University of Auckland Library

I’m a little ashamed (but secretly proud, in a perverse way) that during my time at Auckland University I managed to check out exactly zero books from the university library. And before you scoff at this and cast aspersions on my commitment to learning — I’m graduating in May. So there.
Am I saying that the library is useless? Not at all. Just because I did a BA, and wrote most of my essays on comics, doesn’t mean other people won’t rely on this crucial resource during their study. I hear if you’re doing science or law they actually expect you to know stuff. And even if you’re like me and don’t get the books out, the library is still a very good place to go if you need somewhere to sit and study, or write an essay without the distractions of the internet. Or, like me, if you want to sit and read comics but it’s cold and raining outside. Say what you like about the library but it’s got chairs and roofing in abundance.

This is the general library at the University and it’s pretty good as far as university libraries go.
I always found the interloans staff (the ones who help you to get your hands on a specific obscure journal article that your whole year will end up being a failure without) a little brusque and intimidating, but the rest of the staff were generally quite approachable and very helpful. The staff on the issues desk where you check your books out often seem to be undergrads who are more asleep than awake, but hey, I guess it’s not the most exciting job in the world.
The best thing about the library is how easy it is to find a really quiet desk to study at, and the proximity of a stretch of lawn to recover on, and the food court just across the road.

The library is the place to go at Auckland Uni — especially if you need some ultra fast broadband. I just found out the other day that my suburb doesn’t even have a proposed timetable for when UFB is getting rolled out, so I’m seriously considering enrolling in another degree just so I can stream properly.
Of course, being a library, there are also a lot of books. A lot, of books. About everything. There are books about the smallest suburbs in Auckland. I’m pretty sure some streets even have entire books dedicated to them. Is this where theses end up? Is theses even the right word?
There are a couple of stern security guards who admonish you for bringing in food or a drink, so hide your bananas in your bag when you come in the front door. And bring headphones, no one likes listening to someone elses boring 50 minute lecture recording.

The Auckland University Library will literally save your life if you are a student at UA!
This library holds any book your degree could possibly require, as well as a seemingly infinite number of resources for assignments and reports. I have spent countless hours burrowed in the library researching and can quite honestly say I would have been lost without it.
I know the library may seem daunting if you’re a new student or have never been shown how to use the system, but it’s actually pretty simple and is totally worth asking the librarians for help — that is what they’re there for and it will save you hours of painful researching!
Tip: You don’t have to be an Auckland Uni student to use this library. Anyone can walk in and look up books or use their desks as a quiet space to study, you just won’t be able to hire anything.

Ah, uni. My mum always told me that these would be the best years of my life. While there I didn’t believe her but looking back, she was right. Adult working life sucks!
The library is where I spent most of my time at uni, being the geeky person I am. I spent so long in here during exams that I should have just taken a pillow and blanket in with me to save me the hassle of training home every day (which is another story). It’s not a bad library either, so I probably wouldn’t have minded sleeping in there. With 6 (if I remember correctly) floors filled to the brim with shelves, computers and desks with frantic students scribbling away, the library was a good place and it really was silent enough to allow me to absorb all my notes. It was also always clean which is great.
The one thing I hated here, however, was the food police that used to walk around and take your food off you if they caught you eating. This lead to several improvised ways to hide said food by not just me, but pretty much everyone you walk past in there.