Explore Spaces

The Ann Hartness Reading Room, named in recognition of Hartness’s 38-year career and tenure as head librarian of the Benson, is on the main (first) floor of the Benson Latin American Collection in SRH 1. The all-access room includes the main Benson service desk, PC workstations, a library catalog computer, public printer, microfilm reader, flatbed scanner, overhead book scanner, and an exhibition space.

The Architecture and Planning Library front desk is located on the second floor of Battle Hall at the top of the grand staircase. It is centrally located to the stacks, reading room, and computer stations. Patrons can receive research help, directional assistance, and general guidance from staff at this location.

The Reading Room is a large, all-access space available for study in historic Battle Hall. It features natural light, large and small tables and abundant seating. Located in the Battle Hall Reading Room is an exhibition gallery that features rotating exhibitions year round. For more information about current exhibitions, see our exhibitions page.

Carrels are enclosed desks available at the Benson Latin American Collection for Latin American Studies graduate students, faculty and visiting scholars. These carrels are assigned on a semester basis.

The main Benson service desk is located within The Ann Hartness Reading Room on the first floor of the Benson Latin American Collection, SRH 1. The all-access room includes PC workstations, a library catalog computer, public printer, microfilm reader, flatbed scanner, overhead book scanner, and an exhibition space.

Library staff in Borrower Services can assist UT students, faculty, staff, and Official Visitors with questions regarding their accounts, and assist visitors to campus with access to library computers and collections in storage.

Public assistance is available at the PCL Desk, found near the entrance of the PCL (Floor 2)

Courtesy Borrower Services is located within Borrower Services. During posted hours, Courtesy Borrower Services can assist Texas residents with obtaining borrowing privileges for the UT Libraries.

Please feel free to email us: circserv@lib.utexas.edu

By Phone:

Student, Faculty, and Staff Hotline (512) 495-4300 
Courtesy Borrower, Alumni, and UT Retiree Hotline (512) 495-4305

The Classics Library service desk located on the ground floor of Waggener Hall includes a Research Help & Check Out Desk, PC workstation, and library catalog computer.

The Collaborative Commons is a group working space with comfortable seating, whiteboards, movable furniture, Airmedia, and plenty of outlets.  It is a conversation-friendly space.

Six long tables. Area total seating capacity 36, plus small conference table with six-seat capacity. Whiteboards.

Four person tables with natural light for collaboration and study.

Computer workstations at the Architecture and Planning Library.

Computer workstations at the Benson Latin American Collection. 

Computer workstations at the Classics Library.

8 PCs and 4 Macs; a 27 inch Cintiq is available for Library Use Only checkout; 3 Viewing Stations with DVD players; one VHS player and one Blu-ray player.

Computer workstations at the Physics Mathematics Astronomy Library. 

The Benson Latin American Collection's Conference Room often hosts events about U.S. Latinas/Latinos or Latin America.

Located in Scholars Commons, the Data Lab has 8 iMacs. Software programs specific to this lab include Stata MP, NVivo, and OpenRefine. This lab is open to all current staff, faculty, and students.

If you are interested in bringing a class to the Data Lab please contact us at scholarscommons@austin.utexas.edu.

Note: Proctorio and other remote proctoring test software is not available on Libraries computers and private spaces are not available for proctored test taking.  

The Data Lab may be requested by faculty/instructors for courses related to Digital Scholarship and/or data. The lab includes 32 iMacs, and specific software programs available are Stata MP, NVivo, and OpenRefine. To reserve a room, please view the policy and request form.

The service desk at the Engineering Library is on the 1^st floor of the Engineering and Education Research Center (EER) and includes a Research Help & Check Out Desk, PC workstations, a quick print station, a library catalog computer, and an overhead book scanner.  The Engineering Library is wheelchair accessible. 

The Benson Latin American Collection's second floor exhibition gallery features rotating exhibitions year round. For more information about current exhibitions, see our exhibitions page.

The Benson Latin American Collection's first floor exhibition hallway features rotating exhibitions year round. For more information about current exhibitions, see our exhibitions page.

The Fine Arts Library carrel space is a mix of reservable desks and reservable shelves located on level 5 of the library. Carrels are checked out on a semester basis and are renewable. The first week of classes priority checkout access is given to graduate students. After the first week of classes any undergraduate or graduate student can reserve a space. Visit the Fine Arts Library desk to request a carrel or shelf.

Open seating and study tables in the library stacks, which are available for quiet, individual study.

4 Mac studio Apple M1 Max 32 GB and 2 Mac Mini Apple M2 Pros 32 GB, each with two 2 inch screens with software for video and audio post-production, 3D modeling, and Adobe Creative Cloud. Uses: Gaming, film, multimedia production.

Space with 3D printers, mills, a laser cutter, a large format printer, and a fiber arts lab with embroidery and sewing machines.

This state of the art video wall is intended for special projects, demonstrations, and presentations. Seating room limit of 70 chairs. To reserve contact Teri Lloyd, tlloyd@austin.utexas.edu. 

The lobby of the Geology Library includes a Research Help & Check Out Desk, PC workstations, library catalog computer, an overhead book scanner, a map scanner, and color and black & white printers.

Located at the far end of the Scholars Commons and accessible by UT ID cards, the Graduate Landing Spot offers a kitchenette, lounge areas and media-equipped, reservable meeting rooms for UT graduate students. These rooms may be used for group study and meetings with other graduate students, and consultations with UT Libraries staff. 

