{"id":175780,"date":"2025-02-06T13:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T12:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=175780"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T15:48:52","slug":"most-visitors-feel-safe-in-the-library-many-students-want-the-old-reservation-system-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/02\/06\/most-visitors-feel-safe-in-the-library-many-students-want-the-old-reservation-system-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Most visitors feel safe in the library, many students want the old reservation system back"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 80 percent of visitors feel safe in the University Library, according to a recent survey. This contrasts with the incidents at the beginning of last year when the library faced theft, broken mice, destroyed study spaces, and a pushed-over Christmas tree<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Most respondents are positive about the library. \u201cI studied in Leiden for four years and am now doing my master\u2019s in Corporate Law at Erasmus University. The library here is so much better than in Leiden. Really a top library!\u201d, writes an enthusiastic student.<\/p>\n

Almost 60 percent of respondents are \u2018satisfied\u2019 or \u2018very satisfied\u2019 with the staff. They find the employees helpful and friendly. The quick service and involvement are particularly mentioned. \u201cWhen I had questions, I got a quick response, and the librarian was happy to think along\u201d, says a respondent.<\/p>\n\t

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The University Library conducts an annual satisfaction survey. This year, nearly 2,400 people participated. The survey is intended to implement targeted improvements. The extension of opening hours<\/a> since May last year, for example, is a result of previous survey findings.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Suggestion for an access pass<\/h2>
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66 of the more than two thousand respondents feel less safe in the evenings. \u201cIt has to do with the fear of being harassed\u201d, writes a respondent. Noisy visitors are also mentioned as a cause. \u201cThe staff could intervene better with noisy visitors\u201d, states a student. The library takes this seriously, says Wim Vuijk, front desk team leader. \u201cA safer study environment is, of course, essential. That\u2019s why we have been deploying stewards in the evenings since last year. This will now become a permanent part of our supervision approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some respondents are particularly concerned about the presence of non-EUR students in the library. \u201cThe presence of outsiders is worrying. They take up spaces and sometimes cause a nuisance\u201d, says a student. She suggests introducing an access pass. \u201cYou also hear about theft in the library. Maybe it\u2019s an idea to introduce access passes? That would significantly reduce the risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reservation system for study spaces<\/h2>

One in five respondents finds the reservation system for study spaces not user-friendly. The new, mobile-friendly system introduced last year is perceived as \u2018unclear\u2019 and \u2018time-consuming\u2019. \u201cI want to see at a glance which places are available, not have to scroll through dozens of pages\u201d, complains a respondent. Many students feel the old reservation system worked better. \u201cCan you bring back the old reservation method?\u201d, they ask.<\/p>\n

Additionally, reserved spaces sometimes remain empty, causing frustration. \u201cIt\u2019s annoying when a place stays empty while I\u2019m not allowed to sit there\u201d, says a student. Conversely, some students feel uncomfortable asking someone to leave their reserved spot. \u201cSo sometimes I just leave the library again\u201d, says another student.<\/p>\n\n\t

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