Finding the right environment

The best environment for study and focus can vary from person to person, as everyone has their own unique preferences and learning styles.

For some, this means a quiet space with as few distractions as possible. Others may prefer studying in a livelier space, where there is a background hum of conversation and music. Others may find it helpful to study in a group setting or with a study partner, where they can bounce ideas off each other and stay motivated.

That type of study environment may vary for you depending on the type of study you are doing so it's essential to experiment and find what works best for you. 

This page aims to provide you with an overview of the types of study spaces that the library has on offer as well as some tips for creating your own focused study environment if you are revising at home.

Student studying in the library with books

Image of study desks in Harrison Silent study zone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We want to make sure that you have the best possible study experience, which is why we've set up designated areas for silent study at each of our campus libraries.

These areas feature traditional study desk setups with minimal distractions, as they receive less foot traffic and have fewer people moving through them. Plus, our library staff keeps a watchful eye to maintain a peaceful and comfortable study environment.

You can find our Silent Study areas located:

a student studying independently against large window backdrop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you prefer a slightly more relaxed study environment, why not check out our 'quiet study zones'?

These designated areas allow for the occasional low-level conversation, but the primary focus must remain on studying rather than socializing. 

You can find our quiet study areas located:

If working in an open area isn’t right for you, consider booking one of our individual study rooms which will provide a more closed-off and private study environment. Individual rooms are available to book via our Library Spaces booking system.  

Book a single-person study room at Harrison Library 

Book a single-person study room at Walsall Campus Library 

At Harrison Library, there are also a number of very small private study carrels that are available on a first-come-first-served basis and include power sockets and reading lights

image of two small individual study carrells

For any advice on finding a suitable study space, please speak to member of the library team at a library helpdesk. 

Silent Study Zone Locations

Harrison Library silent floor map
Hutchison Library Silent floor map
Walsall Library Silent floor map

Access the library when it works for you!

We understand that the assessment period can be stressful, but you can take comfort in knowing that we have HArrison Library at city campus open 24/7. This means that, as a student with multiple commitments, you can hopefully find the time to visit the library to revise and prepare, allowing you to manage your workload more efficiently.

Find out more about our 24/7 opening hours here

Revising at home

Whether visiting the library is not feasible or you simply prefer studying from home, it is crucial to provide yourself with the best chance of focusing in your chosen study environment. Here are a few factors to keep in mind...

Keep your working space tidy and de-cluttered. The more things around you, the more distractions. Hide your phone away and any unrelated paperwork to help you focus on one task at a time

Make sure you are comfy – Not everybody will have a desk and comfortable chair with good support, but do what you can to reduce any discomfort otherwise this may distract from your study.

If you are working from a laptop, make sure you are not hunched over it and looking down at the screen. An easy way to raise it up is to stack a few books up and put your laptop on top to get it closer to eye level.

Make sure that the area is well-lit with natural light or make use of a desk lamp when studying at night. Proper lighting can help to reduce eye strain and increase productivity!

Make sure the room you are in has good airflow – get the window open and increase the amount of fresh air you have which will help you to focus and concentrate. If it's too cold to keep a window open, how about you just open a window for 5 minutes every hour which will help flush out some of the stale air.  

Use a whiteboard or Post-it notes: these can be great tools for keeping track of your schedule, to-do lists, and notes.

Don't forget that you can get support 24/7 with Library Assist

get help with Library Assist

Whenever or wherever you are preparing for your exams or assessments, remember that you can use Library Assist to chat with a librarian or browse our support articles and FAQs

More exam and assessment support from the library