like having a table to work on, having sofas and group areas to study in a group
The new areas are good for silent working but they are often quiet when the other areas are filled so it can
be a bit frustrating. However, they are good because it is peaceful sitting around these areas. I have a
Group study space layout feels like a cafe atmosphere and the white boards are great group pods are great
for group work
I don't have enough adjectives to describe the serinity and ambiounce of the place.
I have not seeing these areas yet but i think is good idea and is very good for us
Everything is great
I AM PLEASED with the changes you made. I don.t if it too much asking but it will good idea if we got a large
screem with programmes such as wild life discovery. english history and inheretage. Sometime opera
Informal and ideal for discussing material
I like the services that the university provided
The atmosphere is very suitable for studying 😀
Everything
Glad to have a group space and the pods- would have been great when i was studying her
I have not used the library much at all, as a part-time student. I have just discovered the group study area,
which is agreat idea. We usually hunt for a free room.
Pretty good overall
It was useful to study away from distractions, and without the need to use headphones to cover chatter.
Whiteboard
More of it
Great atmosphere!
They are well designed and have a friendly atmosphere. The accessibility area looks very appealing.
Quiet is good
I hv never had any issues i think i am always happy with all the service i hv receive through the library
It is quiet. There is a lot of space.
Everything
I liked the comfy chairs in the silent area
The group areas are good but very few. Its always full
Re: new open plan area with pods, it is good and it works great but there can be disruption carried through
to the other areas when students pass through or when the mechanical doors open.
I like it because there is no disturbance , but sometimes it gets hot when there are a lot of students using
the area.
Liked the fact that group work can take place inside the library area. I believe libraries should evolve and as
much as there are quiet ares, there should be areas where groups could work together which would require
The new area is sooooooo, much better....excelent space for group work on privare study, still able to
commuincate with others...
I made a suggestion and the university took it onboard 😀😀😀😀😀
Pods were Useful for some privacy for our group
Great
Clear designation, like the silence area
Love it - need to use it more
Thought everything was decent
Thanks
I do
Keep up with good standard
Pro- new group study are useful for shy students, it helps them understand the area of study more through
talking in smaller groups that they know. Con- less space available because of the group study area
Group study area very spacious. I like the bookable pods for doing group work. Finally an area where I can
discuss my coursework with fellow classmates.
They are great areas
More silence study areas, would be great.
Very happy with the changes over all, well done!
I want more group study areas in this campus and i would also like the library to be open 24 hours.
The group study area is also a very congenial place to sit, comfotably, and read a text or book. One is
conscious of others talking together, but, somehow, it ADDS to the CONGENIALITY.
It's great to have somewhere for quiet study with power sockets if I have devices with me
I like the new design for the logos around the building. It gives birkbeck a touch of contemporary
I like that the new group study area, although mainly catering for groups of people, also allows people who
would like to study on their own space to do that. My fave spot (in the whole library) is the single table in
Specific complaints or suggestions for improvement (32)
There is no lighte eough! We cannot see clearly! More lamps, please!
This is a general comment, it could be warmer in the library, sometimes it is so freezing that I end up having
to leave. 😀
Not enough charging plugs on the upper level and on the lone tables both upstairs and downstairs.
That you have to book the hub to use it only by phone and not on the actual study pod pad itself
Like whiteboards, need pens, need water fountains
Need water fountains!
More space
In general library timing should enhanced and also should be more copies of a books atleast the course
books as someone doesnt afford buying them
The group study area
The helping desk is helpful
In general it is freezing in the library, especially the part that faces Malet St... Very very cold!!!
I was really glad to see the new improvements , but its bring a lot of noise when every ten seconds the door
opens between group area and silent study area... My suggestion would be to asks students using group
Unbearably hot in most study areas of the library
The group study area really struggles from an aur circulation point of view. Could this be looked at?
Pods are REALLY hot!
More space
Gets too crowded
Like the background hum in group area but it was very hot.
The accessibility centre radiators make noise too much
Need more spaces
Overdue charges for book are outrageous
The silent study areas do not have good enough chairs some of them lean too much towards the back and
there is no space to hang your coars either. And pekple leave their belongings and go shopping and come
back after an hour. A student like me who travels from outisde of lomdom to come snd stufy cannot find a
space in the silent study area. People book study pods and do not turn up. I feel the system has quite a few
loopholes. Also, the ladies toilet is absolutely disgusting. I suggest if you are reading this to go to the ladies
toilet at the end of the day and see the hygeiene level. The doors are right next to each other for the mens
toielt and sometimes the ladies toilet door stays open, where is the privacy? Do we have regular cleaners
cleaning the toilet ? I highly doubt it because I cannot see any register which says the cleaners have been to
clean. And the most irratating thing is the toilet role it comes out in sections (check it for yourself) i really
wonder if the toilet hygiene level is the same for staff members?
The new accessibily centre has all of our needs covered, thank you, but spending an hour in there with no
heating is difficult and makes it extremely hard to concentrate on the work that I intended to do!! Therefore
It would be great to have a study area like the group area but for quiet (not necessarily silent) study
You could provide loan resources to students, such as laptop loans
Lightings
There has been mass over crowding in the library, to the extent that students were sat on the floor! Not
impressed at all. Having a hugh impact on my finally year.
Some fans or ac would be nice.
It is hot in there...even for winter.
Great otherwise
What I liked - guaranteed study spot
What I didn't like - uneven ventilation/air conditioning either too stuffy or annoying gusts of air
There should be more sockets in the group study area
I've booked the larger study pod and been in the smaller one too, both are great so thank you for that,
except they get EXTREMELY HOT making it hard to work, also it would be great if you could show stuff from
The library is at times too warm. It will help if it was cooler. Thank you.
The heating in the library is erratic and can make relaxing in the library impossible. In the summer it is too
hot and in the winter it is freezing. I am sat in the library now, it is -2 degrees outside and the aircon is
blowing cold air out. I understand the books have to be kept at a certain temperature to maintain them, but