I just read about how “Gen Z seems to love public libraries,” and it reminded me of my relationship with libraries growing up, which you can read here.
Although the last time I was in a physical library was when I was taking my master’s in energy engineering, I still read books (these days, mostly non-fiction books and academic journals on energy and social science) to satiate my hunger for learning.
Here are the reasons why I went to the college library during my undergrad:
- space with air conditioning and charging ports (because my laptop only has a few hours of battery life)
- a good place to study lecture materials while waiting for our next class
- a good breeding ground for ideas
- access to books I find too expensive to buy (which was even limited at the time, so we borrowed a book in groups)
- access to various literature for leisure reading
During my master’s, I don’t go to the library to access hard copies anymore, primarily because we have various collections in our online library that are more portable for a student on the go.
Here are the reasons why I go to the library during my master’s:
- free access to a fast internet connection
- air conditioning
- ambience conducive to focus and productivity
- I can stay for long hours without spending (including the unrestricted use of charging stations), unlike when you go out to coffee shops
There are even specific library locations where you can freely discuss with peers while working on an academic requirement. These kinds of spaces allow students on a budget (like I was) to collaborate with peers without spending anything.
jessa 