Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you’re assigned to write an essay? Do you struggle to manage your time effectively? Do you want to get better at sitting exams?
Our colleagues in the Academic Skills Team are hosting a series of Study Skills webinars that address these common challenges and more.
Here at CityLibrary we think it’s important to remind all of our students and staff about the importance of self-care during the exams and assessment period. Working hard to achieve excellent results can be tough, both mentally and physically. That’s why we like to encourage everyone to #TakeABreak.
Whether you go for a walk, get some fresh air, switch off your smartphone for half an hour, or go home to get some sleep, it’s crucial to look after yourself and to find of ways of managing the stress you’ll experience as best as you can.
If you want, you can distract yourself for a while with one of our puzzling puzzles or our colourful colouring-in sheets:
This year we’re running weekly prize draws, so tweet us your artistic achievements or hand-in your completed copies at one of our Help Desks (remembering to include your name and City email) and you could win £10 print credit for your efforts.
We’d also recommend you take advantage of the range of support services and resources available to you:
And please remember: friends, colleagues, staff, there are loads of people around wanting to help you through the process as best they can; try not to let everything overwhelm you, talk to someone, get support, seek advice – you will get there in the end.
The Northampton Square and Cass libraries will open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during City’s main exam and assessment period.
Cass Learning Resource Centre:
Monday 25th March – Friday 3rd May
Northampton Square Library:
Tuesday 23rd April – Friday 31st May
Bookable study spaces will be available at both sites to reserve a seat in advance. At Northampton Square our Occupancy Chart will be back on Level 2 so you’ll know which floors are currently busier than others, plus each library will have additional security staff working through the night.
We’ll also be running our #TakeABreak campaign throughout 24/7 offering tips, advice, puzzles, colour-me-calm sheets and a weekly prize draw, all to encourage you to pause, refresh and recharge in between.
Pick up a puzzle
Thanks to everyone in advance for showing consideration to local residents when entering and exiting university buildings through the night, this goes a long way to helping ensure we can stay open for longer at this busy time of year.
We’re always impressed with the dedication displayed by City students, especially during the exam period when our libraries are full of focused individuals from morning until midnight. But we’re also keen to make sure you’re all taking of yourself, and of each other, during what can be a stressful time for many: having regular study breaks, getting some rest, even distracting yourself entirely for a few minutes can help to ensure you avoid burn-out.
Here are 4 things we think might help you survive the exam period in tip-top shape:
1: Borrow a book for fun
Research has shown that reading can help to reduce stress levels and we have a rapidly growing fiction collection just waiting to be explored. Books aren’t just a gateway to knowledge and exam success, they’re also a great way to escape into other worlds, leave your cares behind, daydream and wonder. Even if just for a few minutes on the Tube ride home. Ask at one of our Help Desks for more information (and maybe the odd recommendation too).
CityWolf loves borrowing books from the Northampton Square Library
2: Stay classy
CitySport have an expanded range of classes on offer on everything from intense fitness to yoga. The old cliché ‘a healthy body equals a healthy mind’ is a cliché for a reason.
CitySport website
CitySport are offering five free spaces in each of the following classes between 7th-18th January. This is part of Study Well. Sign up via the CitySport website (please note, you will need to register in order to login).
Days
Time
Activity
Monday 7th and 14th
12:30-13:30
Yoga
Tuesday 8th and 15th
17:45-18:45
Afrobeats
Wednesday 9th and 16th
12:45-13:45
Yoga
Thursday 10th and 17th
18:00-19:00
Yoga by candlelight
Friday 11th and 18th
12:15-13:15
Pilates
3: Chow down
As well as free breakfasts available at the Student’s Union Hub, the EATC1TY food outlets across campus will be extending their opening hours to make sure everyone can grab a snack. Re-fueling is important and skipping meals is actually bad for you in the long run.
4: Chillax
CityBar’s longer opening hours provide a great opportunity to spend a few minutes relaxing at the end of a long hard day. Even if it’s just a few minutes catching up with classmates, having an opportunity to unwind can be just the reward for all that achieving.
It’s that time of the year again when exam revision and coursework deadlines leap to the top of your to-do list. It’s also that time of year when Library Services launches our #TakeABreak campaign.
#TakeABreak is about highlighting how taking proper care of yourself can help you achieve better results. That might mean making sure you take regular rest breaks, go for a walk, have a snack, distract yourself for 10 minutes, or leave early to get a good night’s sleep. Pushing yourself to achieve outstanding results shouldn’t mean compromising your health and wellbeing.
