Love your study space

Our libraries have over 5,000 study spaces – here’s how to get the most out of them.

Are you looking for a place to study? Swipe your student card at the gates to enter a world of study spaces.

There are so many different types of spaces available to you in the libraries. If you sat in a different place every day, it would take you almost 14 years to sit in them all! Take a look below for an insight into what we have available for all your study needs.

There are also spaces across campus - use Spacefinder to find a space that suits you.

Silent study

The majority of study spaces are for silent, independent study – there is no chatting allowed, so it’s the perfect place to pop in your headphones and get down to work.

You’ll find these spaces in every library:

• Levels 11 and 12 in the Edward Boyle Library
• All floors in the main Brotherton Library
• Level 2 in the Brotherton West Building
• Floors 1, 2 and 3 in the Laidlaw Library.

Social study

Studying with friends and people from your course is a great way to keep each other motivated – especially if you’re working on a group project.

All of level 10 of the Edward Boyle Library is dedicated to social study. It’s open plan with lots of seats so you can chat openly about your work while you study with friends.

You’ll find these spaces in all libraries:

• Level 10 in the Edward Boyle Library is dedicated to social study.
• Levels 1 and 2 in the Laidlaw have lots of spaces where you can study in groups – just make sure to not confuse them with the silent study areas.
• The Brotherton West Building has a variety of group work space.
• The Health Sciences Library has a large group room and also the Wolfson Room.

Group study rooms and booths

For more focussed group work, our bookable group rooms and booths might suit you better. These group study spaces are dotted across the Edward Boyle, the Laidlaw and Health Sciences Libraries.

As well as the usual desks and power sockets, you can wirelessly connect your devices to AirMedia screens to present to your study buddies or connect up to four devices at once to work together.

You will need to download the client software in order to connect your device to these screens.

Booking group study rooms and booths

You should book your group study spaces before you come into the library buildings – use our guide to learn how to book.

Postgraduate study area

The top floor of the Edward Boyle Library is for postgraduates and staff only. You’ll need to scan your student or staff ID to access this area.

Once you’re inside, there are a range of silent study spaces, individual study rooms, and spaces for group study.

Accessible study

There are two accessible study rooms in the Laidlaw Library, four in the Edward Boyle Library and one in the Brotherton Library. You must book these rooms in advance – read our guide to find out how.

Pause for a study break

It’s very important to remember to take regular screen breaks when working on laptops or computers, and it’s just as important to remember to take some time out for yourself when studying!

Take a moment to pause in the wellbeing areas at both Laidlaw and Edward Boyle Libraries. There are books, magazines, origami, colouring and even yoga mats available for you to use to relax on your study break.

Food and drink 

Keep yourself quenched with our hydration stations. You’ll find these on every floor in the Laidlaw and Edward Boyle Libraries, in the West Building Corridor in the Brotherton, and just outside of the Health Sciences Library in the Airport Lounge.

There are additional hot water facilities for making tea or coffee on level 9 of the Edward Boyle Library and in the Special Collections kitchen in the Brotherton.

Eating is not allowed in the library buildings but there are nearby café facilities so if you need to pop out for lunch, you can. Just remember to take all of your belongings with you and your ID card to scan out through the exit gates.

Any questions, just ask!

If you have any questions about using the libraries, just ask us – we’re here to help.

Look for staff in purple t-shirts or at our enquiries desks, contact us online through webchat or email us with your query.