The Uppsala student and the libraries
Perched on top of Carolinabacken you might find the radiating ark of knowledge (and university library) Carolina Rediviva, feeding young and frail souls with all the academic nutrients necessary for them to mature and go home in spring, triumphantly waiving their newfound bits of knowledge to their bewildered and utterly confused family.
If you are an unfocused student like me, that equates home to eternal napping, you might find a solution to your studying troubles in the warm and dusty environment of the libraries here in Uppsala. Almost every campus has their own, ready to provide you with all the books you might need, and with all types of studying places to work, alone or with friends. What Uppsala University does right is creating in its libraries several environments where it is possible to work on group projects without having the intimidating librarian shushing you whenever you raise your voice.
As an aspiring librarian myself, I find these spots of study to be so well built, that it almost makes you want to study. Having to read an 80 pages chapter on the decline of boat-shaped wigs at the end of the 18th century isn’t always the most pleasant thing to do. But just across the hall you might find the cafeteria, a place of rest for your tired brain that needs no more than five minutes before going back at it for the rest of the day. So invite your friends during that break, for a simple cup of coffee that is absolutely not going to last more than an hour!
This inability to separate studies from being in good company might be one of the causes for the nations of Uppsala existing. While originally being thought of as a place of tutoring for younger students, it was also a place where you could enjoy a good cup of coffee with fellow freshers, or nowadays share a bottle of wine with one of your teachers at a senior’s dinner.
The nations started with their members, holding their stuff in the nation’s fiscus – picture here an old wooden box with cool looking engravings – that they carried around to their inspector’s house, casually inviting themselves for a cup of study. But with growing members and books, given to the nation as gifts and donations, the lack of storage might have led to the nations moving in their own houses and starting their own libraries, which you can still visit today. Some of their old books might be the background for the nation’s meeting room, or for its pub and its joyful patrons, but most nations are still in the business of books.
Right behind the king of Sweden, V-Dala’s nation is the second biggest private library in the country. Its library is also constantly purchasing course literature for students, a task that all student nations share, so that every first-year program can be covered. No, seriously, check their catalogue! (www.nationsbibliotek.se, in Swedish). While most of their offer is in Swedish, you might find some weird stuff and other classics in English too! Give it a try!
The winter is long here in Sweden. My best tip for you? Get yourself a good book, find yourself a sofa or a chair, a cup of pot coffee, and start your long winter read.
PS: don’t forget to light up your book well!