Lina El-Nahhal, Bachelor of European Studies (Hons), third year.

I go to the library a lot, especially when the end of semester exams are approaching. To me, the library is the best place to study; I also go to do some research and look for books that can help me in assignments.

I think there is room for improvement. Some books are a bit outdated so there is a pressing need for new books. Personally, I always find it hard to find a locker available to put my bag and things in when at the library.

At the moment I am a direct exchange student at the University of Szeged in Hungary and its library is quite new and large with a great amount of books. New and up-to-date books always make it easier for students to pursue their studies.

Moreover, I always manage to find an empty locker when I go there. There is also a depositary where students can hang their bags and jackets, and there are people in charge of it to ensure people’s belongings are safe.

The University library in Malta would do well to implement this system.

David Debono, B. Communications and Psychology, second year.

I only use the library during exam time, as do probably the majority of students.

I don’t really like the environment in the library for studying – I’m more comfortable studying outside in the sunshine than in the library.

I feel a bit lost when it comes to trying to find a book on a particular subject unless I have a specific book in mind. I’m not sure if it qualifies as part of the library services or not, but I used the audio-visual library quite frequently in my first year.

A more efficient cross-referencing system might help students find what they’re looking for more easily.

Annelise Abela, LLD, first year.

I like to use the library for studying, especially when I have a couple of free hours and want to sit down in a quiet environment. My visits become more frequent when I need to research some theses or other books and journals I would not be able to access outside the library.

On the face of it, the library reaches its scope as it provides a place for research and studying. However, sometimes books may not be readily available or no current book relating to the subject is accessible. Although improvement is constant, much more investment needs to be made on material offered and actual library structure.

I believe an initial action that would help the library service be more efficient would be longer opening hours. While I understand that 24 hours’ availability is somewhat impossible, and perhaps unnecessary, times need to be drastically extended, especially for the melitensia section and during holidays, when more time can be dedicated to research.

Furthermore, newer and more up-to-date books are required, and by that I don’t mean just the one copy to be fought over by students.

In addition, more computers would be welcome as they always seem to be taken up by students who, more often than not, use them for reasons totally unrelated to their studies.

It would also be nice if we could have more space, such as lockers, for personal belongings.