It’s getting to that time of year when the glossiness of Freshers is over, and the work that seemed weeks away is closing in on you rather quickly. So here are a few of the top places to go around Campus if you’re in need for a quiet, or just a chilled out, place to study or work. Using these places now may not seem incredibly crucial, but once exam period comes around it’s good to know where you can go to do that last minute cram-sesh!
1) The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons. This is probably the top place to go when you’re looking to work, as it combines all the aspects of a perfect work environment: food, drink, computers, space, and it’s open 24/7!! The café on the bottom floor will keep you fed and thirst-quenched for your study period, and it even offers private study rooms for those looking to hold group studies or meetings. With tables, comfy study chairs (with desks attached) and weird little alien pods you can settle down to work and not have to worry about anything else. It’s not as strict as the library so it can get a little noisy at times, but it’s comfortable, spacious and easily accessible! You will need your University ID card to get inside, and remember to get there early, as it’s only downside is the lack of study spaces – it gets busy quickly!
2) The University Library. The University Library not only has thousands of books available for work, study, or pleasure reading, but it offers a wide range of study areas from communal desks to private group study rooms to choose from. Although food and drink aren’t really allowed in the Library, there is the newly refurbished green area in the square that you can relax in for lunch (weather permitting), or you can pop over to the Veggie Café located just outside the library which serves a rather tasty soup option!
3) The Student Union Café. Although rather noisy, the SU Café allows you to perhaps have a more informal working space. With couches and tables available you can sit down, have a bite to eat, and enjoy the people watching! This space however is probably used best if you’ve got an hour in-between lectures and you need to catch up on the reading/notes, as in all likelihood you’ll be distracted by what’s going on around you. The plus side is that there’s the SU Bar around the corner if you need something a little stronger to keep you going!
4) The John Rylands Library. A little further out than most of the libraries I’ve mentioned, the JR Library is a historic piece of Manchester that’s more than one hundred years old! Although it is mainly a museum and currently holds the Special Collections of the University Library, you can request to view books and manuscripts (although they have to stay in the Library). There are reading rooms available, but they are reserved for those looking at anything from the Special Collections. I’d definitely recommend having a little look around the building though, as its Gothic structure and history is incredibly impressive.
5) Joule Library. For those of you who spend most of your time in the North Campus, the Joule Library holds collections mainly in science, engineering and technology, however that’s not to stop you from going! It holds almost one hundred individual study spaces, twenty six PC computers, two group study rooms, and even offers a thesis binding service. So head on down here if you’re stuck on where to go to work in the North Campus.
These are only a few recommendations of where to go to work around the University. There are many more libraries available for student use, and plenty of cafés if you’re looking for a more chilled out study space. So make the most of your free time now and go check them out, as I promise you’ll be begging for more study space come exam time!
Opening hours and Library Locations can be found on the University of Manchester Library website. The opening hours for the SU Café are Monday to Friday 8am-11pm, and 9am-12am on the weekends. Many of the opening hours change during vacation time, so just make sure to have a look at the times before you venture into Uni.
(Photo credits to yelp.co.uk, mnatwork.com, library.manchester.ac.uk, flickr.com, tumblr.com, muggs.org, theguardian.com)