Library Zones

Cambridge

We offer a range of study spaces at each library to meet the different needs you have at different times.

If you are being disturbed by noise on one of our Quiet or Silent floors, use our Text a Talker service (07597 525917).

Ground floors – Group Study – Discuss work, plan projects, share ideas
Most of our students will need to work on group projects and assessments, and our ground floors are the ideal place for this. Pods and study rooms are available for booking, or you can use the desks and PCs at any time.

Remember our libraries are for study and research. If you just want to meet up with your friends, there are other spaces outside the library where you can chat as much as you like. Don't be offended if we ask you to move elsewhere.

Snack food (not hot or smelly food) is allowed on the ground floor of the library only.

First and second floors - Quiet Study - Whisper
What do we mean by quiet? A brief, whispered conversation about your work is fine. But if you need to keep talking, you're probably disturbing others – please move to the group study area on the ground floor.

Third floors - Silent Study - Shhhh!
When we say silent, we mean silent! These floors are set aside for those of you who prefer to work on your own in silence. If you need to speak at all, please move downstairs.

Chelmsford

We offer a range of study spaces to meet the different needs you have at different times.

Ground floor - Group Study - Discuss work, plan projects, share ideas

• Work on group projects and assessments
• Discussions about projects
• Pods on this floor designed for group study
• Individual booths provide space for individual and/or pair work

First Floor - Quiet Group Study (green zone)

• Focused group study
• Talk quietly - noise travels to all floors
• Dry snacks, fruit and lidded drinks allowed

Second Floor - Quiet Study (orange zone)

• Quiet study
• Short, quiet conversations only
• No food, lidded drinks only

Third Floor - Individual Silent Study - (red zone)

• Individual study only
• No talking
• No food, lidded drinks only

Please use headphones if you are listening to online lectures, and take any phone calls in the stairwell.

If you are being disturbed on our Quiet or Silent Floors, use our Text a Talker service (07935 009871).

Remember our libraries are for study and research. If you just want to meet up with your friends, there are other spaces outside the library where you can chat as much as you like. Please use the right zone or we may ask you to move elsewhere.

Peterborough

Our library space at ARUP Peterborough is known as the Reading Room and is set up for quiet individual study. This means you should do your best to avoid disturbing other users. If you need to speak about some work, please whisper and keep the conversation brief.

You can always move to the cafeteria or break-out areas throughout the building if you need to work together on a project.

Library behaviour

We're all members of our University community, and our library rules (.pdf) encourage respect for each other and our shared spaces.

As well as keeping to the appropriate noise levels for the area you're in, we ask you to:

• Only have mobile phone conversations in the group study zones or clearly signed areas. Even then please keep it brief and quiet so you don't disturb others.
• Keep all your devices on silent whenever you're in the library.
• Not sleep in the library - for safety and security reasons, the library is not an appropriate place to sleep.
• There are areas just outside Cambridge and Chelmsford libraries where you can eat, and the cafeteria or break-out areas throughout the building at Peterborough. We recommend you take a few minutes for a break from study, and snack outside.

We have guidelines on Good Library Citizenship, which explain how we address disruptive behaviour.

Please note that the library is not a workshop or makerspace. Specialist creative space to construct/paint etc is available in faculties.

Text A Talker

If you're being disturbed by noise on one of our Quiet or Silent floors, just text us to let us know, and a member of staff will attend.

If you are being disturbed by someone eating or leaving a mess near you, feel free to alert us about this too.

At Cambridge text 07597 525917
At Chelmsford text 07935 009871
*texts are charged at your standard network rate. We won't reply to your text, but we do record the action that we take.