TU Library closed on Thursday evening: ‘Timing is inconvenient’

On Thursday evening, January 15, the TU Library will be closed to students due to a dinner for outgoing rector magnificus and executive board chair Tim van der Hagen. During the day, part of the University Library will be closed for preparations for the dinner. Student council party ORAS calls the timing of the temporary closure ‘inconvenient’ due to deadlines and exams.

Van der Hagen will say goodbye during the Dies Natalis on January 15. This will be celebrated with drinks on Tuesday, January 13, and a farewell speech and dinner for 130 guests in the university library on Thursday. From 5 p.m. onwards, students will therefore no longer be able to study in the university library. From that time onwards, staff will have to use the staff entrance instead of the main entrance.

Impact on students

Student council party ORAS is critical of the closure. “We wish Van der Hagen, who has led the university for ten years, a wonderful farewell. But we think it is unfortunate that it is taking place in week 8. This is a time when students are working hard for their final deadlines and exams.” This period is particularly important for first-year students, says ORAS, because the coming weeks are their resit period before the February 1 dropout deadline. ORAS would have preferred a location for the farewell that had less impact on TU students.

The University Library has 1.250 study places. Students can use alternative study spaces arranged by the TU. For example, Flux will be open, offering 750 study spaces. Students can also use existing spaces in the Pulse and Echo education buildings. Library Secretary Linda Heemskerk estimates that there are sufficient alternative spaces available in Pulse and Echo.