Pilot makes it mandatory to reserve study spot at University Library

In the pandemic, the University Library introduced a reservation system for study spots. It worked so well that the library decided that many of its 1,500 study spots would only be available to students who made a reservation online. However, 450 places remained available for students on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Many students have since requested those 450 places to fall under the reservation rule as well. The library has decided to do just that, albeit as a trial. For now, the obligation to reserve those spots only applies to the exam period, which began on March 17 and lasts until April 10. Arjan Grooters, Head of the University Library: "Apparently, many students like to be sure they will have a place to study when they come to the library."

He sees another potential advantage to this new system. "Students can no longer bet that a place will be available. Many students still come without a reservation and then take a place that had been booked by someone else."

According to Grooters, library users will be surveyed about how they find the mandatory reservation system. Students will also share their opinions about the new mobile-friendly interface of their reservation system.

Grooters find it hard to estimate how many students disapprove of the mandatory reservation system. According to him, the availability of study places has become a less sensitive issue in recent years because students are becoming more and more prone to studying in other places in the city or at home. "Our library only gets full at peak times."