Taking your Library home

It's probably not escaped your attention that this is a busy time of year. Across the three buildings of the Library, we have over 1,200 study spaces - we know there are times when you'd like to see more, but safety requirements don't allow us to add any extra seats.

We have a system that shows you occupancy levels in various areas of the Library - it's updated hourly during term time, so you can see where you're most likely to find a space. You can check  the screen in the Library foyer or use the web page:

• Seating availability

During the exam period, we've booked out rooms in the Fairhurst (LFA/144) and Burton (LBU/003) buildings to be used as additional study space. We're also encouraging everyone to find out about alternative study spaces on campus.

Working elsewhere in the University

Have a look at the study spaces available elsewhere in the University - if you don't need immediate access to the physical resources in the Library they might be ideal for you, and they include group study areas that you can book out: University study spaces If you need a PC, remember there are IT rooms all over campus - use the IT Services web page to check which IT rooms are booked, and which have free PCs: IT classrooms and study areas

But what do you do when you can't find a seat, or when you'd rather work at home?

You take the Library home...

Photo: Books by Katey. Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

No, not literally...

Instead, think about how you can make other study areas more like the Library, and make sure you know how to access the various electronic resources, no matter where you are.

Working at home Pick up one of our 'brilliant minds at work' door hangers at the Library desk if you want to remind your housemates not to disturb you while you revise. Find out what you can access online using our E-resources guide. Our policy, when we buy a book, is also to buy the e-book if one is available, so we may have more e-resources than you think. Organise books & other resources so it’s easy to find what you need - arrange them on your shelves by classmark or subject. Light caffeine boost by Steve. Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence. Make a big flask of coffee at the start of each session so you don’t have to stop and put the kettle on. Stock up on easy snacks to keep hunger at bay and feed your brain - nuts, seeds and fruit are all recommended: Foods to boost your brainpower If walking to the Library in the morning gives you space to think out your day’s work, have a walk around the block after breakfast before you settle down to study. Don't forget about breaks - arrange to meet your housemates in the kitchen for lunch or coffee breaks, so you get the social interaction you’d have in the Library cafe. Check out some of the many revision and writing tips available online (just don't spend all your time reading them!): Five secrets of successful revising Top ten tips for writing your dissertation If you have your own success secrets for revision or writing up, please share them in the comments or tweet them to us @UoYLibrary

And finally don't forget the support available to you on campus if you have any concerns during this busy time:

• Student Support Service.

(If all else fails and you just can't concentrate on your work no matter what you do, perhaps it's time to change things up a bit and re-arrange your sock drawer for five minutes. Here's how to do it properly: www.wikihow.com/Arrange-a-Sock-Drawer).