Books are a man's best friend. But in a foreign land, it becomes difficult to lay your hands on a book, which is in your native language. Luckily for UT students, local libraries are just around the corner.
There are five libraries in Enschede, but the largest supplier of foreign titles is the Centrale Bibliotheek (Central Library), located in the center of Enschede on the Pijpenstraat 15-just across from the shop, ACTION. This two-floor building houses a collection of English, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, and of course Dutch fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children. As to be expected, the Dutch section holds the largest volume of books. Yet English language readers also have a fine selection of authors to choose from- Ronald Dahl, Robin Cook, Mark Twain, Barbara Taylor, Jane Austen, J.K. Rowling - to name just a few. Foreign language sections, other than English, shelf roughly 50-75 titles, and these are rotated every six months with new books.
The membership fee for the Central Library is free for all UT students, who have the X-tra card, which costs € 60 for one year. For those who do not have the X-tra card, the yearly library membership fee is € 31.50. Children below 16 years of age can take advantage of a free membership card, while young adults, 16 to 17 years, must pay € 20 per year. In addition to books, the library has available DVDs, music CDs and computer games. Most of the movies are in English with Dutch subtitles.
You are allowed to borrow a total of 15 items at one time. However, the books must be returned in three weeks, and the other media can be borrowed for only a period of one week. Of course, they can be renewed again, if nobody else has reserved them. This can be done online as well as at the library itself. If there is a particular title that is not in stock, it is possible to order the book. However, an additional charge of € 6 applies for this service.
The Bellettrie library on the university campus houses fiction and non-fiction books in Dutch and English, and is located conveniently on the ground floor of the Bastille, across from the Mensa building. The library is open daily in the evening between 6 and 9pm. The yearly membership cost is €15, without the Xtra card, and €10 with the X-tra card.
The collection of books in the Bellettrie library is less extensive than at the Central Library in Enschede, but they too have a variety of books to choose from, both in Dutch and in English. Both of the libraries have a relaxed atmosphere where one can sit and enjoy reading within the library itself. So this new year, why not make a resolution to get back to reading. It is a habit that will hold you in good stead for many years to come.
-To purchase an X-tra card, which allows for free membership to the Central Library in Enschede: http://www.xtra-card.nl/
-For more information on all public libraries in Enschede, its opening times and for its various locations, check out: www.bibliotheekenschede.nl
-The Bellettrie-bibliotheek (University of Twente library) on campus: www.bellettrie.utwente.nl