Pick up a puzzle
Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be highlighting a few tips and ideas to help you cope with what can often be a busy and stressful time of year, from reminders about our extended opening times to how you can book a study space; and watch out for our popular sudokus, puzzles, plus some fabulous freebies we’ll be giving away too.
We’re giving away free mugs during 24/7
And remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed and need to talk to someone, there are lots of ways to get support here at City via the Student Union, Chaplaincy, Health Service and of course Library Staff.
(When you do take a break from your studies, share your results on Instagram & Twitter #CityLibraryExams / #TakeABreak and let us know how you’re getting on).
Bookable individual silent study desks will return for the January assessment period at the Northampton Square Library and the Cass Learning Resource Centre.
Some of the bookable individual silent study desks at Northampton Square Library waiting to be booked
Students can book a desk to study for up to three hours a day, a maximum of four times a week. Each session can be booked up to one week in advance. The full terms and conditions are given in the booking process.
All the spaces will be bookable Mon – Fri 9am – 9pm, and midday – 6pm on weekends.
The desks will be clearly marked so you can find the place you booked. And remember, if a space is empty then you can study there without a booking, but you will need to make way when someone with a booking arrives.
The desks are bookable 2nd – 18th January inc. You can make a booking up to seven days in advance.
Northampton Square Library
The bookable desks are on Level 5 and can be found on the Spencer Street side just beyond the Help Desk.
Cass Learning Resource Centre
There are ten desks in the quiet area of the library.
The Northampton Square and Cass libraries will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the January exam period, from Tuesday 2nd January until Friday 18th January, 2019.
Northampton Square and Cass libraries will be open 24/7 during the January exam period.
Library staff will be available at Help Desks and roving around as usual, with a security team in place overnight.
You’re busy revising for your exams. You’re spending a lot of time in the library.
And, now that we’re open 24/7 until Friday June 8th you’re able to spend even more time here if you want to.
You’re working hard. You’re committed. You’re going to succeed.
But it’s important to remember that your health and wellbeing are crucial to achieving exam success too: taking rest breaks, eating and sleeping are extremely important. If you walk into the exam room tired, hungry and stressed, your performance might suffer.
That’s why we’re running our Take a break campaign again, to help make sure you’re feeling at your best when it matters. Here are a few suggestions to help you get through the next few weeks feeling fantastic and ready to go:
Take a break with our colouring books and puzzles
“Colour me calm” notebooks & pencils
Research has shown spending some time doing something creative is relaxing and encourages the brain to function better. Why not pick up one of our fab notebooks, a pack of pencils and spend a few minutes away from your screen scribbling?
Word search & Sudoku
If colouring is not your thing, pick up one of the word searches created by library staff: there are several to choose from, each with a different theme.
Or, if you’re overwhelmed with words, try our Sudokus: fiendish and fun, they’ll keep your mind off of revision for a good few minutes.
Fiction collection
We have a growing fiction collection in print and online which you can escape into whilst having a cup of tea or afternoon snack. Reading is calming and an excellent de-stresser.
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When you do take a break from your studies, don’t forget to share your results on Instagram & Twitter with us: and watch out for more suggestions being posted online #CityLibraryExams. Lastly, please remember, however you’re feeling, library staff are here and available if you need help, advice or a friendly chat.
As part of our exam season offering, Bookable Individual Silent Study Desks will return to Northampton Square Library.
To help you plan and organise your exam preparation, Library Services are offering Bookable Individual Silent Study Desks on weekdays from 30th April – 8th June. Sessions of two or three hours are available from 9am to 9pm. You can book one session a day, with a maximum of two sessions per week. Each session can be booked up to one week in advance. Full terms and conditions are outlined on the bookings page.
The bookable desks are for individual silent study and you can find them on Level 5 (on the right hand side as you enter, just behind the Library Help Desk). Each of the bookable desks is numbered and adorned in the unmistakable and handsome livery of Library Services.
A student surrounded by books and able to concentrate in silence
From Monday 30th of April until midnight on Friday 8th of June the Northampton Square Library will be open 24/7 for you to study around-the-clock.
Library staff will be on hand during normal working hours before handing over to our Security colleagues who’ll keep an eye on things until morning: but don’t worry, if you suddenly think of a question overnight we have a host of Library Guides plus our Ask us section available via the website to help support you.
During 24/7 opening we expect Library users to treat staff, other students and university property with respect, to adhere to the Library Services Code of Conduct and to use 24/7 opening responsibly. As we are situated in a residential area, Library users are expected to treat our neighbours with consideration by leaving the premises quickly, quietly and without causing disturbance.
Please also remember to take plenty of breaks when studying and to keep safe when travelling home from the library late at night.
