They come in groups, hog seats and chit-chat

STUDENTS at libraries can be a bother. They should find some other place to do their revision.

That was the view of several people The New Paper spoke to at various libraries yesterday.

Madam Hamidah Johari, for example, is upset that she cannot get seats and it is noisy when she visits the Jurong West Community library.

'They come in groups, sit together and tend to talk among themselves,' said the 52-year-old.

She feels that students who do not have to access library books should study at community centres.

'I used to take modules at SIM about a decade ago and was once chased out of Jurong West library by a librarian who said the library is for borrowing books,' added Madam Hamidah.

She then used her school library to study.

Some, such as Miss Cho Chui Wai, 26, feel that students who only bring their notes to study should give up their seats.

Said the undergraduate: 'If the space is taken up by students, leaving no space for readers, then the students should leave. Priority should be given to readers.'

Miss Cho, a communications student at Nanyang Technological University, frequents the National Library at Victoria Street as well as Sengkang Community Library at least once a month.

She often sees students studying in groups and has been frustrated at not being able to get a seat.

Others, such as Mr Tan Kok Jwee, a bank manager, feels that a time limit should be set for such students.

He feels that this can be implemented if library officials patrol the place.

Mr Tan, 57, said: 'They (the students) can study there. But a maximum time limit of half a day, or four hours, should be set after which such students should give up their seats.

'The time limit is because these students may really have homes that are not conducive for studying.'

He also said that the rule should apply to all library users and not only students.

Miss Cho also said that studying in a public library would be her last option.

'At Pasir Ris and Sengkang Community Library, the kids will scream, people will talk, there are limited places. Furthermore, there are better places to study,' she said.

She said that she would rather study at her school's library or go to her Punggol home.

Other than public libraries, people interviewed also suggested that students study at other areas earmarked for it, such as community centres, void deck study areas and school libraries.

Madam Hamidah said: 'The students can go to study rooms in community clubs instead and only use the library only when there is enough space.'


Pearly Tan, newsroom intern

This article was first published in The New Paper.
Fri, Feb 27, 2009
The New Paper