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A few weeks ago, we ran a competition with a chance to win a pair of Noise Cancelling Headphones. All that was needed to win was to submit tips and tricks on how to ensure that you are studying considerately across all the different noise zones in the Library!

As a refresher, there are three different noise zones in the library, Collaborative (where talking is allowed so is a great space for group work and sitting with friends), Quiet (where you should be as quiet as possible and talking should be at a minimum and done in whispers), and Silent (where there should be little to no noise and no talking at all).

There were 158 entries submitted, and the winner was chosen randomly. Within these entries were a multitude of helpful tips and tricks so we wanted to share these* with you all.

The Winning Entry from Sam

Before you begin your voyage to Warwick University's library, there is a certain ritual all respectful students must follow. This includes putting snacks into Tupperware containers instead of a plastic wrapper, charging your headphones, and making sure you have plenty of water. A well-prepared student is by far the best type of student! Nobody appreciates a noisy student with no consideration for those around them! Also, I like to take a book with me to read in the Breathing Space during my well-earned break. Trust me, it'll change your life.

Once you arrive, select your zone. It isn't a decision to be taken lightly, and over the course of your degree you should find yourself studying across all three zones. The Warwick app has a great little section whereby you can check which floors are busy in advance. It'll save that awkward lap of the second floor just to get back in the lift (I know you've done it). Here is my ultimate guide to thriving in the three zones of the library!

Zone One: The Collaborative Zone! Also known as the fun zone. This is where you can work with classmates on projects, see your presentations on the screens in the grey booths, and verbally motivate your teammates. On the first and second floors, you'll hear relatable conversations and the occasional fit of laughter. It's a zone in which to embrace a more casual atmosphere. There's an unspoken agreement on this floor: have your chats, vibe amongst yourselves, but don't take the mickey. No shouting or breaking into song. Save that for the Copper Rooms. The best way to describe the library is that the higher up you go, the higher the stress levels you will encounter. Floors One and Two contain only mild levels of stress, so people are more tolerant of quiet conversations. However, to maintain decorum on these floors, play music through your headphones and silence your phone. Furthermore, try to keep your packed lunch to the Eating Place- don't make people's stomachs rumble with the smell of whatever home-cooked, emotional support delicacy you've brought. Finally, use the funky telephone boxes for calls.

Now we move up a stress level: the Quiet Floors. Dun dun duuuhhh!! This is where you'll hear people preparing to 'lock in'. The grind is real and it's happening on floors 3-5. Personally, I think Louis Theroux should take a trip to Floor 4 to witness some of the academic weapons who work on this floor. It really is a sight to behold. You can normally tell who the real weapons are: just look for a laptop stand, energy drink and a notebook (because separate tabs just aren't separate enough). I have only love for these people (being a fellow laptop and notebook user myself). This is where we do away with crinkly plastic wrappers and laughter. Casual talking is a no-go. To support your fellow comrades, put your fully-charged headphones on and lock in. Whispering to your neighbour is fine (we're not evil!) but just don't start shout-whispering to the person four seats across. That's when the library staff will appear and refer you to Floors One and Two. Another key tip for thriving on

these floors is to keep your bags under your desk. Nobody wants to stop someone mid-flow to ask them to remove their luggage from a public walkway. These three floors are also amazing because they're filtered by subject. If you glance towards the lifts, you can see which floor is home to the books for your subject. For example, English and Film are housed on the third floor. It's helpful to find your subject's floor in case you find yourself requiring an impromptu walk for a book. It saves walking back and forth a hundred times.

Floor 2 has an extension: The Silent Zone. This has the easiest rules to understand. It does what it says on the tin. Or, rather, on the sign. Don't talk, silence your phone, keep your headphones on, and get to work.

Above all, just remember you're not the only one with deadlines. Respect your fellow fretters. In the library, we all fam :) #iloveuni!

More Helpful Tips and Tricks

• Make sure you know what floor you are on and what noise level it is. – Bethany
• Open packing for food/drinks you are allowed to consume before you enter. – Yasmin
• Make sure the volume controls on laptops are turned to a minimum. – Hazel
• If a long talk is necessary, change the place. – Nie
• Don’t have a group meeting in the silent or quiet zones. – Esme
• Treat the silent room like a solitary mission – go alone, phone silenced. – Bea
• When using headphones, keep the volume very low. – Chris
• Make sure your headphones or earphones have lots of battery. – James
• Only use the quiet zones when working alone to avoid talking to peers. – Jerome
• For group work, go to Floor 1 so discussion isn’t too loud for others. – Sunny
• Make an effort to be mindful to not to speak too loudly. – Ibrahim
• Keep all noise to a minimum including typing, unpacking and headphones. – Edward
• Remind friends if they are talking too loudly. – Bethany
• Make sure to whisper if you really need to speak. – Lefteris
• Avoid eating loud snacks like chips which can be quite distracting to others. – Riya
• Choose the right place when you first enter. – Emma
• Carry sticky notes to communicate silently. – Miguel
• Make sure to choose a table that fits the groups size. – Jenny
• Go to the phone booths when you need to make a call. – Milagros
• Make sure your headphones are correctly connected to your device. – Aleesha
• In the silent or quiet zones, text each other so you aren't being distracting. – Beth
• Try to move quietly and try to type softly. – Alex
• Do not leave personal belongings to reserve a space. – Muhsin
• Keep conversations focused on the task at hand. – Jamelia
• Be extra cautious with loud sounds like zippers, bags, or chairs. – Samyuktha
• Keep humming, clicking or other annoying noises to a minimum. – Darcie
• Eat lunch and snacks outside, taking a break to enjoy the sun and fresh air. – Megan
• Take regular breaks to respond to phone calls, talk to people, or just hear noise. – Charlotte
• Make sure you are aware of which zone you are in when walking around. – Felicity
• Utilise the bookable group study rooms in the Rootes Learning Grid. – Amy
• Try not to sit with your friends - you'll distract yourself and those around you! – Scarlett
• Don't bring in food that is loud to eat when in the quiet/silent zones. – Emily
• Endeavour to take all phone calls outside the library. – Benjamin
• Take a quick walk around the greenery and back to talk to friends. – Caitlin
• Make sure that your phone is on silent or do not disturb to stop it vibrating. – Charlotte
• Keep bag movements and pen clicking to a minimum. – Will
• It’s important to be self aware while being in different zones at the Library. – Aastha
• In collaborative zones it is okay to talk but to keep voices not too loud. – Musab
• Check the signs around the library to ensure following the rules of each zone. – Lydia
• Think about potential sources of noise (headphones, wrappers, etc) – Shekinah
• Being mindful of how small noises can affect others’ concentration. – Xu
• If needed, text the phone number to report excessive noise. – Charlotte

*Aside from the winners’ entry, the rest of the tips in this blog post have been paraphrased from the entries.