In celebration of the University of East London’s 125th anniversary, we asked our students to share stories – real or imagined – about their time in the libraries.
Christy, Fine Arts
Omar, Engineering
Deon, Computer Science
Abhiram, Computing
Sagar, Cybersecurity/Networks
Hifsa, Nursing
Yashika, Business
Chatgpt, OpenAI
Shanth, Intern
Ghanshyam, Engineering
Yvonne, Library Staff Member
Just a few months ago I was facing a big deadline for an important essay. I knew that I needed to stay focused and alert so I decided to bring in my own kettle and coffee supplies so that I could stay overnight and finish my work.
As I set up my makeshift coffee station* in the library, I couldn't help but notice the planes taking off from the nearby airport. It was a fascinating sight, and I found myself watching them as the kettle gently boiled away.
As the night wore on, I delved deeper into my essay, typing away on my laptop as the planes continued to take off into the darkness. The sound of the planes was like a soothing background noise, and I found myself feeling surprisingly calm and focused despite the pressure of the deadline.
As the hours passed by, I watched the planes take off and land, their lights shining in the darkness. It was a peaceful and serene sight, and I felt like I was in my own little bubble, immersed in my work and the world outside.
Despite the long hours and the pressure of the deadline, I was able to complete my essay and submit it on time. As I packed up my things and left the library, I felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
The memory of that night stayed with me, and I found myself looking out for the planes every time I returned to the library. It was a reminder that even in the most stressful and challenging moments, there is always beauty and wonder to be found in the world around us.
*Use of kettles or other makeshift coffee stations are strictly prohibited in the libraries.
I once went to the UEL Docklands library on a dark night after hours of timetabled lessons. I had deadlines one after the other. I was stressed, anxious and determined at the same time. What a combination right? It was my last year as an undergraduate on the BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering programme. I had a dissertation to get done in a short space of time. I was aiming for a 1st class and aimed for this since L4. The clocks were ticking, and I logged onto a computer on the ground floor. I started finishing one of my assignments that was due at midnight. The pressure was incrementally getting to me, with all the noise from students laughing in rooms. My mind went blank; I started to seek help from the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days. My wellbeing and anxiety immediately went away and the load that I was bearing on my shoulders was lifted. I remembered
what I wanted to say. Page after page, I managed to finish in time and submit. In the end, I am now telling the story of a 1st Class student that was once in a place that you may now be in, stressed, tired, confused about your classification, but trust me, those who put their full reliance on the One and only Creator, neither fear nor grief shall affect them. You will be at ease. Put the effort in, take a deep breath and the knots that were once present will be untangled by the Almighty Allah who knows the solution to all your worries in this life. Never let stress be the obstacle in your life. Life is a test, so make the most of what you can and be the best person you can!
It was the third week of January, and I was eagerly waiting for my ID card to arrive. Finally, on Wednesday of that week I got it. As soon as I got it, I went to the university library. As I walked into the library, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. I had always loved reading, and I was eager to explore the shelves in the library. A few months before I had gone through the university website and I already found out that the library is famous for its 24-hour opening and its books. On the 1st day itself, I had gone through each and every stack to find out the different types of books. During the
search for books, I found a staff member. She was very helpful and she told me how to find the books.
I stayed in the library until around 4.30 pm in the evening. As I made my way through the last stacks which contained the computer books, I suddenly saw her. She was the most beautiful girl I have seen in my life. I felt a crush on her and it was suddenly like I was in a heaven of daffodils. Throughout all my life I was an introvert who couldn’t speak to anyone easily, so I had no words to speak to her. As I was browsing the shelves, she approached from the opposite side and headed towards the same section where I was looking for books. It seemed that she too was searching for something to read about computers. Gradually I found a book that’s good for me; it was on the middle shelf and in the middle part of the row. We touched that specific book at the same time. Since it was a coincidence, she laughed and gave me the book. But I said that both of us could read it. She said her name and introduced herself. I, too, introduced myself. Her name was Ann. Her Ideas and curiosity about computers impressed me a lot. Ann helped me a lot. She taught me how to make copies with the ID card and so on. We spent almost an hour inside the library and it was really wonderful with the river view and the flights at the airport. Suddenly she had a call from her friend that she was needed immediately, so she went quickly. For the contact information I had given my WhatsApp number on a paper, but unfortunately, she forgot it on the book that we took for reading. As I found it, I found myself helpless. Whenever I go to the library, that incident comes to my mind. It was a beautiful day.
