Carrels and Study Spaces
Carrels, Reading Rooms, Media Viewing Rooms, and Group Study Rooms
All the libraries within HCL have a reading room; however, some have other kinds of study spaces.
Select A Library
Cabot Science Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
In addition to open study space on all levels, Cabot has carrels and group study rooms. Users have access to both wired and wireless network connectivity. Wireless access is available throughout the entire building.
Carrels
Carrels—desk and chair for one—are located on the lower and upper levels and are available on a first-come basis.
Group Study Rooms
There are six group study rooms on the upper level of the library. Each is equipped with a large table, four to six chairs, blackboard, and chalk. While single students may use this study space, groups of two or more students have priority over individual users. These rooms cannot be reserved.
Fine Arts Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
Carrels
In addition to the reading room on the main level, Fine Arts Library has carrels in the stacks. Carrels are reserved for graduate students in the History of Art and Architecture Department. Users have access to wireless network connectivity in the carrels. Contact the FAL Circulation Desk by e-mail or by phone at 617-495-3374 for more information or to request a carrel.
Harvard-Yenching Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
In addition to the main reading room on the first floor, Harvard-Yenching has carrels and a media viewing room. Users have access to both wired and wireless network connectivity. Wireless access is available in all spaces except for the stacks.
Carrels
There are study carrels throughout the stacks that are primarily intended for graduate students in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and for Harvard-Yenching Institute scholars, but others may also request a carrel. Carrel assignments are usually made prior to the beginning of each semester, and up to two people are assigned to each carrel. To apply for carrel space, please e-mail.
Media Viewing Room
Harvard-Yenching has a media viewing room that is equipped with a TV, VCR, and region-free DVD player for viewing videotapes, DVDs, and VCDs (video compact discs). Please see Circulation or Reference staff for access and for help in using this equipment.
Lamont Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
Lamont Library offers study spaces to accommodate a wide range of study preferences. Users have access to both wired and wireless network connectivity. Wireless access is available in the Reference Room, Ginsberg Reading Room, and Donatelli Reading Room.
See a Harvard Gazette feature presentation of 24 Hours at Lamont.
Carrels
Carrrels—desk and chair for one—are found on each level of the library and are available on a first-come basis. Carrels in Lamont cannot be reserved and all personal items must be removed before leaving the building.
Reading Rooms
There are two large reading rooms adjacent to the stacks that offer traditional study tables, carrels, and soft seating to accommodate a variety of study styles. The Ginsberg Reading Room is on the first floor of the building, and the Donatelli Reading Room is on the third floor.
Media Viewing Room
There is a media viewing room on Level A in Morse Music & Media with a video disc player for 12-inch discs, two combination DVD/VHS players that are limited to region 1 (North America), and a DVD-R player. Morse Music & Media also has 10 stations each with DVD and videocassette playback capability. Equipment plays all regions and DVD-R. Headphones are required and are available at Circulation.
Loeb Music Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
Carrels
The library has a limited number of study carrels. Priority is given to Music Department Graduate students, then to undergraduate music concentrators, and finally, to special students in music and other Harvard affiliates with a need to conduct yearlong work in the Loeb Music Library. Carrels are wired for electrical and data outlets. Visit the Circulation Desk to obtain an application.
Reading Rooms
There are two reading rooms which house the Loeb Music Library's reference collection and which offer traditional study tables, soft seating, electrical outlets, and wireless network access. The Aldrich Room is on the first floor and the Spalding Room is on the second floor. The Aldrich Room has four computer workstations for research purposes.
Quad Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
Quad Library offers study spaces to accommodate a wide range of study preferences. Users have access to both wired and wireless network connectivity.
Carrels
Carrrels—desk and chair for one—are located in the stacks and are available on a first-come basis.
Reading Room
There is a large reading room that offers traditional study tables, divided carrels, and soft seating to accommodate a variety of study styles. It is available to authorized users by card access when the Hilles building is open.
