Study Carrels: Libraries - Northwestern University

Study Carrels

A carrel is a desk in the library that may be assigned to graduate students, faculty, or undergraduates working on a senior honors thesis. If you have a carrel assignment, you can check books out to it and store books there for an extended period, unless they are requested by another patron.

Carrel types

The library has several different types of carrels available to qualifying members of the Northwestern Community.

Open carrels

The library has numerous open carrels throughout the University Library towers. Current Northwestern graduate students and undergraduates working on a senior honors thesis qualify for an open carrel. Honors undergraduates must supply additional documentation in the form of a letter from their advisor or proof of registration.

Study Carrel Applications for the academic year will be accepted September 15. Assignments will be made on a first come, first served basis as applications are received. Processing time will vary during periods of high demand.

Music Library

The Music Library has a small number of desks for graduate students in related subject areas. If you are interested in a desk in the Music Library, please indicate that this would be your first choice in the comments area of the application.

Art shelves

The Art Library maintains shelves in the Art Research Center on the third floor of Deering Library as shared space for graduate students in Art History and Art Theory and Practice. If you are interested in a shelf in the Research Center, please indicate that this would be your first choice in the comments area of the application.

Closed-room shared PhD carrels

PhD candidate carrels are shared, with two people assigned to each carrel. The demand for PhD closed room study carrels far exceeds supply, but you can apply for our waiting list by submitting a Study Carrel Application. The average wait for a closed-room study carrel is eight months, but actual time may vary. Graduate students must already be admitted to candidacy before they can request to be placed on the waiting list.

Single closed-room carrels

Faculty carrels are single occupancy. The demand for Faculty single closed Study Carrel rooms exceeds supply, but you can apply to our waiting list by submitting a Study Carrel Application.

Carrel policies

Storage of Library materials

All materials at open carrels must be properly charged to that carrel. Closed carrel holders may store books checked out to their personal account and personal copies in their carrel. Uncharged materials should never be kept in carrels and will be removed if found during regular carrel checks.
Materials charged to carrels may not be removed from the library. Patrons who wish to take materials charged to their carrel from the library must switch the items to their personal account at the Circulation Desk or a Self-Check Station.
Materials may be needed elsewhere for a brief period of use within the library. If materials are removed for one of these reasons, an explanatory note will be left in the carrel. Materials will normally be returned within 24 hours.

Regulations for the use of study carrels

Assignments normally cover the academic year. In any case, all assignments must be renewed yearly by June 15. Failure to renew by this date may lead to termination of carrel occupancy.
Carrels are for reading and research only and are not intended to provide office or conference space. Studies are not soundproof and therefore should not be used for long conversations.
Keys for closed carrels will be issued upon receipt of a deposit of $25.
No furniture or equipment is to be moved from or introduced into a study, except by arrangement with the Circulation Desk. Heating and cooling ducts must not be covered.
Damage to furniture or equipment and necessary repairs or replacements should be reported immediately to the library privileges office.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the library.
No food or drink may be kept in closed study carrels.
No cooking or heating devices for preparing food or drink are allowed in the study carrels.
The University Library cannot guarantee the security of personal belongings in any study space.

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