The Student Room Group

Live in the Library

I had this thought because my library is 24 hours, there's also a shower and everything. Plus the rent is sooooo expensive in my area. Ik this is an controversial idea but I really don't know what to do

Reply 1

Original post
by Mate1
I had this thought because my library is 24 hours, there's also a shower and everything. Plus the rent is sooooo expensive in my area. Ik this is an controversial idea but I really don't know what to do

This is crazy bro 🤣 At least get a youth hostel or something to sleep in at night, they are cheap and will have separate rooms if you are willing to pay a little extra. The librarians aren't stupid, once they see you in there more than one night in a row, they could kick you out and ban you permanently.
Best of luck in this.
Original post
by Mate1
I had this thought because my library is 24 hours, there's also a shower and everything. Plus the rent is sooooo expensive in my area. Ik this is an controversial idea but I really don't know what to do


What happens when the library has scheduled closure time?
Where do you keep your belongings?
Surely you're not going to be buying food for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
There can't be comfortable places to sleep, surely??
What happens if security (or library staff) clock that you're living there and then kick you out?


How does one get parcels and mail?

It's not ideal and the library was not designed for that. Please do get a proper place to live.
Original post
by Mate1
I had this thought because my library is 24 hours, there's also a shower and everything. Plus the rent is sooooo expensive in my area. Ik this is an controversial idea but I really don't know what to do


I really recommend getting in touch with the student union to see if they can help you or look if you're eligible for any bursaries
Original post
by Mate1
I had this thought because my library is 24 hours, there's also a shower and everything. Plus the rent is sooooo expensive in my area. Ik this is an controversial idea but I really don't know what to do

What's your financial situation?
How old are you?
Are you at uni?

What's going on with you that you are considering living in a library?

Reply 5

it doesn't seem like a great solution for more than a day or two

FWIW when I did my first Masters at Manchester one of the other Post Grads slept under his bench in the lab. They had a sleeping mat / bag and holdall for the week, went home at the weekend. They were a bit of a workaholic so didnt get out much. Had another friend who couldn't afford to live in London for placement, so they managed with sofa surfing and squats, but doing that while working is slightly easier than doing it while studying

Reply 6

FWIW I have heard of (but don't know personally) folks stealth camping in vans (ie just Transit and a mattress, use nearby facilities). Pre Covid I even looked at buying a camper and staying on a campsite outside London to commute in for work through the week and driving home at the weekends - definitely cheaper than London hotel prices. There used to be a "camp in my garden" website for London that spun up during the Olympics, don't know if that's still going, but again not a long term solution

Reply 7

Original post
by Mate1
I had this thought because my library is 24 hours, there's also a shower and everything. Plus the rent is sooooo expensive in my area. Ik this is an controversial idea but I really don't know what to do

There will be regular patrols of the building by library and/or security staff, and it will be very obvious very quickly that you're trying to live in the library. And it will be made clear to you that it's not acceptable.

Reply 8

Original post
by mesub
What happens when the library has scheduled closure time?
Where do you keep your belongings?
Surely you're not going to be buying food for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
There can't be comfortable places to sleep, surely??
What happens if security (or library staff) clock that you're living there and then kick you out?
How does one get parcels and mail?
It's not ideal and the library was not designed for that. Please do get a proper place to live.

nah it's a 24 hour uni library, ik my idea is madness
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 9

Original post
by stilllearning123
This is crazy bro 🤣 At least get a youth hostel or something to sleep in at night, they are cheap and will have separate rooms if you are willing to pay a little extra. The librarians aren't stupid, once they see you in there more than one night in a row, they could kick you out and ban you permanently.
Best of luck in this.

Not a bad idea, I'll check

Reply 10

Original post
by TopBun
FWIW I have heard of (but don't know personally) folks stealth camping in vans (ie just Transit and a mattress, use nearby facilities). Pre Covid I even looked at buying a camper and staying on a campsite outside London to commute in for work through the week and driving home at the weekends - definitely cheaper than London hotel prices. There used to be a "camp in my garden" website for London that spun up during the Olympics, don't know if that's still going, but again not a long term solution

🤣 yeah ig it's not a great idea

Reply 11

Original post
by PinkMobilePhone
What's your financial situation?
How old are you?
Are you at uni?
What's going on with you that you are considering living in a library?

I'm a student so I have no job
im 17
Yes I am in Uni

Reply 12

Original post
by Anonymous
I'm a student so I have no job
im 17
Yes I am in Uni

I'm doing this cuz I want to save money for my parents, cuz they're already in their 50s to 60s and I kinda want them to have fun through using the money for themselves

Reply 13

Original post
by Anonymous
I'm doing this cuz I want to save money for my parents, cuz they're already in their 50s to 60s and I kinda want them to have fun through using the money for themselves

So you are going to live in a library to save a couple hundred quid for your parents? Let it go bro 🤣

Reply 14

Original post
by Admit-One
“Have you seen that homeless guy brushing his teeth in the toilets?”

Hey it's not nice to make fun out of people! He's going to go crying all the way home- between the murder fiction and non-fiction shelves.
Original post
by Anonymous
I'm doing this cuz I want to save money for my parents, cuz they're already in their 50s to 60s and I kinda want them to have fun through using the money for themselves

Your parents would absolutely not want you to live in a library.

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