StudyHub - the first 24 library in Sofia
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Association “Students in Action” is a non-governmental public benefit organization with 6 active students behing it.
One of the most important projects of Association “Students in Action” is the around the clock co-studying space StudyHub. It is located in Studentski grad, is accessible around the clock every day and has constant video sureveillance. The access to the space is granted via subscription cards. In StudyHub, one can find university
students of all the leading Universities in Sofia.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
StudyHub is a co-studying space, working over the philosophy of the co-working spaces. The main purpose of StudyHub is to encourage communication between students from different universities and specialties and to motivate them to expand their knowledge.
Our premises are 170 square meters /including WC, storage area and outdoor area/. The space will be separated into two different halls – one for personal studying and another one, suitable for group projects, lectures, events and communication between students. The first hall will be equipped with single desks for individual studying, as well as couches and bean bag chairs – an area suitable for group projects. The second hall will be equipped as multifunctional as possible so that it could be used for various events. Hot and cold drinks, water and snacks will be provided by vending machines. Access to the co-studying space will be granted 24/7 via access cards and the security will be ensured by constant video surveillance.
StudyHub is situated in Studentski grad, a residential area, which, according to 2011 statistical data, is inhabited by more than 50 000 people. It’s one of the biggest districts of Sofia, and so, it offers lots of business areas and stores, but at the same time, there is a shortage of bookstores and places to study. Studentski grad satisfies the residential needs of the population (mainly students) with multistoried campuses. According to the 2018 statistical data, more than 25 000 students are living in the district’s campuses. Generally, a 20-square-meter room is occupied by two or three students. Having so little space raises the question: How am I supposed to be productive, without discommoding my roommates?
This question pops up in our heads during our short but memorable period living in one of those campuses. Tsvetomira Gyurova and Martina Georgieva felt the need to find a place to study. Unfortunately, it was not our dormitory, it was a gas station.
Key objectives for sustainability
StudyHub's business model works on a subscription basis. We have several types of access card prices all of which are really cheap - for example 24/7 card for StudyHub is 5lv, the same price as a lunch in Sofia. As a non-profit organization our team is not paid, we are voluteers and take shifts in order to be in the library every day from 10 till 18 and organize the reception process. The project is sustainable because the community understand the value of the space and uses it every day. Our students help with cleaning and keeping the space in order. Our expenses are less that our profits and every month we save more than 20% for events , education and additional expenses.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
When we were creating StudyHub, we emphasized on the way a youth space should look. We have comfortable chairs, desks and a recreational area with beanbag chairs and sofas. The light is suitable for long studying through the whole day and we have computers which can be used by the students. The space has wall paintings, created by the students, and it gets repainted and drawn with new paintings every year. The books and textbooks that are in StudyHub are donated by the students and there is not only academic literature, but also classic and modern novels, as well as poetry collections.
Key objectives for inclusion
StudyHub has an etiquel codex that ensure us that the space is open for everybody. We have partnerships with different organizations and try to include various youth movements in our work. However, we do not make religious or political events in order to ensure that the space has free access for everybody, no matter their sexual, political and religious views. Our team is mostly female lead as our chairman and co-chairman are woman and still university students. We have lead several intership programs and try to give the same ability to all people in order to use the space or be part of the organization behind StudyHub.
Results in relation to category
Over 1500 students have been in StudyHub. Students also engage with our online events which are now mostly about the different career paths a person can choose and the difficulties professionals in these fields have met. A couple of students studying law have become first in an international competition related to their field of study, because of our library and the ability to prepare together at night. What is more, many students have told us that they have high grades and better concentration because of the space and the ability to learn when it's most comfortable for them. We have also helped students to start their own initiatives related to the problems of Studentski grad by giving the knowledge, contacts and support.
How Citizens benefit
Students from all universities helped us raise the money needed to open the library. They made bazaars, gave us donations, such as money, books and textbooks, and spread our mission and goals. What is more, we involved students in the development of the space with a couple of events we made. The first one was a day when every student could come and draw a picture on the wall associated with the field of education they are studying. We ensured everybody has enough paint and a variety of brushes. After that we included students in the assembling of the furniture. Almost a year after the opening we made a new event where every student could come and draw new pictures. The impact of the involvement is that now when these people are using the library they think of it as their own, due to the fact that the library looks the way it does, with their help.
Innovative character
We are the first and only 24/7 library in Bulgaria, the first one build by students for the students and the first one in Studentski grad - the biggest university students nighbourhood in Bulgaria. We have several innovation prizes won, such as Innovation project of the year 2019 by Bulgarian National Television, 3rd place on students start-up competition Innovation Hackaton, Start-up of the year nomination and nomination for Human and project of the year awards.
