Study spaces in Hall - survey feedback

Several residents expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and amount of study space at Connaught Hall in our survey last week.

All the following areas are available for you to study in. They all have WiFi with EduRoam access. As you will see below, we are investing money in improving these areas for you.

Convocation Trust Study Room 

This is our main study area, located on the lower ground floor, north side (turn left out of the lift), past the laundrette and housekeeping, opposite room LG15.

The study room was completely refurbished only a few years ago, but we have asked the Residents' Club Committee to for their input on how we can make it a more pleasant, inviting space. We are going to hang pictures on the walls and install a few more desks, aiming to complete all this before the start of term 2.

This room is intended for quiet personal study only.

Dining hall

You can use the dining hall as study space every day after breakfast / brunch has finished, until dinner time. This space is suitable space for group study and teamwork projects. During the daytime, it's the brightest room in the building, so it's a nice, refreshing, airy place to study.

If you bring your own bread and butter, jam, etc., you are also welcome to use the toaster in the dining hall; and if you bring your own mug, drinks from the dining hall coffee machine are just 10p.

Please ensure that all your work is removed from the dining hall in time for dinner.

Lang room

The Lang Room (next to the dining hall) is currently being used to store catering equipment. This is because one of the store rooms in the kitchen was refurbished in the summer but unforeseen structural problems meant this refurbishment has taken much longer than expected. 

When the work on the kitchen store room is finished later this month, we are going to redecorate the Lang room to make it lovely and fill it with bean bags and low tables so it will become a relaxed study area, due to re-open, fully refurbished for you, in time for the start of term 2.

Reception lobby

This is a popular area for relaxed study, and you can use our coffee machine for high-quality teas, coffees, cappuccinos, and hot chocolate - starting at 70p. 

We may be able to put a few more tables in the reception area to make it easier to study there and use your laptop - we will look into this.

FAQ: Study space

Residents often ask where they can study in the Hall, or if we can open rooms for them to study privately.

We expect most residents to do most of their study either in their room or at their college library. We provide a desk, chair, and lamp so you can study comfortably in your room. We do, however, provide other places for you to study. Residents in twin rooms have priority access to this study space.

Computer room

The Lang Room on the lower ground floor has two internet terminals for you to browse the web. There are also four computer desks which can be used for private study.

Convocation Trust Study Room

The Convocation Trust Study Room on the lower ground floor is for private quiet study mainly by students sharing twin rooms. There is comfortable space for nine people to use this room.

Additional study space

In the summer term, we will provide additional study space for residents who want to revise outside of their room. Normally we will leave the dining hall open from 7 pm to 11 pm for this purpose - but please remember to remove your things from the dining room by 11pm so we can lock up.

The dining hall is also routinely open on weekdays from breakfast until 2 pm, mainly so you can use the toaster, but you can study there, too.

In all these areas, please do not leave your books and study materials on the desks when you are not there: it's not fair on other residents who might want to use the space, and in some areas (especially the dining hall), can be unsightly - and is at risk of being thrown away by the cleaners!

We can be flexible, so if you need a particular type of space for a special project (e.g. big tables or an area for group study), contact me at least a five days in advance at warden@connaught-hall.org.uk or come to one of my open office sessions (openoffice.connaught-hall.org.uk) to discuss your requirements. I will do what I can to help.

Please also remember you can use most of the college libraries within the University of London, and these will operate extended opening hours during the exam season.

Library desks

I received several complaints this weekend about study space in the library being unfairly "reserved" by some residents and even non-resident guests. I must agree with the complainants that this behaviour is very unfair.

The Residents' Handbook says: "The library on the lower ground floor is for private quiet study mainly by students sharing twin rooms. Please do not leave work out on the desks and do not eat in the library or use it for group study as others may be trying to concentrate." (http://handbook.connaught-hall.org.uk)

The library is a facility shared between 230 students and space is limited. Please be considerate of the needs of your fellow residents and do not leave your work and study materials on the desks if you are going to be away for more than 20 minutes.

If this continues to be a problem, we will start making random checks and removing items from desks that are left unattended, so that everyone can have a fair chance of using our newly refurbished study room.

 Remember we are also leaving the dining hall open for extra study space this term.

As always, get in touch if you have any comments, suggestions, or complaints, or if you need our help with anything that is bothering you.