By Dana Bou Fakhereddine

For many American University of Sharjah (AUS) students, the AUS Library is still the best place to study, do research, do projects, write reports and prepare for quizzes, tests, midterms and final exams.

AUS Library is one of the premier libraries in the region and it provides collections, services and programs to support the curricular and research needs of the university community.

According to the Library webpage, the majority of AUS library's rapidly growing physical collection of 140,000 items is in English; the library provides access to over 200,000 electronic books and there are also many materials available in Arabic. The online catalog can be used to search for library materials from any location on or off campus. Using the AUS Library website, students and faculty can access e-books, online databases, full-text journals and other digital resources.

Click Here to Learn More about programs and scholarships offered at American University of Sharjah

The AUS Library has a lot of facilities including the Information Commons with 135 desktop computers, group study rooms, quiet study areas and media viewing rooms. For this and many other reasons, it is the best place for AUS students to study and do their work.

Recently I have also discovered that, one of the best things about studying at American University of Sharjah is that, in additional to having this great Library right here on campus, there are also a number of other great places to study when the AUS Library is closed, when you are not on campus or when you just want to change the environment.

In one of my courses last semester we were given a group project. One day, as we were making plans for the projects one of my friends suggested to do a group meeting at Caribou Café in Al Qasba. When I got there I was actually surprised that it was a nice place and the new environment was exciting and we were able to accomplish a lot as our senses were fully awake and we were fully focused to accomplish our task.

So that got me started into exploring alternative study places where I can go to alone or with my friends, to study when the AUS Library is closed or when I am off campus and still want to put in study time. And these are what I have found so far:-

  1. Caribou Café

American University of Sharjah Al Majaz Waterfront.jpgPhoto credit: Al Majaz Water Front website

The first thing you will notice when you enter any branch of Caribou Café is the cozy ambiance. It will make you want to grab a hot drink or iced one and sip on it while working on your assignments or studying.  The employees are very friendly. They assist students with their needs of Wi-Fi, power sockets and the constant flow of tasty food and beverages. They try to make your experience at the café as pleasant as possible.

Each branch has its own studying attraction. For example, the branch in Matajer near the University City has a study room where you can isolate yourself from everybody and concentrate on your work. The branch in Al Majaz has an outdoor section that overlooks the breathtaking view of the water front. So, you can enjoy writing your essay while watching the dancing fountain show.

  • AUS to Matajer Taxi Fare: 11.25 AED
  • Matajer to AUS: 11.25 AED
  • AUS to Caribou Taxi Fare: Approximately AED 33
  • Caribou to AUS: Approximately AED 34
  • AUS buses: (FREE) Take the King Faisal bus and ask the driver to drop you beside Al Majaz Park or you can ask students in the bus about the stop. The buses drop students for free from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
  • AUS to Caribou Taxi Fare: Approximately AED 35
  • Caribou to AUS: Approximately AED 35
  • AUS buses: (FREE) Take the King Faisal bus and ask the driver to drop you at Al-Tawoon stop. That stop is a two-minutes away from Al Qasba.
  1. Starbucks Café

If you prefer Starbucks over other cafes then you should consider the Al Qasba branch. The café is very spacious with an indoor and outdoor section. The place is good for studying, as there are power sockets, Wi-Fi, and comfortable couches to sit on, which is important if you are planning to finish a whole research paper. Besides that, the café overlooks Al Qasba Canal, so you get to walk around and appreciate the view during your breaks.

  • AUS to Caribou Taxi Fare: Approximately AED 35
  • Caribou to AUS: Approximately AED 35
  • AUS buses: (FREE) Take the King Faisal bus and tell the driver to stop at Al-Tawoon stop. That stop is a two-minutes away from Al Qasba.
  1. Maktaba

American University of Sharjah Al Qasba Maktaba.jpgPhoto credit: Maktaba Facebook page

This bookshop is in Al Qasba and when I saw it I immediately fell in love with it.  It has all the services a student would need during a studying session. There are tables designated for group and individual work, and books for you to read or buy. Plus, you can eat snacks and drink coffee to stay awake and survive those draining group meetings.

  • AUS to Caribou Taxi Fare: Approximately AED 35
  • Caribou to AUS: Approximately AED 35
  • AUS buses: (FREE) Take the King Faisal bus and ask the driver to drop you at Al-Tawoon stop. That stop is a two-minutes away from Al Qasba.
  1. Sharjah Library

American University of Sharjah Sharjah Library.jpgPhoto credit: Sharjah Library website

Sharjah Library is a great alternative place to study in. You can study, read and happily work on your project. There are spacious study areas and thousands of books to use for your research paper or to enjoy during your break. The librarians are very helpful and ensure that there is no one talking loudly and disturbing other library users. Also, the internet service is very fast and the printing and scanning fees are cheap. So check this library out.

  • Taxi Fare: Approximately AED 25
  • Working hours: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

Coming back to American University of Sharjah, the campus also has a lot of outdoor places where you can sit down and study when the weather is good. The grass areas around campus offer great scenery of the AUS gardens, cool breeze and wonderful ambiance for outdoor studying.

You can also utilize the indoor seating areas available in academic buildings all around campus. These are really good for quick reviews and group discussion. The study areas at the basement of the School of Business and Administration are especially nice.

With AUS Library and these other alternative study places available to us, there is no reason for us not to do our best to make sure that we do well in all our quizzes, tests, projects and examination. Wish you the best semester ahead.

Dana Bou Fakhereddine is a student at American University of Sharjah.

Visit www.aus.edu for more information about American University of Sharjah.