Anne Johnston’s Library Blog

Towards the end of last month I and my colleagues from Knox Academy and Ross High attended an open meeting at Glasgow Caledonian University. I arranged for us to see round the Saltire Centre - the library at Glasgow Caledonian - beforehand. We were able to have lunch in the cafe (yes cafe) in the library and spend time working together on a discussion paper making use of the seating with laptop points provided to do so (Large couches actually). I intend to visit other universities and colleges in the next few months to get up to speed with the resources students are expected to use, including online journals and e-books. 

Sitting amongst the students in the Saltire Centre for an hour and a half, I became aware of how most students now mutlitask. They may be sitting at a desktop PC and/or using books, whilst plugged in to an iPod or MP3 and occasionally talking to their next door neigbour. Or they could be working as a group in one of the designated areas which have a white board and seats for several people. They may or may not have a tutor with them.

Our senior students show clear evidence in school that they want to work this way. My challenge, how to encourage them to do so without study deteriorating into a social meeting with no work at the end of the period. Should I be concerned about making sure no one is eating or drinking in the library or allow them to do so and instead make sure they clear up after themselves, as I witnessed in Glasgow? Can I rearrange the furniture to make it possible for students to work in a more relaxed but more productive manner?

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