
Make Each
Trip to the Library More Productive
How many times have you visited the library only to realize that you forgot the books you wanted to return, the notebook with all your research, or even what questions you wanted to ask the reference librarian? Whether you attend a large university that houses the library a few miles from your dorm, or you live off campus and really have to be strategic about lining up your day, a wasted
trip to the library can really offset your schedule and your studying. To make each
trip to the library more productive, you’ll need to be more organized with your schedule and your goals.
Before going to the library, figure out why you’re actually going. That may seem obvious — to study or to research — but the more detailed you are with your goals for each library
trip, the more you’ll get done, and in less time. Write down or store in your smart phone the reason — to pick up X book, read XX pages of reserve reading, and to meet your lab partner to swap outlines, for example — as a reference for when you get there. Collect all the material you’ll need to help you achieve those goals, and double check before you leave your room.