Library spy gear stops students ‘reserving’ best desks

ANYONE hitting the books knows peace and quiet is vital for success when studying. But after a turf war erupted over prime spots in their library, one of the nation’s most venerable academic institutions has taken special measures.

Edinburgh University is fitting desks with movement sensors in a bid to stop selfish students hogging them in the academic equivalent of placing a towel on a sunbed.

Staff have been plagued with complaints that much sought-after desks are being monopolised by students who leave their books and bags before disappearing for much of the day.

Now they are installing sensors which detect movement, temperature and light in a bid to curb the behaviour.

The OccupEye gadgets can compute the difference between a desk which is being used and one which has been abandoned.

The sensors, roughly the size of a computer mouse, are to be placed underneath desks in the university’s Main Library, next to The Meadows, in central Edinburgh. And ‘smart cushions’ will do the same job on desks in certain rooms.

If they detect a desk being reserved but unused for more than half an hour they pass information to library staff, who then place a warning note on the spot. The desk is then considered ‘fair game’ for another student to occupy.

The university’s computers already lock out students who leave a PC unused for more than half an hour.

The university currently has around 2,300 desks for 23,000 undergraduates and a further 13,000 postgraduates.

Announcing the scheme, Edinburgh University said: ‘Utilising the space effectively is very important and means more students get to study in their preferred environment.’ The move has been welcomed by many students who struggle to find room in the main library, but others have described it as a ‘violation’ of privacy.

Reacting to the news online, Fanny Perdu wrote: ‘Finally, no more saving spaces.’

But Jonathon Tija added: ‘Bye bye two-hour toilet break.’

A university spokesman said: ‘Finding a place to work is of vital importance to library users and we have been working closely with students to improve their experience.

‘Monitoring will help students to find vacant desks in the library more easily and deter people from reserving spaces. All data collected is anonymous.’