#FairSpaceForAll - RCSI Library Seat Reservation Policy

Following a successful pilot and positive feedback from students and staff of the #FairSpaceForAll initiative in April/May of 2019 to stop seat 'hogging' in the library, we launched the policy for the 2019/2020 academic year on Tuesday 1st October 2019. 

During the pilot we saw a reduction in seats being 'hogged' throughout library spaces resulting in an increase in available seats for students looking to study. A huge thank you to the UG and PG Students' Unions for co-designing the initiative with us and we look forward to this availability continuing to ensure #FairSpaceForAll! 

Our statistics show that library spaces are becoming increasingly busy so you may have noticed the #FSFA boxes have reappeared on the library concourses this week. Library staff will begin clearing spaces week beginning Monday 24th February. We encourage you to use Blue Bookmarks when you leave your desk, and return within the allocated 45mins. 

If you have any thoughts our comments please get in touch with us via email: library@rcsi.ie

How does the #FairSpaceForAll Policy work? 

We have placed our #FairSpaceForAll bookmarks all over Library spaces in 26 York Street, Levels 1 and 2. Be sure to grab one when you come into any of the study areas. The bookmark is designed to be re-used so take it with you when you leave and bring it back the next time you are in the Library.

#FSFA Bookmark

How do they work? Grab a bookmark when you come into the library or when you find your seat. When you want to leave your seat, fill in the date and the time you leave, and be back with 45 minutes!
If you are leaving your seat for more than 45 minutes, take your belongings with you or they might get packed up and moved to the concourse area on that floor - i.e. opposite the main lifts.

When can items be moved? Items can be moved when you have not followed the policy of noting the date and time you have left your desk, or if you are gone longer than 45 minutes, or if you put the wrong time on your bookmark, or if you don't use a bookmark at all.

When are items cleared from desks? This can happen at any time, in any area of the library to any desk not adhering to the policy. Sometimes only one desk might be cleared, sometimes all desks might be cleared so the best advice is to adhere to the policy!

Ask at the Library Information Point in 26 York Street for more information.

What does ‘removing items’ mean?

At any point during the day, members of the Library team will be patrolling the Library spaces on Levels 1 and 2 and may remove items on seats which:

• Do not have the #FairSpaceForAll bookmark on them with the time you left your desk
• Seats where students have been away longer than 45 minutes, as indicated from the #FairSpaceForAll bookmark.  
• Have a 'fake time' on the bookmark i.e. later than when you really left

All items left at a desk will be put in a plastic box. This includes devices being unplugged so if work is unsaved – it might be lost.

Any food items will be put in the box also along with bottled drinks. Coffee/Tea cups will be left on a table beside the collection area.

Where will the boxes with removed items be left?

Floor	Area Monitored	Boxes Left
Level 1	Reading Lounge	Boxes left on Level 1 concourse, opposite lifts
	Computer Room	Boxes left on Level 1 concourse, opposite lifts
	Atrium Seating	Boxes left on Level 1 concourse, opposite lifts
Level 2	Silent Study Zone	Boxes left on Level 2 concourse, opposite lifts
	Collaborative Zone	Boxes left on Level 2 concourse, opposite lifts
	Atrium Seating	Boxes left on Level 2 concourse, opposite lifts

What happens if I don’t collect my items on the day they are removed? 

Uncollected items in boxes at the end of the day will be removed by security into lost property for collection.

What happens if a 'fake' time is written on the #FairSpaceForAll bookmark?

Where students write a later time as their 'time left' on their bookmarks, items may be removed, as if there was no bookmark on the space at all.

Tell us what you think! As a pilot scheme this initiative was a great success in reducing the number of 'Hogged' seats in the library, freeing up seats for other students who needed to study. Starting the scheme again we really want to hear what students think. Please let us know your comments or if you have any questions, email library@rcsi.ie.