While the majority of York’s campus still remains closed, as of September 21, certain libraries have made study spaces available for students to book in advance. However, many new health and safety precautions have been put in place to ensure student wellbeing during the ongoing pandemic.
“The COVID-19 lockdown has required York University Libraries (YUL) to get creative with our services,” says Joy Kirchner, dean of libraries. “Although business will be far from usual in fall, thanks to the determined efforts of YUL’s employees we’re proud to be able to deliver many of our core services and provide additional, remote support.”
Currently, only the first floor of Scott Library has opened back up, operating at a limited capacity. Individual seating, some study rooms, the Adaptive Lab, and select computer workstations are available for student use. Students will also be able to access printing services.
Spots at the study spaces are limited to preserve social distancing, and students, staff, and faculty must reserve them in advance using an online booking system.
“Library branches remain closed to the public as they have been since March,” Kirchner continues. “However, we’ve developed a multi-pronged approach to ensure that students can still access the wealth of resources held by YUL as we begin a safe and phased opening of our libraries in accordance with public health and university guidelines.”
If things continue as planned, the second floor of Scott should open up by October 1, followed by additional study spaces at Steacie Science & Engineering Library and Frost Library later in the month.
Students have responded positively to the news that libraries are beginning to reopen.
“I think the study spaces are a good idea,” says Ahmed Jaffer, a second-year kinesiology student. “If gyms are opened and proper social distancing can take place there, then surely we can pull it off in a library in an even safer manner.”
To ensure this safe environment, many precautions have been laid out by YUL.
Spots at the study spaces are limited to preserve social distancing, and students, staff, and faculty must reserve them in advance using an online booking system. Once they arrive, library patrons will have to check in and out using their YU cards, in order to ensure that the appropriate number of people are in the building at all times.
Within the library, masks are mandatory, and food consumption is not permitted. Moreover, seating is fixed and custodians will be performing regular cleanings.
Students living in proximity to campus, in undergraduate residences, York Apartments and The Quad have indicated a need for accessible, quiet spaces with reliable internet access to study and work on projects.
While Jaffer appreciates the idea of the study spaces, as a commuter student he doesn’t consider them a viable option.
“I don’t think I’ll end up using these study rooms,” he continues. “It’s just that I would have to commute to campus, and that isn’t really something I’ll be looking to do especially in these times unless absolutely necessary.”
Given the stringent level of requirements in order to access the spaces, their appeal is mainly geared towards students already living on campus or who are required to be there.
“Students living in proximity to campus, in undergraduate residences, York Apartments and The Quad have indicated a need for accessible, quiet spaces with reliable internet access to study and work on projects,” said Vice-Provost Lucy Fromowitz in an online statement. “In response to this need, York is making a number of student study spaces available to students.”
For the rest of the student body, a triumphant return and reopening of campus still remains in the distant future.
“I’ll feel comfortable returning when in-person classes resume,” says Jaffer. “If classes were to be held in person it would probably mean that the situation has improved enough for it to be safe. It might be a while given the size of our school, but I trust the judgement of those who will make those decisions.”
