Maxi says she particularly likes the bean bags. The 20-year-old, who is studying economics in her sixth semester, has just sat down with her friend Kerstin in two of the comfortable, armchair-like seats that are in the new learning center in the former textbook collection of the Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU). “I can’t study at all in the dormitory,” says Maxi, the laptop on his lap, looking out the large window onto the busy Leopoldstrasse. That’s why she’s happy that the university is now increasingly creating such modern learning spaces. Kerstin nods in agreement.
The learning center opened on April 8th, after around a year of renovation of the library rooms on the upper floor. Although the semester is only a few days old, the hall is well attended around lunchtime this Monday, with more than half of the approximately 100 seats occupied. “The LMU student representatives told us that there is a great need for publicly accessible learning spaces,” explains Klaus-Rainer Brintzinger, director of the LMU University Library. Students are often looking for suitable locations, especially for group work and learning together, without too much noise and distraction.
Klaus-Rainer Brintzinger, director of the university library, is pleased about the opening of the new learning center.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
With around 100 study places, which are divided into 54 individual and nine group work tables, the hall now offers around 40 more places than before. “I think the room is much better now,” says Lennart. The 23-year-old still knows the hall in its old state. “I actually spend several hours a day in the study halls because I’m not as easily distracted here as I am at home,” he explains. He finds the new equipment super modern and bright, and there are enough sockets at the seats. The proximity to the cafeteria, which is right next door, is also practical, says the law student.
A lot of money went into the new equipment; the electrics, floors and lighting were completely renewed. The furniture comes from the architect Torsten Singhof and was designed specifically for the room. “It was important to us to zone the area depending on the needs of the students, similar to the Philologicum,” says Brintzinger. All of this was financed through study grants from the LMU. Nevertheless, according to Brintzinger, the learning centers are not reserved for the students there. “A third of the places can be reserved in advance by LMU students, but students from other universities are also allowed to withdraw here.”
In addition to the learning center at Leopoldstrasse 13, other similar projects are planned. The new university lounge with around 100 new study places is scheduled to be built in the LMU main building by late summer. A new learning center with around 60 new places is scheduled to open on Adelbertstrasse at the end of the year. A project for biology students in Martinsried is also in the works. Further conversion and modernization measures such as those in the basement of Leopoldstrasse 13 and in the LMU’s central reading room in the main building are also being planned, but implementation is not foreseeable due to a lack of funding.
“In total, we will create around 300 to 400 new learning places for students by the end of the year,” says Brintzinger. He is aware that, given the total number of more than 100,000 students at LMU and TU alone, this is just “a drop in the ocean.” Nevertheless, they want to support the great need for learning space. “Many students live in very cramped conditions or commute into the city every day and need a place to stay between lectures where they can also work. It is important to us to promote this.”
Kerstin (left) and Maxi particularly like the bean bags. Unfortunately there are no sockets at the window.
(Photo: Katharina Haase)
The new learning center is currently open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, the opening times are to be gradually expanded so that learning will soon be possible until 10 p.m. or on weekends. The fact that this offer is well received can be seen, for example, at the Philologicum learning center, where, especially during exam periods, students sometimes queue up on weekends to get one of the modernly equipped study places.
Anna and Luis, who have just started the second semester of their medical studies, fear that this could also be the case in the new learning center. “It will probably always fill up quickly,” says Anna. “But I think it’s great that LMU even offers rooms like this.” Is there anything else that could be improved on the room? “Unfortunately there are no sockets at the window,” says Maxi from the beanbag and laughs. Learning at the window is only possible as long as the laptop battery lasts. After that, you probably have to give up your comfortable place – or just take a short study break.