W 069 F

Draft 2

Entering a university means that a student has decided to spend 4-6 more years on studying. That is to say he/she will have to take examinations, write tests, prepare reports and even carry out researches. Students have to make it clear that at university level studying may sometimes be harder than it was at secondary level and may need to acquire deeper knowledge. Ways of preparation and studying differ from one student to the other; some like learning at home, others prefer studying outdoors. Ninety per cent of the students of Janus Pannonius University however, frequent its library, and about 1/3rd of them use it not only for loaning but also for studying there regularly. This indicates that students like to work at such a library. This paper intends to introduce freshmen students the ways of studying at a university library in order to be successful at the examinations, to be effective when making reports, to acquire thorough knowledge, to become objective and critical.

A student once having his/her assignment in mind has to decide where and how to get along with it. One side of fruitful studying at a library is the selection of the one that is the most preferable for an undergraduate: this is a university library. Every freshman, at least once, should choose and try such a place for studying, for quite a few reasons. Here he/she can find the necessary books and lecture notes, and not only one copy of them but several; furthermore the most frequently used ones are always put in the reading room. University library tries to adjust its opening hours to the students. It is very advantageous that they are open from 8 to 20 o’clock during the term, while in the examination season from 8 to 22 o'clock. University library is usually free to enter for students. Therefore there are some, usually experienced, graduates who not only come to study but also to economise on heat and light at home.

After a freshman has chosen the place, he/she has to clarify that he/she is to study there, that he/she has the adequate time for that as well as the resolution, intention and will to do so. As a next step an undergraduate should gather all utensils for work: reader's ticket, purse, a pack of tissue papers or a handkerchief, pens, pencils in different colours, eraser, small pieces of paper for notes, normal-size sheets of paper, marker and his/her own books. Equipped with this, a student has to find a nook that is calm, not cold, where light conditions are adequate, and around which other students are also dealing with their reading. Once become tired and exhausted, freshmen should have a rest, a short break. They may go to the buffet and buy a cup of coffee, a bar of chocolate or a sandwich; take a walk; read a magazine or a newspaper; listen to song in the music room; have a little chat with friends. After the refreshment students should return to their readings.

Effective learning is only one aspect of studying at a university library; the other is the all-rounded, thorough preparation. It happens every now and then that a student while learning about a certain topic, finds that not every part of his/her reading is well or fully examined or supported. And on the other hand ideas and pieces of information may turn out to be new, original, strange or unknown from one angle of vision to the other. In such cases university library is the ideal place to work at. While studying there, an undergraduate may come across his/her student fellows with whom he/she can discuss the problematic parts of the learning material, or even professors and tutors who probably help too in giving guidance, hints for further reading. At a university library students could have the chance to read old and rare books, to use curios, to find sources for further reading. In order to get these documents and pieces of work an undergraduate may use the various types of catalogues on his/her own, or ask the help of the librarians. They are almost always willing to assist anyone. A freshman may get the required books right from the bookshelves or from the store, by filling out a form of store-requiring. It may occur that university library does not have the needed documents. In such cases an inter-library loan can be demanded. Freshmen have to make contact to the responsible librarian in the library and give him/her the data of the book (the title, the year and place of publication, the editor's name, if there is any). A student may acquire the material from a library of the particular country he/she is staying at, or from abroad. Once an undergraduate actually takes the time to search for sources, studies, and to examine the thesis from different points of view, he/she will surely turn out to be an open-minded person with critical an objective sense.

Students who go to the library, either to study there or just to read the material the professor had left there at their disposal, will hopefully realise that it is worth working at a university library. By studying there, undergraduates can become accustomed to disposing their time well (since they only have the opening hours for studying); to setting up an order of importance of tasks; and getting along with their studies effectively, thoroughly and with a more critical and objective sense than before. Freshmen would make up their minds to study there frequently if they can finish with their assignment in time; if they are satisfied with their taking efforts; if they enjoy working there; and if they feel inspired to study at a university library.