Every day, the number of digital resources for research and scholarship grows; more and more books and articles are available online, with many of them being free of charge via Open Access, and a growing number of manuscripts, images, microfilms, and other resources are being digitalised and made available online. Some Humanities PhD students no longer even need to set foot in a library to complete their dissertation or thesis. However, even if you do not need to rely on a library for texts and other resources, there are a number of benefits to accessing physical reading spaces such as libraries, if they are available and accessible to you. This post discusses some of the reasons why you might want to consider studying in libraries during your time as a PhD student.
One. Separating reading and writing from other spaces in your life
Working from home or your office can offer multiple advantages: you can personalise your space with snacks and decorations; you may have access to a quiet space free from distractions; you can usually leave your things in your home or office workspace without worrying that others will move or steal them; and you can take comfort breaks relatively easily. However, many people prefer to separate their PhD work from their home and their office space, if applicable. Working on your dissertation or thesis in libraries can be a great way of achieving this separation.
Some students may find it harder to relax at home if they associate that particular space with their PhD, particularly if their only desk or workspace is in their bedroom. It may also be easier to focus on your dissertation or thesis in the library if you do not have access to a calm and quiet space at home or in your department. Making the most of your time in the library and focusing can also feel easier if you tell yourself that you intend to complete your PhD work there and that you will be doing other things once you leave and go elsewhere for the rest of the day.
Two. Changes of scenery and building routines
A change of scenery can help a repetitive task, such as checking references or doing line edits, or a longer task, such as reading a set of articles and books or drafting a chapter, feel fresher and help you to maintain your interest. Heading out to the library if you normally work elsewhere can provide a welcome change in surroundings; it might not seem like a big drastic change, but it can be enough to help you refocus on your work. And if you are fortunate enough to have access to multiple libraries, you can hop between them whenever things start to feel a little stale.
Contrastingly, if you do your best work when you are following routines, libraries could play an integral role in your schedule. Some students thrive if they designate a set portion of each day to studying in a library, or if they fit all their work into a 9 to 5 or other window in one particular library. Others may like to work in one library on a Monday, a different one on Tuesday, a third on Wednesday, and so on.
Three. Easy access to resources that you need
Your university library probably has at least some of the core texts that you need for your dissertation and thesis, as well as some or most or even all the secondary texts. Additionally, in most cases, if you are teaching an established language, literature, or film class, the library should offer access to the materials that you and your students need. Checking whether you can easily access resources at your university library or via its online services before you look elsewhere can save a lot of time and money.
Some libraries also offer options such as scanning portions of texts and distributing them to you digitally, or delivering books directly to your campus mailbox, as well as other services to help you conduct your research effectively and ethically such as training sessions for referencing and copyright, as well as support for arranging visits to other libraries and archives. Free resources such as magazines, scanners, and film rentals, can also be available. Going to see what is on offer can really enhance both your PhD journey and other parts of your life.
Using a library may also eliminate the need to spend money on books and accessing other resources. Many university libraries can request interlibrary loans on your behalf so that you can access resources that they may not hold in their own collections; in some cases, this service is free of charge, and in other cases there may be a fee. And if you have access to one of the UK and Ireland’s legal deposit libraries, which include the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, and the National Library of Wales, you can make use of these institutions’ ability to request a copy of any published material free of charge via their extensive catalogues and reader services.
Four. Sometimes you don’t have a choice but to go to the library
In some cases, you may have to visit a library in-person, even if you prefer to do most of your reading and research online. Some libraries, for example the British Library, do not allow you to check out books, therefore your use of printed materials is restricted to the library’s opening hours and the time that you personally are able to spend there.
Additionally, if you are working with rare books, maps, folios, images, or any other item that is classed as being restricted to in-library or in-archive use, you will of course have to be physically present if you want to consult the object in-person. You can also see visiting libraries as a necessary part of your PhD work as opening up new opportunities and as a way of helping you to expand your skillset; gaining more experience in handling rare books and other objects while working through them to gather the information that you need for your dissertation or thesis can open up new projects and career pathways. You may also come across opportunities to attend workshops and training sessions, developing your skills further in the process.
Note: For some people, accessing items that they need for their PhD in-person is not without its challenges: you might have a disability or illness that makes travel and working in-person difficult or impossible, or you might not have the funds or time to make all the trips that you need. Increasingly, it is possible to ask for digital versions of resources or for assistance in accessing them in-person or remotely. Furthermore, many universities and organisations offer funding specifically for PhD students who need to travel for research or research-related training. You can find information about such schemes by consulting the relevant pages of your university’s website or by talking to your advisor or supervisor.
Five. It can help you make the most of what is available
Popping into the library in person to ask librarians questions if you are stuck or struggling to find something can help you to save time and avoid frustration at the catalogue and other online search tools if you are not easily locating the texts and resources that you need. You may also discover new possibilities and directions for your work by looking for the texts you need yourself on the shelves; neighbouring titles might capture your interest and spark new ideas if you flick through them, or you may spot texts that you have heard mentioned or with which you are already familiar and decide to check them out in case they prove useful for your work.
Taking a few moments just to browse the shelves or noticeboards can sometimes yield extremely positive results! If you tend to search directly for what you need on a library’s online catalogue or work predominantly from your home or office space, you may end up missing other titles that could be useful or information about opportunities that you might not have discovered otherwise.
In addition, being surrounded by other people or having the opportunity to work in the beautiful surroundings of some libraries may also motivate you to keep working and provide you with some much-needed inspiration at challenging moments. And after all, public libraries are free to access and your university tuition covers your use of university libraries so you might as well get your money’s worth and make the most of these spaces, if nothing else!
Six. It can be a sociable activity
Studying and writing in groups can be a good way to connect with friends and peers. Some libraries contain spaces for group study where discussion and chatting are acceptable. Even if your library only offers silent study spaces, it can still be companionable to arrange to be there at the same time as people who are doing similar things to you, and you can always step outside together for coffee and lunch breaks.
It can be difficult to find time to connect with friends as regularly as you want to, so why not see if meeting at libraries could be a way to increase your level of connection?
Additionally, libraries are often hubs of information about events on and off campus, so you might be inspired to go to more community events, join clubs, or start a new volunteering project if a poster or flyer catches your eye during your library visit.
Do you enjoy studying in libraries? Comment below if you can think of any other benefits or if you have a favourite library that you particularly enjoy working in during your PhD.
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