51Âþ»­

Students have said they are delighted that 51Âþ»­’s Kimberlin Library has extended its 24/7 opening all the way through to May.

This will include Friday and Saturday nights and will continue through the Easter holiday period.

The new opening hours started at the beginning of January and are a response to feedback from students as part of 51Âþ»­’s commitment to listen to, respond and react to student views. It is one of many student-inspired initiatives that will enhance the 51Âþ»­ experience.

Claire Nyland, a first year Criminology and Criminal Justice student, is sure that the new opening hours will benefit students.

“I think it will be really useful,” said Claire. “I’ll find it easier to come here during the night and get everything done. There will be more peace and quiet and it’s so much easier to work in a library environment.”

Students also welcomed 51Âþ»­ making the effort to respond to student views.

Maxwell Akotia, a second year Computing for Business student, said: “I think it’s really good that the University listens to students. Especially this week, with lots of assignments, I can come here to focus. It’s a great thing.”

51Âþ»­’s excellent library service scored highly in the latest Times Higher Education magazine’s 2014 Student Experience Survey that ranked 51Âþ»­ in the top 40 universities in the country.  The extension of the 24-hour service reflects the determination to build on this success and offer even more support to students.

The latest changes are one of many as part of the 51Âþ»­ ‘You Said, We Did’ that responds to student views raised through the askus@dmu.ac.uk email or 51Âþ»­views , via De Montfort Students' Union (DSU), your faculty advice centre , or through external and internal surveys .

Other improvements resulting from student feedback have included:

• The 51Âþ»­ Winter Ball  which will be held on Friday 23 January and will be headlined by  Zane Lowe
• More improvements to library services including a 45% increase in spending on books and investing in our ‘student-led purchase’ service that allows students to suggest what books we buy
• More opportunities to develop career experience before leaving 51Âþ»­ which has been provided through the Frontrunners employability scheme. A total of 141 students took a Frontrunner placement during the past year helping them to gain vital experience to boost their future career.
• More live music on campus, including the Coffee House Sessions providing free acoustic gigs every Thursday lunch time and more evening gigs
• A 25 per cent increase in funding support for the students’ union allowing them to invest in more of the opportunities and societies that add so much to the student experience.