{"id":71775,"date":"2017-05-29T12:30:21","date_gmt":"2017-05-29T10:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/?p=71775\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:47","slug":"live-blog-finally-university-library-running","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/05\/29\/live-blog-finally-university-library-running\/","title":{"rendered":"Live blog: Finally, the university library is up and running"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The mural in the new library was made by students.<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

18:03: I\u2019m going home<\/strong><\/p>\n

Update on my own studies: I was wildly unproductive. No matter, watching all the people around me focus on their work gave me a vicarious feeling of satisfaction. And after having a half-dozen cappuccinos brought to me by James the butler, I can tell you that I\u2019m feeling pretty good. So long everybody,\u00a0enjoy this selfie of me and my new\u00a0friend James.<\/p>\n

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James and I.<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

17:48: Open late<\/strong><\/p>\n

Important information: On weekdays, the library is open from 8:00 to midnight. On weekends its a bit shorter, staying open from 10:00 to 21:00.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u00a0are open longer than almost every university in the Netherlands,\u201d library director Matthijs van Otegem told EM. \u201cI think that\u2019s incredibly important. We could decide to finish the day off around 5, but what good would that do for the students?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Library director Matthijs van Otegem believes the library should open early and close late. <\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

17:30: The silent zone<\/strong><\/p>\n

The newly renovated library is subdivided into two sections: A silent zone and a non-silent zone. Third year student Tommie Hooft van Huysduynen needs his silence when he works, and he\u2019s quite pleased with\u00a0how is fellow students respect the quietness.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like in the pavilion where you feel bad just for blinking. I find the level of noise is just pleasant enough for me to be able\u00a0hear my own harrowing thoughts about strategic management.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The silent section of the library.<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

16:33: \u201cWe\u2019re actually a digital library\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Designing a university library in the age of digitization means paying close attention to how the physical space is utilized. Earlier today, I talked to library director Matthijs van Otegem about the challenging process of designing a library that\u2019s both functional in the physical world as well as the online world.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are actually a digital library. We have a hundred times more downloads of our documents than we physically loan out. And you can see this in the way we designed the library. We could fill the library with books, but if no one is using them, we may as well invest in making quality study spaces. Of course, you still need to feel as if you are in a library, and that\u2019s why I love that we have this beautiful array of books right in the middle of the library.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A fine collection both Dutch and English can be found in the center of the library.<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

16:06: RTV Rijnmond is on the scene<\/strong><\/p>\n

It seems I have some journalistic competition on hand as a reporter from local broadcast station RTV-Rijnmond has arrived. Here he is doing a live radio interview with library director Matthijs van Otegem. Let\u2019s hope his interviewing skills are on par with mine.<\/p>\n

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A reporter from RTV-Rijnmond interviews the library director.<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

15:57 A love letter from Eefje<\/strong><\/p>\n

The quest for study places carried columnist Eefje to the weirdest places on campus. Two months ago, she wrote a letter to the library. And the library wrote back.<\/p>\n

Read Eefje's letter (and the library's answer)<\/h2>