Usually at the Marriott Library, students have more than enough room to spread their things over multiple desks and take up entire booths, and there are plenty of outlets for all electronic devices.
All of this changes during finals week, when it seems as if every student at the U suddenly remembers that we have a library and every chair, bench and table is occupied by groups scrambling to finish last minute projects and people cramming a semester’s worth of physics into a few hours. But lucky for everyone who visits the library during these dark times, they have access to a plethora of often ignored resources free for all students.
While these are particularly helpful for people during finals and midterms, these resources are accessible all year long, even when class is not in session.
Special Collections
Located on the fourth floor, this department is dedicated to housing and collecting rare books, oral histories of people from Utah and old issues of journals, newspapers and everything in between. It is probably one of the least-used departments on campus, which is unfortunate, as most libraries’ collections require those who use them to be at least graduate students. Open and free to everyone, not just U students, this collection is truly a unique and valuable resource.
There are primary sources that can help with any research projects, or works just to satisfy your own curiosity. There are books dating back to the fifteenth century, first editions, signed copies of works of literature that changed the world and banned socialist magazines.
Knowledge Commons
While the second floor is probably best known for its sea of computers and frustrating printing experiences, two of the library’s most useful desks are found here. Nearest to the printers is the Student Computing Services, which has nearly everything that a university student could need to get through a class. Forget your computer at home but desperately need a laptop? They’ve got you covered for four hours at a time. Want to watch one of the library’s hundreds of movies on your downtime or need to watch a show for a class? It’s probably back there. Do you need to make a poster or use the 3D printers? They’re on it.
On the other side of the library, sitting right above Mom’s Café, sits the Reserve Cashier Desk and Library Store. While many students eventually find their way over to this desk because they hold a copy of most, if not all, of the required books for classes, you may not know that you can buy emergency pens and pencils and use the desk to print off large print jobs you may be scared of messing up on your own.
All you need to access these desks is a valid UCard.
The Librarians
For a column dedicated to highlighting new and unusual electronic mediums, bringing up librarians may seem particularly out of place. They are arguably the most important resources at the library, however, and far too often undergraduates either do not know they’re there to help or that they’re there at all.
For students in majors from mechanical engineering to history, there is a librarian on campus who can help with research, help you figure out which of the library’s thousands of online journals have the best sources for you to use and answer any general questions that you may have.
To get in contact with a librarian, go to the library’s homepage and in the top right hand corner there is a small link that says “ask a librarian.” Fill out the following information and expect a response within the hour.
@Ehmannky