Study Carrels

Who can use them?

Final year students, postgraduates and staff can use them any time and can book up to 2 weeks in advance (last booking is at 6pm)

First and second year students can use them after 6.30pm and at weekends when available.

How to book a study carrel

Book through this 'Book a study carrel' link

• sign in
• choose a room
• click on 'booking'
• check availability
• enter date and time in both 'to' and 'from' boxes
• click 'GO'
• check confirmation and click 'GO' again to confirm booking

Carrels may be booked up to 2 weeks in advance - by final year students, postgraduates and staff only.

Bookings are not available for weekends - room keys are issued as available.

If you are eligible to book, but are having problems doing so, please contact the library so that we can check your record details.

Key collection

Keys must be collected from the Mountbatten Information Point within 30 minutes of the booked time. Failure to collect a booked key by this time will result in the room automatically being made re-available for booking.

What periods can be booked?

Monday - Friday  from 8.30am - 6.45pm (last booking time is 6pm).

The minimum booking session is 30 minutes - maximum is from 8.30am - 6.45pm. Each session of use needs a separate booking.

After 6.45pm any carrels not in use are opened up for general access without keys. If you are not sure if a carrel is free after this time, please ask an ambassador.

To cancel a booking:

Sign in on the library catalogue and click on 'My Account'

• click on 'Requests'
• select appropriate booking and click on 'cancel'
• click on blue text to see time and room information

Please note: cancel option is visible on future bookings only

What are the general rules?

• Please vacate the carrel ten minutes before the library closes and remove all items. No library books can be stored in the carrels
• Only one person is allowed in the carrel - they are for individual use only. If students want to work together, they must use one of the group study areas. Talking is not permitted in these rooms as we want to provide a peaceful study environment for carrel users.
• No hot, greasy or smelly food.
• Mobile phone calls must not be made or received in the study carrels. Texting is permitted but phones should be set to silent.
• For health and safety reasons, doors and windows should not be blocked or covered .
• Keys should not be left in the lock on the outside of the door for safety reasons and the door should not be locked from the inside for safety reasons.
• The door should be locked if the student temporarily vacates the room . The door should only be left unlocked if the user is returning the key after 6.45pm.
• Keys should be handed in at the loans desk when the student is no longer using the room for that day.
• Library staff reserve the right to clear possessions from study carrels when not vacated in time for the next booking.

Final points

The availability of a room does not guarantee that the computer in that room is working

IT problems concerning the computers in the study carrels should be referred to the IT support officer at the floor 2 helpdesk during the day or to the staff member covering photocopy/IT queries during evenings and weekends, based at the copy desk

Students cannot use a study carrel if they are blocked because they have a book at 'very overdue' or 'lost' status or they have a reserved book overdue by 7 days or more. Borrowing is blocked until the situation is resolved.

Students who are blocked through penalty points may still have a carrel key issued.