As soon as he saw her sitting at the table, he knew he had to talk to her. She was surrounded by books, her hair tied back in a loose bun, and her glasses perched on the edge of her nose. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. He walked over to her and cleared his throat. “Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?” he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from her. She looked up from her book and smiled. “Not at all,” she said. “Please, go ahead.”
He sat down and introduced himself. Her name was Emily, and she was studying English literature. They struck up a conversation about their favourite books, and before they knew it, the library was closing.
As they gathered their things to leave, he mustered up the courage to ask her out. “I know this is sudden, but would you like to grab a coffee sometime?” he said, hoping she would say yes. To his delight, she smiled and said, “I’d like that.” Over coffee, they talked about everything from their childhoods to their hopes and dreams for the future. They discovered they had a lot in common, and before they knew it, they were laughing and joking like old friends.
As the sun began to set, he walked her back to her dormitory. They stopped outside the entrance, and he leaned in to kiss her. It was a soft, gentle kiss, but it was enough to set their hearts racing.
From that day on, they were inseparable. They spent every spare moment together, exploring the city, studying in the library, and sharing their dreams and fears. They fell deeply in love, and soon, they were talking about their future together.
As they graduated from university, they knew they had something special. They moved to a new city, found jobs they loved, and built a life together. And years later, as they sat in the university library once again, they looked back on that fateful day when they first met and smiled. They knew that no matter what, they would always have each other.
I stepped into the UEL library for the first time during the second week of January 2023 and was immediately struck by its modernity. The space was vast and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the room with natural light. Sleek white tables and chairs were scattered throughout the space, providing plenty of room for students to study and work.
I made my way to one of the many comfortable seating areas and settled in with my laptop. As I looked around, I noticed students of all ages and
backgrounds working diligently, some with headphones in and others collaborating in small groups.
The library was a hub of activity, with a low hum of conversation and the gentle tap-tap of keyboards filling the air. I felt a sense of excitement and energy as I immersed myself in my work, surrounded by so many motivated and dedicated individuals.
As the evening wore on and the sun set outside, I was amazed to find that the library was still buzzing with activity. It was then that I realized the library was open 24/7. I marvelled at the dedication of the staff who kept the space running around the clock, providing a safe and welcoming environment for students to learn and grow.
As I packed up my belongings and prepared to leave, I felt a sense of gratitude for this incredible resource. The UEL library was more than just a place to study – it was a vibrant community, filled with knowledge, creativity, and inspiration.
I am late. Let me know a day this month when I woke up early for once. How could I sleep beautifully when all the digging work noise is still running through my head? Never mind that; time for me to face the absolute nightmare here. It’s on Campus (University)!!!!!!
I regret to say this, but I used to love University. Every day I would come home late either from club or just messing about on Campus. I used to go to the library to read, relax with books. I would go to clubs, do yoga, play tennis, one of my favourite sports, do homework or work on presentations with groups, mess with the teacher we didn’t like, run across the bridge, and scream and muck about every time.
The main problems were that the building work is really noisy and works for long hours. Also in class, we can’t concentrate on our work. When I walked out into the playground, people just walked past chatting with each other. It’s like they can’t see or hear the machine working. My teacher said she couldn’t wait to see the new building.
