7 reasons your college library should be your favorite resource

Don’t let the library’s boring appearance keep you from using the best resource on campus. (By Surrahwall (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons)

Universities provide a package deal in which a Starbucks, Redbox, Internet café and Apple store coexist within one building — the library.

But its restrained and dull appearance sometimes turns students away from the immense pool of services that it offers. Don’t ignore the best resource on campus!

Here are seven reasons why your academic library is beneficial:

1. You can study at your own pace.
Need to study on your own? Need absolute silence? Need a few buddies and some motivational music? No problem!

The library contains the perfect blend of quiet spaces and group study stations. You can reserve a room for your Chemistry group the day before an exam or you can find an empty seat in one of hundreds of different chairs scattered throughout the building.

2. You can sample new tech and borrow what’s current.
The library keeps up with the latest technology, showcasing things like Chromebooks and 3D printers and allowing students to test them out. It also lends out digital cameras, tablets, laptops and video cameras that students may need to use during the semester. If you forgot your calculator at home, don’t worry — you can check one out.

3. You can watch movies for free. (Just return the DVD on time.)
DVDs and even video games are also available for check-out at the library. The best part is that there is no fee for doing so — unless you return it late. Depending on the policy, you can bring the movie back to your dorm room or watch it in the library. Now you don’t have to depend on Netflix Instant streaming for an impromptu movie night.

4. You don’t have to buy your own printer.
Printers are expensive, and ink even more so. And they always manage to malfunction right before a final paper is due. Skip the hassle and use the library printers. The cost amounts to pennies per page. Inexpensive scanning and copying services are also available.

5. You can find the textbooks you need for class.
Physical or electronic copies of your class textbooks — even the latest editions — are available for free at the library. Forget about buying a new copy from the bookstore. Borrowing a textbook during the semester will save you over a hundred dollars, which you can then repurpose for late-night pizza delivery.

6. You can ask for help outside the library.
Students and librarians can now communicate over multiple mediums. If you need a librarian’s assistance when you’re back in your room, send a text to the help line or call the library. If you’re on your computer, you can use the chat service. And old-fashioned face-to-face interaction with librarians in the library is still available as well.

7. You can study late at night.
If you need to stay up way past your bedtime to finish a paper or study for a final exam, the library is the best place to do so. The coffee shop sells food and your caffeine fix, the computers provide backup if your laptop crashes, the books assist you with research and the chairs offer comfort for your 15-minute power nap. Plus, you don’t have to deal with waking your sleeping roommate.

The library exists so you can learn and thrive while you’re in college. Course reserves and Interlibrary Loan services will give you access to resources for your classes. Information literacy teaches you how to find reliable sources. Requesting materials allows you to give your opinion on what books and databases the library should buy. Do not shy away from one of the best resources your university has to offer. Take full advantage of the library on campus.