One of the best ways to absorb loads of information when studying is to take regular and rejuvenating breaks away from your study …and often! Making the most of taking a good break from study will help you be more productive when you do study.
That’s why starting from Monday 3rd June, the Library will release two new cards across our Library spaces:
BRB Card
Taking a break? Simply grab a card, write on the card what time you left for your break & pop it on top of your desk so everyone knows you’ll be back within half an hour.
Hey!
Left your stuff unattended for a long time, without a note saying when you’ll return? Remember the Library is a shared space and this can be frustrating for other students looking for a place to study.
Library staff might place a ‘Hey!’ card on your belongings, letting other students know they can carefully move your stuff to the side and use the desk. Next time you take a break, make sure you leave a BRB card.
Remember, it is Library policy that if you find a desk unattended for a long period of time with someone else’s belongings – you can carefully push their stuff aside to use the desk (regardless if there is a Hey! card on their stuff or not)
Above all, the Library is here to support you and our students (you!) are our top priority. Unfortunately, sometimes people can be pretty awful and take things that aren’t theirs. So please always remember to keep your valuable belongings with you at all times.
For more information, visit the Spaces page on our website:
sydney.edu.au/library/spaces
Isn’t this risky w/r/t potential theft? If I plunk a note on my desk saying “I’m gone until X:00 PM” that gives someone a good idea how much time they have to steal something.
Hi Mark, thank you for your comment.
In all study spaces, you should make sure that your valuable belongings are never left unattended. When using the ‘BRB’ cards- you should always take your valuable belongings with you, regardless of how long of a break you are taking.
If you have any questions or if you would like more information, feel free to contact us directly.
Kind Regards,
Demi
“Remember, it is Library policy that if you find a desk unattended for a long period of time with someone else’s belongings – you can carefully push their stuff aside to use the desk (regardless if there is a Hey! card on their stuff or not)”
This message needs to be spread across campus. People do not understand this at all. I moved someone’s belonging aside (having previously checked this desk out before) yesterday after 30mins of desk searching. This student comes back 3 hours after I was using the desk then rudely ask me why I move his belongings. I sincerely hope Usyd finds a better solution because this type of behaviour really puts the university to shame. I have never seen any other uni like this!
A dozen students walked past me looking for a desk to study. Yet next to me is an empty seat for the past 2.5 hrs.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment. We appreciate that this is a frustrating issue, especially during exam time. In the situation you have described, you did the right thing- If someone has left their desk unattended for more than 30 minutes, we encourage you to carefully move their belongings aside and use the desk. Library desks should not be left unattended for more than 30 minutes at a time.
Kind Regards,
Demi
If it makes you feel better, I used to go to a university in CANADA and we had the exact same problem, lol. But yes, I think it’s really annyoing too. Thankfully, even though I’m coming to USyd, they implemented a “move your feet, lose your seat” policy. Literally, that’s what the signs say, haha. Glad Usyd was able to come up with a reasonable solution too.