Why Hartley Library is awesome

The new term has started and I’ve now borrowed all the books I need for the next few months.

Looking through the rows and rows of book cases at Hartley Library, I thought it would be appropriate to write about why I love the place so much.


So here’s my homage to my second home at the University of Southampton.

Why it’s awesome in a nutshell:

1. It is open 24 hours every day during exam season.
2. Being a Southampton student gives you access you thousands of hard copy books and electronic materials free of charge.
3. It’s arguably the warmest building on campus. 

Some of my Politics and International Relations course books. Here’s to 3rd year.

Most people become accustomed to their university library fairly well during their time as a student. It’s probably the first place you’ll be introduced to as a visitor to Southampton, and I don’t know about you, but many people often judge the quality of a university in question based on the quality of its library. I myself am one those people!

Taken from the green space outside the Library. One of my favourite places to sit in between studying.

Hartley Library is nearly always busy. It can be quite difficult to find a space to study during exam season. This however is simply because it is such a conducive atmosphere for study; students choose to come here in their droves because of the super-fast internet, abundance of books and resources in close proximity, and also group study rooms - which are perfect for teams working on a project or a tricky problem.

View from the Library entrance and its Café. Students often use this a meeting point. 

This desire by students of any course to choose to come to Hartley can be seen clearly when working at an estate agents. I have spoken to people who work part-time at lettings agencies who specialise in student houses, and one of the resounding trends that they tell me is that Final Year students will put the location of the house in terms of how close it is to the library above any other desired characteristic of the property. Even, in many instances, above rent, utilities cost, and the location to nightlife!

Now, if someone is willing to sacrifice a close proximity to Jesters in favour of the library, this only goes to show how good the library is. It also restores my faith in humanity that there are so many students who put their studies above anything else.

Of course Hartley isn’t the only library the University has; there’s also the Avenue Library, Health Services at Southampton General Hospital, the Language Resources Centre, National Oceanographic Library and Winchester School of Art Library too.

As for me, I have quite a busy week to look forward to: it's Freshers' Week on campus, so there’s the Bunfight, FilSoc Committee Meetings, prep readings and my part time job to juggle. It is also my 22nd birthday today (yikes) so I’m off to eat and celebrate!

Happy studying!

Rylyn