Library starts a new chapter with desk booking pilot

In a collaboration between the Library, Warwick Students Union and IT Services, the University is now trialling a booking system in which students can reserve a desk at the Library.

Bookings are only available for a designated area of the Library’s recent third floor extension. The trial will be reviewed at the end of Term 1.

The system is officially called “book-a-desk”. Students can only access reservations once they have signed up for the pilot system online.

Once a booking has been made, students have 15 minutes to get to the desk and scan a QR code; failure to do so will result in the desk reservation opening to other students.
The initial booking lasts 45 minutes; however, students can rescan the code at the end to renew the reservation every 45 minutes.

When leaving the desk, students must “check out” from the desk via the book-a-desk service page, releasing it for others’ use.

Students who wish to sign up to the scheme will be asked to complete a series of “very short” surveys throughout the pilot and may also be invited to join in our focus group at the end of the pilot scheme.

The new system was the invention of WBS student Raphael Nahoum, who was inspired during first year to create a business plan for a service that would help students to locate and pre-book a study space quickly and easily.

Having worked with the University on the project since April, Raphael said, “It’s great to see it finally come to life with a trial in the Library.

“My key takeaway is to never give up, even if you face hardships and challenges during the process.”

Director of Innovation Management Wedy Coy added: “It is really heartening to see students being creative in putting ideas forward to help students of the future.”

Third-year PPE student Gabriel Dumfahrt said: “This October marked my third year of Uni, which consequently meant, my third year of library struggles. My relationship with this place, that at times has more people than books, has been of a love-hate nature.

“However, when no such place can be found, because people leave their bags on them, while cigarettes are smoked and smack nights planned, I am nowhere near. That is why a book-a-desk system, which would limit desk usage to a reasonable and healthy amount of time, is an amazing idea.”

When asked what she thought about the new pilot system, second-year English Literature student Poppy Hollingworth commented: “Honestly I don’t think it’s all that great… I know it sucks that you have to get there early to get a seat, but now I feel like it’s just going to get harder, and people are going to really stay there for longer and be more possessive of their seats.”