University of Glasgow Library

I spent literally days here, not like over night days, (I did not take a sleeping bag) but when you add up all the hours you can be sure it equates to days.
It’s mixed memories to be honest. Floor after floor of people and books. Some deep in study, sone procrastinating to the max as they avoid trying to work or think about their exams.
As a centre of learning and knowledge, it’s huge and impressive, but I can’t say I love it to be honest as a lot of the time I was there I was actually feeling I would rather have been anywhere else and during exam time it was far to rammed and stressful.

To many University of Glasgow Students this building is going to be one of the most important. My degree was in physics, meaning that most of the course materials I needed were freely available online so I rarely had any real need for the library but every now and then I found myself there anyway.
In recent years the library has been updated a lot and it’s still going through updates. Current works mean a slightly awkward system of getting in and out of the building but if my experience tells me anything it’s that patience will pay off soon enough. The café and snack areas are now really nice and those little study booths are ideal — they weren’t always there.
It’s usually pretty easy to find everything you need here, whether that’s a specific text, a computer, printer or scanner, or just a cup of coffee. If you’re struggling there’s always someone to point you in the right direction. There are spaces for group study and quiet or silent study to suit however you work best.
This is also where the IT helpdesk is and I’ve never yet brought them a problem which they haven’t solved in under 5 minutes (usually making me feel quite silly but certainly not intentionally).
If you’re a student at Glasgow, even if you don’t technically need the library, I recommend going there to get some quiet work done every now and again. Incidentally, Glasgow University, Strathclyde University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland all share libraries — so if you’re at any of those institutes you can use this library.

Maybe it’s just because I’ve actually been more productive with my own research when I get work done here, but I’m genuinely a fan of the Glasgow University Library. For one, it’s huge. Secondly, there are many places to work (whether you’re using tech of your own, need a computer, or want to stick to analog work). Thirdly, they have machines so you can get snacks if you need to.
The design of many of the floors has actually changed a lot over the last few years, and it feels more like a better place to work at that it’s ever been before. It’s broken into group work floors, quiet floors, and silent floors to let you have a good selection of noise levels depending on your need. And there are spots to work on all of the floors, with both regular desks and those with plugs. There are also toilets on all floors and food machines and a café on floor 3. It’s very well organised library as well with each floor being dedicated to a subject or two. It’s something I took for granted until I went to less organised university libraries.
One of the sets lifts have been traditionally questionable but they’re replacing them this summer as well as redoing the second floor. There’s a lot to look forward to but I can’t comment on the upgrades until then.

The Glasgow Uni Library… the love/​hate struggle continues.
Currently studying for my finals, I find myself sitting in the café in thi building more than infront of my notes! However I do love this place (as all the posters suggest).
Early on in first year this place scared the Bjesus out of me, but it’s not a place I’ve come to love and appreciate for a couple of reasons; one being the atmosphere. I’ve never found a place in which I can find somewhere to do so much work! The fact everyone around you seems to be studying does something to my brain and forces me to log out of facebook and get on with it! Although, conversly, the downstairs café and ‘quiet conversation’ areas make me kick back and enjoy a nice chin wag before leaving hours later having convinced myself a rigorous study session has been had.
The toilet banter! Amazing! Doing Politics and need an example of any extreme political view? Pop into any toilet, read the walls, and write your essay happy in the knowledge that someone out there truely shares the same warped opinion as yourself! The writing on these walls gets painted over every summer which kindly makes a fresh wall for new scribblings to call home — surely not why they paint the walls in the first place!
Only four stars though as finding a seat in this place near exams can be a nightmare, never mind one with a computer at it. My advice; if you have a laptop, use it in a small corner of the library (perhaps an annex) as to avoid the hunting masses.

It’s around 1am on a Spring night in 2006, and at my study booth on the 5^th floor, my pile of books and scribbled notes lies untouched. I’m not at my booth, and have hardly ever been there since I arrived six hours earlier.
That’s because I’m on the computers playing the infuriatingly addictive Blast Billiards, or reading the graffiti in the bogs, or I’ve bumped into someone I know in the break room, or I’m on wikipedia reading about dog intelligence, or I’m on the 12^th floor, just looking out of the window.
I’ve never felt more at home than late at night here at exam time, with only the security guards, insomniacs, and the odd last minute essay writer for company. I wish I was still allowed in.

I feel like I’ve spent half a life-​time in Glasgow University Library and if you’re a student at Glasgow, you soon will to. To add to the other reviews I thought I’d give you my top tips for surviving this place.
* Don’t forget your matric card. No matter how much you beg or tell security that you live miles away, they will not flinch and they will not let you through. Instead, if you just need study space or a computer, go to the Round Reading Rooms. If you need a book, bribe someone outside.
* It’s common to leave your stuff out on your desk when you go for lunch but during study leave when desk space is scarce, going away for longer than a lunch break will mean you might be collecting your belongings from the security desk downstairs.
* Do not leave out valuables. If you do, you deserve to have them stolen.
* Find out whether your level of the library is for ‘quiet talking’. If it is not, do not talk. If you do during exam time, prepare to be punched by a 4^th year/​post grad student.
* Similarly, don’t play your music too loud so that the whole room can hear that god awful Bön Jovi track through your headphones. You’ve been warned.
* Don’t be scared of the photocopy room. When you get over the fear you’ll realise they’re easy to work.
* Keep track of your books. There are few things in life more painful than a £30 library fine. And yes you have to pay it back– otherwise you wont be allowed to graduate.
* Avoid vending machine sandwiches if possible. They’re over-​priced; best bring your own.
* If you must use the toilets on level 2, try to avoid procrastinating by reading the graffiti on the wall. It makes excellent reading, but 30 minutes later you’ll wonder why you don’t have enough time to finish that essay.
* Don’t use the lifts if you’re only going to levels 3 or 4. The rest of the lift will give you death stares and think you’re a lazy idiot. If you must, at least walk out the lift with a limp to avoid heckling.
Glasgow Uni libary is massive, it’s well stocked and the staff are on the whole, very helpful and friendly. There are a couple of good social areas and several parts of the building are being re-​modernised. The older annexes tend to be dull and depressing but they’re a good place to go if you’re wanting to work in complete silence.
If you’re just starting out a degree, this place will soon feel like home!

I love the library for 3 reasons (in no particular order)…
1) The toilets. At least 2 on every level. Excellent. Especially when it’s busy and full of students off their faces on caffiene. Not to mention the grafitti on the walls in the girls cubicles. Makes for some fun reading, I kid you not.
2) It’s massive! And because it’s massive (11 floors tall, and situated at the top of a hill) it means that it is has some of the best views of Glasgow.
3) The books. In fact, because there were so many books, it was sinking. Fact. That’s still being fixed as I write however, I can imagine the work will be done soon.
Ok, it does come with it’s problems — not every level has a printer, the lack of computers and the lack of seats, are but to name a few — however, all in all, if you need to study, this place has got everything you need.