Introduction
The Regenstein Library has several seminar rooms available in its reading rooms on the A-level and floors 2 through 5. The primarily function of these rooms is to serve as a place for group study and informal discussion. When used for this purpose, seminar rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, under the special circumstances listed below, seminar rooms can be reserved by faculty for class instruction or discussion.The Regenstein is designed to serve as a library, and our primary responsibility is to our patrons who use the Library as a place for research and study. Consequently, we encourage instructors to seek out other venues for routine classroom purposes, and we may deny reservation requests if it would increase traffic in the reading rooms, deprive patrons of group study facilities, or otherwise impair the activities of our readers.
Uses of Reserved Seminar Rooms
A seminar room may be reserved for the following:- For blind students and their readers, on a reserved basis if requested.
- For a faculty or Library staff member who is giving a special orientation seminar in the bibliography of a subject or field using such material in the lecture or discussion.
- As a reserved place for formal seminar instruction offered
by a faculty member when one or more of the following conditions
prevail:
- The work of a seminar requires its members, during seminar periods, to use texts or other resources which cannot or should not be taken from the Library.
- The seminar requires that a selected body of library material be used frequently by all members of the class, and reserve use is for some reason not feasible.
- The books or other materials required for the seminar are so large or so numerous that taking them from the Library to a classroom would be impractical.
- When there is a need to examine, discuss, and compare in class a considerable range of library material throughout an academic quarter.
How to Reserve a Seminar Room
A course instructor who believes his or her teaching needs meet one or more of the conditions in the above section should submit a description of the special circumstances making use of a seminar room necessary, the dates and times desired, and the expected number of students to the Access Services Librarian, Regenstein Library, Room 180. Requests may be made in person or written and mailed through Faculty Exchange. An online reservation form is also available for use.The Library will review the application and, where the stated need appears to match the criteria, attempt to make such an assignment. While the doors to the seminar room will not be locked, a notice will be posted on the seminar room door indicating the hours that the room is reserved. Other patrons will be expected to comply with such notices.
In certain exceptional cases where, in connection with seminar assignments, the individual members of the seminar will need to refer to and study a collection of texts at times when the seminar is not in session, the Library will assemble a temporary "seminar reserve" collection. Such a collection will be located outside of the seminar room, and should be based on a list submitted by the course instructor. Reference, reserve, and other materials whose inclusion might inconvenience other readers will be excluded from the list. Such seminar reserves will not circulate outside the Library.
Seminar Room Etiquette
The Library asks that all users of the seminar rooms, whether reserving a room or using a room informally, observe the following guidelines:- Respect group needs. Individuals are welcome to use unoccupied seminar rooms. However, groups of readers have priority, and we ask that you move to another location if a group is looking to use a seminar room for group study. 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.
- Keep the noise down. Many seminar rooms place your group 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. Loud discussion or arguing can be heard by patrons in the main reading room and is disruptive to their studies.
- 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. There is a message board on the first floor by the main staircase for this purpose. If you are the room reserver, please post a note so that others in your group know where to find you.
- Don't overutilize the room. Study space in Regenstein is limited and during periods of high use the seminar rooms 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 grab necessary books from the reading room or extra chairs from outside the the seminar room. Chalk and erasers for the chalkboards are available from the Circulation desk on the first floor. However, please return chairs, chalk, books and other things you borrow when you are done using the room. Lockers are available for rental if you need to store books or other materials between sessions.
- Library rules still apply. As in the rest of the Library, there is no eating allowed in the seminar rooms. However, drinks in covered containers may be consumed. The seminar rooms close when the building closes.