THE LIBRARY IS FOR EVERYONE!

What comes to mind when you think of the library? Is it the atmosphere of quiet, calm, and comfort, or is it the time capsule bringing you back into the life before digitalization? No matter what connotations come up, the library has stayed a priority in the life of the university, highlighting access, collaboration, and development. Why should we return to the library?

Journalist: Elina Turbina

Two is better than one

NMBU’s academic library is inhabiting two spaces across campus – Sørhellinga on the east side of the campus and the new Veterinary building on the west side. Each library offers a specific set of literature relating to different faculties, which means that MINA and REALTEK students would find more relevant readings at Sør while HH, VET, KBM, BIOVIT and LANDSAM students have a variety of relevant sources in the Veterinary building. However, there is an overlap with the literature across both libraries, so students are welcome in whichever library they choose to visit.

As the library relocated parts of it into the Veterinary building, the common misconception has been that it only serves the veterinary students. The university librarian Bettina Ludwig debunks that myth, stating that “the Veterinary library is for everyone!”. Both libraries have the same library workers, which guarantees that no matter what student enters the space they can get sufficient help with their needs.

Not just books

The libraries have long ago dropped the façade of acting mainly as a vessel for information. The librarians at NMBU offer a variety of services ranging from help with references and online literature search on Oria to classes on information literacy. They also help Ph.D. students and professors and work with research administration at the university.

After the lockdown, the recurring arrangement ‘Kunnskapsfrokost’ (Research breakfast) started back up again. Here students get the opportunity to learn more about useful study skills and techniques such as research literature search or assignment writing.

In addition, the library works closely with the Writing Centre (which operates both in the Vet and Sør libraries, if you ever need it), and each autumn they collaborate on the Academic Writing days.

Room to breathe

Alongside these arrangements, the library hosts recurring concerts called ‘Pusterom’ (Room to breathe), debates and many other events that transform the library into a space for socialization and leisure. This is something Bettina stresses as well: “The library is there to serve as an open space for any student, no matter if they need a comfortable space for concentration or a meeting place”.

Physical presence

As students of different faculties, our academic needs vary, however, certain things bond all of us. Something that draws students into the study halls and libraries is the welcoming atmosphere that helps to ease into work. In the new library, the open kitchen and accessibility of professional academic help seem to be the deciding factors for choosing it as the study place. The NMBU-librarian agrees: “The library has been an important space for students after covid, as it provides a safe physical space for studies or collaboration”. Despite digital reading becoming a more predominant way of engaging with the study materials, the need for interaction is more important than ever.

The heart of the university

“It is hard to say how many students use the library and how many don’t. Some students are open to talk and seek assistance while others don’t, but the library works around that”, says Bettina Ludwig. The reluctance to take the advantage of sources provided by the library could be related to the reserved nature of us, students. Sometimes we just do not know what we need to know, so remembering that the library is always there to navigate us is very comforting.

That is precisely the reason why the university librarian thinks that the library won’t lose its relevance in the future. It is a space designed for accessibility and inclusivity, a place for anyone. “The library is the heart of the university”, says the librarian, expressing that the possibilities of using it will make the library flourish more as time goes by. So do not be afraid of visiting the library and checking out the tools they offer for bettering your study experience. It is always there for all of us!

Contact information

Facebook: @NMBUUniversitetsbiblioteket

Instagram: @nmbubiblioteket

P.S. – Access to Bikuben and Vet

Since the opening of new buildings on campus, many students have been having access issues to the group rooms. If you got your student card relatively recently but cannot access the group rooms, come by the main entrance of Bikuben or the Veterinary building and hold your card by the card reader until the reader turns blue and then green. Unfortunately, you will have to repeat this procedure regularly. If it does not work for your card, however, you have no choice but to get a new student card.