As much as we love to joke that Ps get degrees, sometimes we all need to buckle down and get some serious study on.

One of the best places to do so is obviously the uni library but unfortunately, since it’s a public place, it’s subject to the general public. And they’re not always the most hospitable guests. Yep, you know who you are.

So as exam season approaches, how about we all be respectful and make the following faux pas punishable by exile?

#1 Leaving Your Stuff On A Desk And Disappearing 

This is the cardinal library sin. It’s a universal fact that the library has limited real estate, and the best spots fill up hours before you even arrive. Dumping your things on a spot and disappearing for hours is just downright unacceptable.

There are people in the library that need to work right now, and you’re out having a coffee or god forbid, taking an exam, and interfering with their study. Only so many people can study on the floor before it becomes a hazard.

If you need to leave, you have to forfeit your spot. Them’s the rules.

#2 Talking In Quiet Spaces

As much as I’d love to hear about what she was wearing Saturday night, there’s a time and a place. Namely, a time where I don’t have an assignment due tomorrow, and a place that doesn’t have a “quite please” sign at the door.

These spaces are there for a reason – don’t be that one guy obnoxiously tearing through the silence. 

#3 Leaving Mess Behind 

Regardless of how comfy the chairs are, the library is a public space. It should be treated with respect. So that means no nacho or burger study meals and no stray chocolate wrappers in the corner of the room. Like come on, that’s just gross – there are bins.

If you really need to munch on some messy food while studying, it’s probably best if you create a study space at home and relieve us of the rubbish.

#4 Overstaying In Reserved Spaces 

Once again, respect your fellow library patron. Believe it or not, some people reserve library spaces for meetings or group assignments, and not just so a group of friends can meet up and talk next to their unfinished work.

Library spaces are almost always booked back to back, so someone will come for your head if you linger around in the room for longer than you reserved, which will just lead to an awkward exchange that no one wants, and lost time on the other person’s booking.

Best to save the confrontation and help the exchange of the library’s resources run smoothly. Just book it for longer next time.

#5 Being Lazy About Putting Books Back In The Right Place 

No one’s asking you to become a dewey decimal system goddess, but anyone who’s worked in retail knows the white-hot fires of hatred when you see a customer just dump something on the shelves and walk away. Especially when it’s just a short distance away from its rightful place.

Leaving a book on the other side of the library if you can’t be bothered to put it in its spot needs to stop now. You’re only messing up other people’s book hunting, and making the librarian’s job that bit harder.

In the end, we’re all out to just get the best results possible, and that often starts and ends with the quality of our study space. If you choose to frequent the library, do yourself and everyone else a favour and be a respectful visitor.

Kim Koelmeyer is and Arts (Journalism)/Law student at Deakin University and deals primarily in memes and blogging.

(Lead image: American Pie/Universal)