SRU students are currently spending hours studying and finishing up assignments as the end of the semester approaches and finals week is approaching quickly.
There are various places to prepare for finals in Slippery Rock.
A recent survey conducted by The Rocket shows that the top two places for students to study are Rooster’s Coffee Bar and the Bailey Library.
When posted on Instagram those two were the top answer as well.
Rooster’s Coffee Bar is popular with the students at SRU. They are able to relax and do work while being able to pick from a variety of different beverages and pastries to enjoy.
Bailey Library on campus having three floors also provides various spaces for students to prepare for finals, no matter what type of studier the student may be.
Freshman biology major Paige Trusnovic talked about where she enjoys spending her time and studying.
“Me and my friends really enjoy going to the library to get work done and study. I also like studying in my room, but I feel like I’m more productive at the library,” Trusnovic said.
“If I go like with a group of people we like to go in the rooms on the first floor, but if I’m alone, I like tend to go on the second floor like the single rooms or by the window and the single cubby areas,” Trusnovic said.
When asked if she felt it was important as a student to find a good study space to prepare for finals she responded with its positives.
“Yeah, to be productive and just work efficiently and not have any distractions,” Trusnovic said.
Jen Bartek, manager of library operations who has been at SRU since 2012 talked about recent surveys the library conducts to see what the students love and want more of to make their studying experience better.
“We find it very critical to make data driven decisions based on student input and desires. That’s what the library faculty and staff have found to be very beneficial,” Bartek said.
According to Bartek major renovations were done to the library around 2013 to 2018.
“We used a lot of survey information and input from the students in doing those renovations and we have yes definitely discovered that students like a variety, a diversity of spaces,” Bartek said.
Not only do students have a favorite study spot but they also have a favorite floor of the library they feel most productive.
Last May the library did a study asking students “What their favorite floor is?”
The survey had 87 participants in total and the second floor won, with 35 students saying they like that floor the best.
The first floor being close behind with 33 students and the third floor, otherwise known as the quiet floor, had 19 votes.
Students gave their opinions in the survey of why they enjoyed the floor they picked, whether that being the noise levels, the furniture or access to the café.
The library even conducted a survey in fall 2023.
The question that was asked was “what do you value most about the library’s resources, collections and spaces?”
The answer students gave was the spaces.
“It’s actually the spaces that they were telling us that they valued the most. The study spaces, the desks, work areas, the study pods, the whiteboards, I mean, it just goes on and on,” Bartek said.
The library staff listens to students, wants to know their opinions and hear what they have to say to keep the space enjoyable and relaxing.
“We have seen that this is what they want, they want this to be their space and that’s what we want as well. They want to feel welcomed. They want to be comfortable, relaxed, maybe have a calmer space or maybe have something where it is a little bit noisier and they feel you know, they like that interaction,” Bartek said.
“We feel that’s our job to take all these considerations and feelings that the students have to again incorporate and make a diversity of spaces for everybody,” Bartek said, “so that you feel like you have a space wherever that is the third floor, the second floor, the first floor, you can identify and say yep, this is where I study and do my work best.”
“I think probably one of the favorite spots in the library from the student perspective is our individual study rooms,” Bartek said.
Students are able to sign out individual or group study rooms to be able to focus and do their work.
Bartek feels it is very important for students to find a good study space to concentrate on work.
To prepare for finals the library will extend their hours a few weeks prior to give students more time to study and work. The extended hours will be Sunday through Thursday until 12 a.m., and Saturday until 8 p.m.
Events will happen in the building to give students a break including therapy dogs visiting leading up to finals.
The week of finals, Monday through Thursday, the library pays for coffee and snacks that will be put out after the café closes.
“Have a study plan. Stay strong. Well fed, take breaks. Get rest. Reach out for help and that includes reaching out to our faculty librarians…just take care of yourself,” Bartek said.
