Quiet Spaces

Find a study environment that works for you.

Dalhousie Libraries offer a range of study environments, from spaces where conversation is welcome to areas designed for silent, focused study.

Choose Your Study Environment

Study environment What to expect
Conversation-friendly Talking and group work are permitted. Keep voices at a reasonable level, use headphones with devices, and set phones to silent.
Quiet study Quiet conversation may be permitted. Use headphones with devices, set phones to silent, and leave the area to take phone calls. If your conversation can be heard more than two tables away or outside your study room, it is too loud.
Silent study No talking is permitted. Intended for focused individual study. Use headphones with devices, set phones to silent, and leave the area to take phone calls.

Study Environments by Location

Killam Memorial Library

Conversation-friendly

1st floor: Downie Wenjack Learning Commons

2nd floor: Atrium seating and study carrels in the book stacks

3rd floor: Atrium seating

Quiet study

1st floor: Music Room

4th floor: Atrium seating and study rooms

Silent study

2nd floor: McNab Reading Room

3rd and 4th floors: Study carrels along the perimeter of the book stacks

5th floor: All areas

Kellogg Health Sciences Library

Quiet study

Individual study desks

Kellogg Learning Commons

Conversation-friendly

Bookable study rooms

Quiet study

Individual study desks, tables, commons areas

Silent study

Room C223

MacRae Library

Conversation-friendly

Level 2

Quiet study

Level 1

Individual study desks throughout the library

Silent study

Level B

Sexton Design & Technology Library

Conversation-friendly

Main floor: service area

North mezzanine group study tables

Quiet study

Main floor: journal stacks

South mezzanine tables and study carrels

Sir James Dunn Law Library

Conversation-friendly

2nd floor: Learning Commons

Quiet study

3rd floor

1st floor

Silent study

2nd floor: Canada Room

4th floor

Wallace McCain Learning Commons

Conversation-friendly

Bookable group study rooms

Quiet study

Quiet study room 264

Learning commons, tables, study desks

Be Considerate of Others

Help keep library spaces comfortable and welcoming for everyone.

  • Choose a study environment that matches the type of work you are doing.
  • Follow the noise expectations for the area.
  • Keep phones on silent in all study areas.
  • Use headphones with devices.
  • Take phone calls outside quiet and silent study areas.
  • Choose a conversation-friendly or group study space when you need to talk or work collaboratively.

View Library Guidelines

Looking for a Different Kind of Space?

Need a space for a group? Book a study room for collaborative work.

Need a computer or other technology? Explore computers, printing, scanning, and other technology available at Dalhousie Libraries.

Looking for a particular library? Learn about our library locations, hours, facilities, and services.