If you’re at the point
in the semester where the study carrels cause claustrophobia, the open tables
tempt you to torture anyone turning a page of a large theology tome, or the
comfortable couches create comatose conditions - why not try a study room? Many
students already know about the three conference rooms, aka study rooms, found
on the first floor of the library near the Biblical Reference section. If not,
though, may I, as a friendly student assistant, present an alternative to your
usual homework habitation. They’re in
the back of the library, so they’re secluded/ But with finals week upon us,
it’s easy to unintentionally forget common etiquette that we should use in any
public place.
Below are some common calamities
that I have seen occurring while people are using study rooms. While studying,
please use this handy list to avoid making these same common pitfalls that
cause conference room catastrophe!
1. Talk in Thunderous
Tones. It’s easy to think that because the study room has a door and offers
privacy that the rest of the library can’t hear you. Sadly, the study room is
not a vortex. Laughter, jokes, and loud study groups can all be heard outside
the walls, and often distracts others. Imagine how frightening it is to be
looking through commentaries on Revelation in the Biblical Reference section
and suddenly hear laughter...disembodied laughter. Spare others the terror,
please!
2. Chew on Chow.
Covered drinks are fine - we provide complimentary hot drinks during finals
week, after all. But don’t forget the library’s no-food policy! It’s tempting
to want to eat in a study room because it’s so convenient and you’re already
camped out, but please don’t. You will be spared the guilt of eating in a place
that requests you not to bring food, and the indigestion of having to eat your
Wawa hoagie quickly before a librarian walks by and notices. Please take the
few steps to the back stairwell or up to the lobby, instead, to enjoy your meal
in guilt-free peace. Trust me, your digestive system will thank you.
3. Steal a Siesta. One
of the best parts about study rooms is how non-judgmental they are. They are
available on a first-come, first-serve basis that is incredibly egalitarian -
whether you are one student or a group. And like the comfortable couch on the
mezzanine level, the study rooms have a sort of soporific effect on some
students. This is especially true during finals week, where we stay open an extra
hour from Sunday-Tuesday night. I encourage you strongly to resist these urges
to sleep away when studying gets boring! If you’re exhausted, there’s nothing
wrong with closing your eyes a little. But prolonged naps might not just have
other students wanting to take over the study room - they might accidentally
get you locked into a study room for the night (yes, that almost happened
once)…or maybe just have a picture of you sleeping in the library end up on
FaceBook.
4. Disremember Your
Key’s Deadline. Don’t forget that the rooms are reserved for only two hours
at a time (although groups can reserve them in advance through contacting Laura
Saloiye). Be conscientious - you can renew your key one time, but if it’s a
busy night, chances are that there are other groups waiting to study. When
you’re in the middle of a project that’s worth 35% of your final grade, it’s so
easy to forget that others also need the rooms… and to forget when your key is
due, resulting in several unnecessary fines accrued on accounts. The study
rooms are there for your needs, so take advantage of them. But don’t forget to
remember the needs of others while at it. And don’t forget the whereabouts of
the little key that lets you into the room to begin with!
5. Sit in Silence and
Shadows While Snickering at Your Shenanigans. Yes, this has also happened
before…in the dark...while another student worker and I were closing the
library, initially thinking that there was no one left in the study rooms. I
don’t think that I really need to talk about this one too much, but in a
nutshell, I propose that this might not be the best method of handling the
tension and stress of finals.
Study rooms are a great
tool to help you be successful on your finals or studying throughout the year.
Finals week is always crazy, but avoiding these oh-so-tempting pitfalls will
help you make your study room experience during finals more productive,
enjoyable, and successful. Happy studying!
~Katrina Weston
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