Group Study Rooms
Two group study rooms are available to Harvard students for study only on a first-come basis. The rooms are available for a maximum of one hour per student. Students must reserve the room in person and can do so by filling out the sign up sheet attached to the door of each room. Room use is guaranteed for groups arriving within 15 minutes of their start time.
Tozzer Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
Carrels
In addition to open study space on each level, Tozzer Library has approximately 35 study carrels primarily intended for scholars and students in the Anthropology Department or other Harvard users for whose research Tozzer is the primary library. Carrels are assigned at the beginning of each semester and are renewable. Up to two people are assigned to a carrel and there is a $3 refundable deposit fee per person for a key(s) to the carrel desk drawer. Users have access to wireless network connectivity. With the exception of reference works, Tozzer materials may be charged out to a carrel, but they are subject to recall. Contact staff at the Circulation Desk at 617-495-2253 or via e-mail to inquire about obtaining a carrel.
Widener Library
Carrels and Study Spaces
Widener Library offers a variety of spaces to accommodate a range of study preferences. Users have access to both wired and wireless network connectivity. Wireless access is available in all spaces except for the stacks.
Carrels and Hold Shelves
A limited number of study carrels are available in the Widener and Pusey library stacks for Harvard University graduate students, undergraduates in their senior year, faculty, and officers who are conducting research and need to hold Widener books for an extended period of time. Up to three people are assigned to each carrel.
To apply for a carrel, submit a Widener Carrel Request Form. Forms are accepted via the Web or in person at the Widener Billing Office, Room 130, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. Please see Widener Carrel Policy for details about using carrels.
Individuals who are not eligible for a carrel or those individuals who have a need for a holding area for books may request a hold shelf assignment. Hold shelves are located on level P3 in Pusey Library. Users may submit a Widener Hold Shelf Assignment Form via the Web or in person at the Billing Office, Room 130, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm.
Loker Reading Room
The Loker Reading Room houses many of Widener's most heavily used reference books, including dictionaries of all the major foreign languages and a broad array of bibliographies and encyclopedias. Soft seating is provided at both ends of the room. Tables are equipped with power and data outlets. The Loker Reading Room is located on the second floor adjacent to the Atkins Reference Room.
Atkins Reference Room
The Atkins Reference Room houses the Widener Library Reference Desk where librarians are available to assist with everything from reference questions to developing research strategies. This reading room also has more than 20 computer workstations for research purposes. It is located on the second floor adjacent to the Loker Reading Room.
Reference Desk hours vary from those of the library. See Hours for details.
Newspaper Microfilm Reading Room
The Newspaper Microfilm Reading Room and adjacent stacks contain a selection of newspapers on microfilm, including the back file of the current newspaper collection. A list of the Newspapers on Microfilm held in this collection is available online. Materials can be viewed and copied in the room, but do not circulate. The Newspaper Microfilm Reading Room is located on the first floor of Widener Library in Room 180, which is behind the main stairway.
Periodicals Reading Room
The Periodicals Reading Room and the adjacent stacks contain the most recent issues (one to two years) of Widener Library's periodicals holdings. Materials can be viewed and copied in the room, but they do not circulate. A selection of the most frequently used newspapers is shelved in the newspaper case in the reading room. It is located on the first floor of Widener Library, Room 150, off the main lobby.
Phillips Reading Room
The Phillips Reading Room is for the use of non-circulating material that is returned from the Harvard Depository or borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. It is also a general study space, and reading room staff page materials for authorized library users. Please see Phillips Reading Room Policy for details about using the space. The reading room is located adjacent to stacks level 3-East. Access is via the stairway in Circulation, Room 160.
Stacks Reading Room
The Stacks Reading Room houses the National Union Catalog and is used for general research and studying. It offers traditional library seating as well as soft seating. Located on stacks level 3-West, the Stacks Reading Room can be accessed either through the stacks or by taking the West stacks elevator to the reading room level.
