History students at the University of Bristol have been offered the SS Great Britain to work in as study spaces get busy in the January exam period.
The university sent out an email to all students in the history department just before the Christmas holidays.
The email reads: "For this coming January exam period the SS Great Britain would like to offer Bristol University 2nd and 3rd year History Students exclusive use of the Foyle Reading Room, which is on the mezzanine floor in the David MacGregor Library in the Brunel Institute.
"We would like to offer the space to History Students from 6th January to the 24th January, Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm.
"We can provide a quiet space to work, onsite wifi and storage areas for bags / coats etc.
"Food or drink aren’t allowed in the library, just bottled water, however our café will provide the equivalent of a staff discount to Bristol University students when here. When you arrive onsite please ask at reception."
The justification behind the move
A spokesperson for the university spoke to Bristol Live about the justification behind the decision to offer temporary study space for History students during the January exam period.
They said: “We appreciate that study spaces are always in high demand in the run-up to exams and we encourage our students to make use of all the study spaces available including our libraries which run extended opening hours.
“For history students the School has been able to offer additional study space in the Brunel Institute on Bristol Harbourside which is in close proximity to the main campus.
“Students can always check availability of all study spaces across the University online: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/study-spaces/ ”
SS Great Britain's response
A spokesperson for the The SS Great Britain Trust told Bristol Live : "The SS Great Britain's library is one of the many facilities at Brunel’s SS Great Britain – a multi-award-winning visitor attraction in Bristol comprising two museums, the ship and historic dockyard.
"We are pleased to offer students use of space in the library during Brunel Institute opening hours.
"The Brunel Institute and University of Bristol have a long-standing collaborative relationship.
"The Institute’s collections of maritime and Brunel related objects include the University of Bristol’s Brunel collection."
The study space for students is only temporary and will last for the whole of the January exam period from the 6th January to the 24th January.
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