The sun has set, but rather than heading to bed, students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are preparing for finals in the Adele Coryell Hall Learning Commons.
Every table is being used. Study rooms are filled with students. And there’s a steady line for coffee at the Dunkin’ Donuts café. It’s 10 p.m. on Sunday, the eve of finals week, and students are hard at work in UNL’s first 24-hour study space.
The learning commons opened Jan. 11. Designed to provide a comfortable space for intensive studying and collaborations, the facility on the first floor of Love Library North offers technology-integrated study rooms, a HuskerTech help station and other library services.
“We have been keeping hourly head counts since opening and the average number of students in the Adele Hall Learning Commons between 1 and 7 a.m. has tripled between January and March,” said Regina Flowers, learning commons manager. “From March 1 to April 26 our gates indicate we have had more than 4,300 students using the Adele Hall Learning Commons after hours.”
From the versatility of the study space to the amenities offered, UNL students have discovered many reasons to venture into the learning commons after Love Library has closed.
Pat Kotek, junior business major, goes to learning commons to “pull all-nighters” before early morning exams.
Emily Shannon, a freshman international business major, enjoys the environment of the new study space.
“I used to work in the study rooms in my dorm, but I ended up getting distracted by friends,” Shannon said. “Now, I study in the learning commons every day. Being around other students that work hard helps me focus.”
The learning commons is designed to provide space for collaborative projects and has 15 study rooms, which can be reserved in two-hour periods. All the rooms contain 55-inch screens that can be connected to mobile devices and laptops.
Since January, 626 study rooms have been reserved between the hours of 1 and 7 a.m., Flowers said.
“I have reserved close to 15 study rooms this semester,” said Grant Latimer, junior advertising and public relations major. “I really enjoy how easy they are to access and use. It is great to have whiteboards on the walls and be able to connect my computer to the TVs in the rooms.”
Latimer and Shannon use the learning commons to study for a classes that they take together.
Shannon said she will be taking advantage of the learning commons being open all night for finals.
“It is definitely helpful to have a 24-hour study space open, especially around finals when I may need to stay up during all hours of the night studying,” Shannon said.
