If you are interested in using one of our rooms for a meeting, class, or presentation, please fill out our Room Request form as completely as possible. We will respond to your request and assign your group a room in Crerar if we can meet your needs. If you have any special requests or questions, please leave them in the additional information box at the end of the form. Please note: filling out the form does not guarantee you a space in Crerar. Final reservation will depend on a number of factors, including availability, purpose of use, and whether or not the required technology is available. As the science library at the University of Chicago, we prioritize requests from users in the biological, medical, and physical sciences, or groups working in these departments. While we try to accommodate all requests for use of these spaces, due to limited availability we are not able to honor all requests. In addition, we are unable to provide room set up and detailed technology support. Please feel free to contact us via the form if you have any questions about our room policies.
The Kathleen A. Zar Room is a technology-equipped space for training programs, lectures, seminars and classes. Designed with an appreciation for the teaching and learning needs of the University’s faculty, students and staff, it can be rapidly reconfigured to facilitate a variety of presentation needs and styles. It is only available for groups making use of the specialized equipment in the room beyond the overhead projector, and can't be reserved for general purpose meetings or classes.
Note: the Lower Level Conference Room is not currently available for use.
There are 7 group studies on the upper two floors of the John Crerar Library, and 1 on the first floor. The primary function of these rooms is to serve as a place for group study and discussion for anyone in the biomedical or physical sciences (on a first-come, first-served basis). Science faculty or teaching assistants may reserve these rooms for class instruction, discussions, or review sessions involving 5 or more students. We especially encourage the use of rooms 140A, 220A or 220B for this purpose.
For inquires about the group study spaces or to make a reservation please contact Sarah Burgin at (773) 834-0809 or (waite@uchicago.edu).
The Library asks that all users of the group studies, whether reserving a room or using a room informally, observe the following guidelines:
Please respect group needs.
Individuals are welcome to use unoccupied group studies. However, groups of readers have priority, and we ask that you move to another location if a group is looking to use a study room. Likewise, if there is a sign on the door stating that the room is reserved, please respect the sign and keep the room free during the times posted.
Remember Library rules still apply.
As in the rest of the Library, there is no eating in the group studies.
Keep the noise down.
Many group studies are in close proximity to other patrons. While your group is separated by walls of glass from the main reading room, the walls aren't soundproof.
Know where you are going.
Generally room reservations are not publicized to library staff, and the people at Circulation, Reference or other Library counters probably won't know where your discussion section or group is supposed to meet. If you are the one who made the reservation, please make sure others in your group know where to find you.
Don't over-utilize the room.
Study space is limited and during periods of high use the group studies are almost constantly occupied. Once you have concluded your discussion please vacate the room so that others can use it. Likewise, please don't occupy a room for long hours at one time: give yourself a break from study and others a chance to use the room.
Get (and return) free stuff.
Feel free to bring books from the stacks or extra chairs into the the group studies. Chalk for the chalkboards is available from the Circulation desk on the first floor. However, please return chairs, books and other things you borrow when you are done using the room.
The John Crerar Library has 8 faculty studies (rooms 240-243 and 340-343) on the upper two floors.
Studies will be assigned only to persons in the following three categories:
- Category I: Full-time faculty with ranks from Instructor through Professor, Emeritus
Faculty, and persons appointed as Visiting Faculty.- Category II: Full-time Research Associates with parenthetical faculty rank, full-time
Senior Research Associates, and full-time Senior Lecturers- Category III. Visiting Scholars and Laboratory School Teachers
Assignments will be made to applicants in Category I before applications in Category II are considered. When Category II applications have been filled, those in Category III will be addressed. Priority is given to persons conducting research or teaching in science and medicine.
Assignments are made exclusively to individual faculty members and for their sole use.
Studies will be assigned for up to one year, or quarterly, with options for renewal. Reminder notices for renewals will be sent before the assignment expires. To renew an assignment, please send a form 62 through faculty exchange to Sarah Burgin at JCL 101. The quarterly rental fee must be returned by the designated due date.
If tenured, the rental fee is $120/quarter. If untenured or emeritus, the rental fee is $60/quarter.
Each study is equipped with an Ethernet connection. To activate the connection and/or to learn of the study's IP address, please contact Sarah Burgin at (773) 834-0809 or (waite@uchicago.edu).
Wireless is also available.
To have wastebaskets or recycling containers emptied, please leave them outside of your study. For cleaning, please request this service through Sarah Burgin at (773) 834-0809 or (waite@uchicago.edu).
Library books, journals, or other materials from the bookstacks must be properly charged before being taken to the study. Reading Room materials and current journals do not circulate and may not be taken to studies. In exceptional circumstances, a bibliographer or floor coordinator will authorize a short loan of such materials and perform the necessary circulation transaction. Study holders must observe these policies; i.e., uncharged materials may not be taken to faculty studies. Studies are inspected periodically by members of the Library staff and it is their responsibility to remove any uncharged materials. The Board of the Library has instructed the Library that study assignments are to be withdrawn if these policies are not observed by a study holder.
Electrical appliances other than computers, scanners, typewriters, calculators, and/or microform readers may not be used. The use of other equipment, including all devices to warm or cook food or beverages, is prohibited and will result in termination of the assignment.
Study holders are expected to avoid noise or business that may disturb neighboring study holders. Accordingly, cell phones are not to be used in the studies, nor should study holders use their studies for extended consultations with others.
Study doors should be locked whenever the study is left unattended. The Library cannot be responsible for lost, missing, or damaged property. Lights should be turned off when the study is left for an extended period.
For general inquiries about the Crerar studies, please contact Sarah Burgin at (773) 834-0809 or (waite@uchicago.edu).
© The John Crerar Library
5730 South Ellis Avenue Chicago Illinois 60637
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