I remember the time when they had building work in my brother’s school. I went to his parent’s evening with my mum. First, it looked like a mountain of mud and a tower of bricks. Later the next year it turned into a magnificent building. It had two playgrounds with a sports hall and a few more classes. It also had the head teacher’s office as well. Usually, my brother would moan and complain about the noise now he is telling us a whole story about how beautiful it is.
For me, the building work is not good because it affects my studies and revision. I am not saying it is a bad thing because it will benefit the New Year in September and it will help the rest of Campus but, the noise takes away 70% of my concentration. Which leaves me with 30% of studying for the test.
It was a time when it was my first time to go into the huge library of the University. I didn’t how to enter in the library so I asked the librarian and she helped me to find the entrance. After stepping into the library my eyes sparkled with the colourful books. The library was huger than I ever expected before coming to London. I had never seen such a massive library back home. I saw there were stairs so I went up and saw the place where students were reading so peacefully.
I wanted to interact them but being an introvert, I didn’t have the power to speak to them. I asked the librarian about the books I need for my course. And she gave me full insight about how to issue books and how to find books with a simplified system which was there for finding books. It was 5pm and I thought it was time to close the library. I completely forgot that our library is 24/7. I asked the librarian again the closing time of the library and she made me more cheerful by saying the library is open for 24/7 because I wanted to study till late night. It was 12am and I was studying then a boy came and asked me, ‘Do you want to eat something? I have something to eat as I saw you are studying so you must be hungry.’ It was a turning point of my university life. I said to him to sit and we talked. I ate his food. It was delicious. I came to know he is also doing the same course as me. And now we are very good friends. I like to read, and he likes to click my photographs.
He is true friend who makes me feel like home.
The university ‘s 24/7 service and the library’s kind staff make me so comfortable that much that now the library is my second home.
(generated 16 March 2023)
In the heart of East London, a library stands tall, Filled with books and knowledge, accessible to all, And here I work, among the stacks and shelves, Helping students and scholars to educate themselves.
The hum of computers, the rustle of pages, The quiet murmur of people engaged, In study and research, in reading and writing, In the pursuit of knowledge, ever-exciting. From law to literature, from science to art, The subjects are diverse, with something for every heart,
And I am privileged to be a part of it all, To help guide and support those who answer the call.
Hmm... Where do I start? UEL library is my home away from home since I spent most of my time at UEL at the library. When I started studying in September 2021, most of my classes were at the Docklands campus library since I’m also based at Docklands. Dockland’s library is large with a lot of spaces for classrooms, bookable rooms, benches, private boxes to chill, group spaces, TVs, and a lot of other facilities for you to have a nice time during your study time. I first made friends in the library, first cried, had my first late-night stay, first movie with friends, first photoshoots, it was the first time I found the Tamil Society at UEL -- everything had been at UEL library. I have a lot of good and bad memories to share about the library which is a part of my life now and lessons I learned from them.
Let me tell you about the time I first made friends. I have two best friends whom I met in the library. It was very hard for me to meet people since this is my first time in a different country and I was nervous. This one time I was working on my laptop on the 2nd floor, and I did not wear any air pods. I heard what people around me were saying in all the languages and heard a familiar language which was Tamil. I suddenly turned to them asked them in Tamil if they speak the Tamil language. I forgot the fact that they were speaking in Tamil and asking that question which made them laugh. That was the first time I met my two best friends.
There was another time when one of my best friends met his first girlfriend in the library. So, there was this time we were working on a web developing module. My friend was in a different group, and he was working with his group mates like 10 meters away from me. He just saw a girl sitting near him watching a Tamil video on her computer and he signaled me saying there is a girl who looks like a Tamil language speaker and from India. So, I asked him to talk to her which he was extremely nervous to do. So, I texted one of his group mates about the situation and asked him to do something. And then he went to her and introduced my friend for the first time saying that he liked her and wanted her phone number. Which was very funny back then and we still laugh about the whole scenario. Now they have been dating for 6 months, and she also became a member of our pack with her other 3 friends.
