The library offers small rooms available for individual use on the second and third floors of Stapleton Library. Each room is equipped with a desk, chair, small shelf, and electrical outlets.
Stapleton Second Floor - Open Study Rooms
The individual study rooms on the second floor of Stapleton Library (rooms 209–246) are available to anyone on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Only one person may use an individual study room at a time. Groups of two or more studying together should use the group study rooms or open seating on the ground and first floors. Please note the following when using an open individual study room:
- This is a quiet floor. Keep conversations quiet and brief.
- When finished with the room, remove all items (including garbage) and turn out the light.
- Personal items should not be left unattended. Unattended items left in a room will be removed by library staff.
- The library is not responsible for theft of personal belongings placed in any room.
- Nothing is to be affixed to the room's walls or windows. The use of nails, tape, tacks, glue, etc. is prohibited.
- The use of personal appliances such as coffee makers, hot water pots, etc., or flammable items (e.g., candles) is expressly prohibited.
- Rooms are checked regularly by library student workers and library staff. If you are found violating the individual study room use policy, you will be asked to vacate the room.
Report any problems with the rooms to the Circulation Desk or call 724-357-2340.
Stapleton Third Floor - Private Study Rooms
Individual study rooms on the third floor of Stapleton Library (rooms 313–342) are reserved for graduate students and are assigned to one person for a full academic year (fall, spring, summer). These cubicles can be locked to provide a relatively secure, semi-private study space.
Private Study Room Assignments
The priority list for assignments is as follows:
- Students enrolled in doctoral programs
- Students enrolled in master's programs
Applications and Assignments
First Week of Fall Semester
Graduate students can apply for a room by completing the Private Individual Study Room Application. Applications must be submitted between the end of Summer II and the Friday of the first week of the fall semester to be included in the initial random selection and room assignment.
Applicants awarded a private study room will receive an email with information on their room assignment and how to pick up their key. Applicants not awarded a room will be notified via email and placed on a waiting list.
Any applications submitted for private study rooms after the initial fall random lottery will be added to the waiting list.
Awarded a Private Study Room
You will receive an email notification if you are awarded a room, and you will have two weeks to respond. To find out which room has been assigned to you and to obtain the key, you must visit the Library Administration Office Stapleton 203 (with your I-Card) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Study Room keys must be returned no later than the last day of Summer Session II. Students who do not return the key by this date forfeit the chance to be assigned a room in the future and will be charged a $50 fee to cover the cost of changing the lock.
Guidelines for Using the Private Study Rooms
- Rooms are intended for research. They are not intended as conference rooms, meeting spaces, or full-time offices.
- Rooms may not be used by others than those assigned to them. There should only be one chair in a room at any given time.
- All library materials housed in the private study room must be charged out through the Circulation Desk. Inspection will be made periodically, and any uncharged library materials will be removed and re-shelved.
- Non-circulating materials (e.g., reference books or periodicals) may not be stored in the room.
- Library staff will not unlock rooms for users who have forgotten or lost their key.
- The library is not responsible for theft of personal belongings placed in any room.
- Nothing is to be affixed to walls or windows. This includes window curtains of any type. The use of nails, tape, tacks, glue, etc. is expressly prohibited.
- Personal appliances such as coffee makers, hot water pots, microwaves, etc., or flammable items (e.g., candles) are expressly prohibited.
- While you are allowed to eat and drink in the library, keeping a stash of snacks and other food in the room is prohibited as it entices rodents and bugs to inhabit the space with you.
- Trash must be taken to a receptacle outside the room.
- Remember that while the cubicles have lockable doors, there is no ceiling. Do not leave personal items unattended. Thefts do occur.
- The Library reserves the right to allow authorized staff to enter any room at any time to inspect for compliance with these rules.
- This is a silent floor. Please silence your cell phones. If you must talk, move to the stairwell or the first or ground floor.
- Once a room assignment has been made, it is final.
- Any abuse of the room or library material will result in the immediate loss of room privileges.