Closed study rooms in PCL are available for assignment to University of Texas at Austin doctoral candidates and to current University of Texas at Austin permanent faculty.
APPLICATION AND THE ASSIGNMENT PROCESS
- Applications are available online or at the PCL Research Help and Check Out desk. Staff assign studies based on the order in which applications are received.
- Assignments are made by the semester and may be renewed for one consecutive semester. Floor preference is honored if possible. Applicants are notified via email to their official UT Austin email address, and should maintain current addresses with the University to ensure timely receipt of notifications. Unclaimed assignments are forfeited, and those studies are reassigned promptly.
- If demand is high, applicants who file late in the semester may not receive an assignment until the following semester. Studies vacated before the end of the semester may be reassigned; however, late assignment of vacated studies to those on the waiting list is considered a full semester's assignment that may be renewed for the next consecutive semester only.
- An occupant in the second semester of their assignment may re-apply only after vacating their current study, and may be assigned the following semester if there are studies available.
FURNISHINGS AND MAINTENANCE
- Studies are furnished with a desk, chair, shelves and bulletin board. Occupants may not move in other furniture from elsewhere in the library. To report lighting, air conditioning or other problems, notify staff in Borrower Services. Occupants who lose the study key or fail to return it will be charged an $81.00 rekeying fee.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
- Unoccupied studies should be locked. The University Libraries and the University of Texas assume no responsibility in the case of loss or damage to personal possessions kept in studies.
- Report thefts, vandalism or other criminal activities to the Borrower Services supervisor on duty and to the guard stationed at the exit.
- Storage of handguns is not permitted in closed studies or any areas within the Libraries.
WITHDRAWAL OF ASSIGNMENT
- Library staff regularly inspect studies. The following violations are cause for withdrawal of the study assignment:
- keeping library materials in the study without first checking them out
- transferring use to another person
- using the study as a conference room or office
- posting items outside the study
- keeping heaters, coffee pots, microwaves, or other small appliances in the study
- keeping cots, bedrolls, or inflatable mattresses in the study
- remaining in the study outside of posted library hours
- affixing posters, pictures, or papers to any surface besides the bulletin board provided
- substituting other library furniture for that supplied in the study
RENEWING
- Studies are not renewable online; staff will reach out to assignees whose studies are eligible for renewal. Assignments not eligible for renewal end on the due date for the assigned term: January 14, May 14, September 14.
CLEARING STUDIES
- If a study is not vacated and the key returned by the due date, or if the assignment is withdrawn, library staff prepare the study for the next occupant by:
- removing library materials and checking them in
- disposing of personal materials in accordance with University rules regarding abandoned property
- billing the assignee $81.00 for rekeying the lock