I can share a lot of memories and stories from UEL library. The library is my home away from home because it made me feel at home.
The university library is an essential resource that has greatly contributed to my academic success. As a student, utilizing the university library effectively has provided me with a plethora of benefits that help me in my studies. Here are some ways in which the university library has been helpful to me.
Access to a wide range of resources: The university library provides access to a variety of resources, including books, journals, magazines, and online databases. These resources can be used to supplement your coursework and enhance your learning experience. With access to such a wide range of resources, you can broaden your knowledge and deepen your understanding of your subjects.
A quiet and conducive study environment: The university library provides a quiet and conducive environment for studying, which can help you to concentrate better on your studies. The library is a designated space for academic work, so you are less likely to be distracted by noise and other disturbances. Additionally, being surrounded by other students who are also studying can create a sense of community and motivation.
Assistance from trained librarians: The university library has trained librarians who can help with research and information literacy skills. Librarians helped me to navigate the library’s resources, find relevant materials and develop effective search
strategies. They can also help you to evaluate sources and ensure that the information you are using is reliable and trustworthy.
Opportunities for collaborative learning: The university library provides opportunities for collaborative learning, such as group study sessions and discussion groups. Collaborative learning has helped me gain new perspectives, share ideas, and learn from peers. It also helped me to reinforce my understanding of the material and improved my communication and teamwork skills.
Access to technology: The university library provides access to computers, printers, and other technology that can be used to complete coursework and research. Additionally, many libraries offer access to online resources and e-books, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
To make the most of the university library, I set aside specific times for studying in the library while having classes on the same day. This has helped me to establish a routine and ensure I use the library’s resources regularly. The 24x7 library opening for us is fantastic.
In conclusion, the university library is an invaluable resource for students that can greatly enhance their academic success. By utilizing the library’s resources, taking advantage of the librarians, and participating in collaborative learning, students can gain new knowledge, deepen their understanding of
their subjects, and develop essential skills that will serve them well academically and professionally.
In short, the UEL library is the backbone of my studies, and I will miss the UEL library after graduation.
This is an appropriate title for me as this is exactly what I do as a job. I have worked at UEL for 25 years come this September among the stacks of books in the library. It has always been a pleasure to work in the library and over the years I have seen many changes of Staff, Students, Buildings and Resources. But the one thing that stays the same is the books and journals. I take great pride in the variety of books on offer to the students and staff, the old and the new books on display for all to see and use. If a resource is not on the shelf there is an E version.
Even though I have seen and worked through many changes doing the same job, the same tasks day after day, 100% customer service is given every time. The variety of staff are very supportive and the key to UEL. The students have the freedom to explore the resources at their fingertips.
I get pleasure in seeing a student’s face light up
when they find the resources they have been searching for. It is like giving them a gift they have been wanting and they get pleasure when I quickly show them how to find the books themselves for next time.
The resources themselves have been pulled from pillar to post (or stack to stack), over the years: new shelves in new buildings, new books added and old mended and cleaned to have a few more years of use. But here comes my favourite bit:
Fantasy Part: Sometimes when it is nice and quiet and the students are sitting in all the different areas using the books and I am putting the books back onto the shelves, I wonder about the journey of the book. If the book could tell you a tale other than the information on its pages, what a tale it could tell. The traveling from home to home, perched on a shelf, on a table, in a bag ready to be opened and read for its knowledge. The different surroundings of its user, the culture, the music, the food and family and friends. What a story it could tell.
Reality Part: The books on the shelves to many that use the UEL library are just there, but everyday someone must put back the books that have been borrowed or scattered around the areas, and tidy the shelves that become messy after use. That person is me!
So, after 25 years I still enjoy working among the stacks. I also have a great team member who between us keep the resources of the UEL Stratford library ready to use at any time. To walk among the stacks is a fulfilling job.
