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University of Alberta Library Home > Library Services > Study Area Directory and Noise Zones

Study Area Directory & Noise Zones

To create an environment that meets the study and work needs of our campus community we have established noise level zones in the libraries to suit varying types of study:

Intended to serve as silent, individual study space for readers and students who need to concentrate.

  • No conversation
  • No food
  • Cell phone on silent
  • Electronics need earphones with sound on low

Intended to serve as quiet space for readers and students. In these zones only low-level talking is permitted.

  • Whispered conversation
  • Only cold snack foods and beverages in closed containers permitted. No hot/aromatic food permitted.
  • Cell phone on vibrate
  • Electronics need earphones

Usually busy with high traffic levels. Intended as group study areas and/or instructional areas and include library service desk areas. Conversational noise is to be expected.

  • Group conversation
  • Only cold snack foods and beverages in closed containers permitted. No hot/aromatic food permitted.
  • Cell phone on vibrate
  • Electronics need earphones


    • Augustana Faculty Library
    • Bibliothèque Saint-Jean
    • Cameron Library (Science & Engineering)
    • J.A. Weir Memorial Law Library
    • J.W. Scott Health Sciences Library
    • Rutherford Library (Humanities & Social Sciences)


    Augustana Faculty Library

    • Collaborative Zone - Main floor, lower level
    • Quiet Zone - Lower level room L1-105, lower level study carrels
    • Silent Zone - Main floor study carrels room 1-114

    There are approximately 120 computer workstations as well as access to UWS wireless service within the Library. The main and lower floors contain table, barstool and soft seating with plug-in access. Group study and presentation preparation rooms may be booked at the Service Desk.


    Bibliothèque Saint-Jean

    • Aires publiques - Près des points de service (comptoir d’accueil et imprimante)
    • Aires tranquilles - Isoloirs et tables des collections générales et pédagogiques
    • Aire silencieuse - Salle Silencieuse (1-12A)

    Nous disposons de 35 ordinateurs équipés de Windows office et Antidote 9 et de 45 isoloirs. Plusieurs grandes tables sont également mises à la disposition des étudiants. Cinq salles d'étude en groupe pouvant aisément accueillir entre 2 et 12 personnes sont équipées de tables et de tableaux blancs. La salle 1-12F d’un écran LCD mural. Ces salles doivent être réservées sur Book study space.

    • Collaborative Zone - Main floor service areas
    • Quiet Zone - Main floor study carrels and tables
    • Silent Zone - Silent room (1-12A)

    There are 45 study carrels located in the library. We also offer five group study rooms which can comfortably accommodate 2 to 12 people. Salle 1-12F has a wall-mounted LCD screen. Advanced booking is required for three of the four rooms.


    Cameron Library (Science & Engineering)

    • Collaborative Zone - Main Floor, 2nd floor (Common Area)
    • Quiet Zone - Knowledge Common and Study Hall (Basement)
    • Silent Zone - 3rd floor, 4th floor

    There are over 350 computers with the entire building providing UWS wireless service. Cameron Library offers table seating with plug-ins, individual and group workstations, quiet study carrels, bookable group study and presentation preparation rooms with computers and LCD displays, and a comfortable soft seating area for studying or relaxing.


    J.A. Weir Memorial Law Library

    • Collaborative Zone - 2nd floor entry (before the glass doors)
    • Quiet Zone - 2nd floor after the glass doors
    • Silent Zone - 3rd Floor, including W-342E

    The Law Library can seat over 400 people. Group study rooms may be booked online. The McLean Reading Room (designated for law student use only and managed by the Faculty of Law) on the third floor of the library seats 60 and has both electrical and network connections for each seat.


    J.W. Scott Health Sciences Library

    [New as of March 9, 2023]

    • Quiet Zone* - Level 2 (Top floor)
    • Quiet Zone - Level 1 (Lower floor)
    • Silent Zone - Level 1A (Middle floor)

    *With most of the collection removed from this Library's space in preparation for move to the new Geoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library, noise travels more easily. As a result, we have designated ALL study spaces on ALL levels in of Scott library QUIET or SILENT. Please be respectful of other users in this study space.


    Earplugs are available at the service desk. Group study rooms may be booked using our online registration system.


    Rutherford Humanities, Social Sciences, & Education Library

    Rutherford Library North

    • Collaborative Zones: Main floor as well as the 2nd and 4th floors.
    • Quiet Zones: 3rd floor / Note that room 3-112 is a silent study room
    • Silent Zones: 5th floor, and room 3- 112 on the 3rd floor.

      Studying & Computing:

      • over 700 study spaces on 5 floors
      • 30 laptop stations
      • 110 Computing workstations
      • Group Study Rooms
      • 4 ONEcard printers

    Rutherford Library South 2nd Floor

    • Collaborative Zone - 2nd floor Foyer
    • Quiet Zone - 2nd floor Reading room


      Studying & Computing:

      • just under 500 study spaces
      • 2 IST computer labs: 2-03 (35 workstations) and 2-05a (15 workstations)

  • Book Study Space
  • Study and Work Space Policies
  • Study Area Directory & Noise Zones
  • Food & Drink Policy

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