Small room in the Library stacks, with study carrel for quiet, individual learning. Greek Authors are located here.

Enclosed room offers a conference table plus four lounge chairs for collaboration and studying. The PMA Library's New Books and Current Journal collections are located in this space.

Small room in the Library stacks with table and lounge chair for quiet, individual learning. Latin Authors are featured in this space.

Learning Lab 1 has 96 seats (this room can be split into sides A and B, each with 48 seats) and 8 projector screens. All PCL Learning Labs are open as study space when not in use as a classroom. View Classroom Use Policy and Request Form. 

Learning Lab 2 has 36 seats and 6 flat screen TVs (with Airmedia). All PCL Learning Labs are open as study space when not in use as a classroom. View Classroom Use Policy and Request Form. 

Learning Lab 3 has 36 seats and 6 flat screen TVs (with Airmedia). All PCL Learning Labs are open as study space when not in use as a classroom. View Classroom Use Policy and Request Form. 

Learning Lab 4 has 36 seats and 6 flat screen TVs (with Airmedia). All PCL Learning Labs are open as study space when not in use as a classroom. View Classroom Use Policy and Request Form. 

The Lebermann Media Lab provides hardware and software to create audio, video, still and 3D animation projects, flatbed scanners, a microform reader/scanner and the Assistive Technology station. Students, faculty and staff can use the equipment on a first-come, first-served basis. View Use Policy and Request form for course use.

For help using Media Lab software, sign in to LinkedIn Learning using the institutional login option. 

Note: Proctorio and other remote proctoring test software is not available on Libraries computers and private spaces are not available for proctored test taking.

The Life Science Library lobby located on the second floor of Main Room 220 includes a Research Help & Check Out Desk, quick print stations, and overhead book scanners.

The exhibit cases outside the Fine Arts Library feature a rotation of temporary exhibitions. For more information on current exhibitions, see our exhibitions page.

The Tobin Map Collection Room has a large table with open seating for collaborative study, a drafting table and a light table suitable for viewing large format flat maps. Whiteboards.

A workstation with assistive technology equipment is available for use in the 2nd floor Media Lab. This area features a wheelchair accessible workstation.

Exhibit Guidelines | Exhibit Proposal Form | Past Exhibits

Exhibits in the PCL provide an excellent opportunity for the Libraries to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, especially with graduate students, faculty members and others in the University community. These exhibits enable collaborators to share, inform, educate, and promote UT Libraries' collections and services). Exhibits have a permanent presence in our online repository, Texas ScholarWorks.

The goals of the Exhibits in the PCL are to: 

• Infuse concepts of community, connection, equity and accessibility
• Promote the diverse holdings and scholarly value of specific Library collections
• Promote the role of the Libraries, its collections, resources, services, and staff as central to the research and teaching programs of the University
• Encourage individuals from the University community to collaborate with the Libraries to showcase research and scholarship
• Support university events, programs, symposia, activities, and accomplishments
• Promote University and community relations

If you have an exhibit to suggest for the Scholars Commons @PCL, please take a look at our in-depth Exhibits Guidelines before you fill out our Exhibit Proposal Form. You will be contacted by the Exhibits Advisory Committee, but you may email us with questions. 

Reserve a room. The PCL Group Study rooms are reservable spaces for groups of 2 or more. They include movable furniture, whiteboards and power outlets.

Location: PCL Lobby

Who Can Use: All campus

For: Lactation Only

Room is equipped with an Ameda Elite Breast Pump. 

The room is walk-up, not reservable. Please sign in at the PCL Desk with UT ID and get a key.

The lobby on the main floor of PCL includes a Research Help & Check Out Desk, PC workstations, quick print stations, library catalog computer, overhead book scanners, and printers. 

Quick Print Stations Software:

• 7Zip
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Office
• Wolfram Mathematica

Reserve a room. The PCL Presentation Practice rooms are private, reservable spaces where groups of 2 or more can collaborate and practice presentations through Airmedia or projector display. These rooms contain movable furniture, whiteboards, power outlets, and projector or TV displays with HDMI/USB or wireless connectivity.

Open seating and study tables in the library stacks, which are available for quiet, individual study.

The PCL Reflection Space is designed for wellness breaks, quiet meditation and brief retreats from studying. The UT community is encouraged to use the two rooms in the space to relax and reflect in a calm environment.

Open stacks seating and study tables that are designated for collaborative, group study.

The lobby on the main floor of the John M. Kuehne Physics Math Astronomy (PMA) Library includes the circulation desk, textbook collection, reference section, PC workstations, library catalog station, overhead book scanner, flatbed scanners, and printers. The main floor also includes a collaborative study space and group study room available for students, staff, and faculty.

Location: PMA 8.200

Who Can Use: All campus

For: Lactation or Rest

The room is walk-up, not reservable. Contact PMA library staff at (512) 495-4610. Room is equipped with an Ameda Elite Breast Pump.

Small tables with natural light for individual quiet study.

Order Peet’s Coffee beverages and quick food options on the ground floor of the Perry-Castañeda Library. Prufrock’s offers hot and cold drink options, pastries and grab and go selections. Give your studying at the library a boost with a trip to Prufrock’s.

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Reading Room is where researchers can go to access any of the Benson's special collections.

Recording studio with soundproof room.

The Reference Room in the Classics Library is an all-access space dedicated to quiet study, and features natural light, large and small tables and a lounge chair.

The Richard T. and Jan J. Roberts reading room is housed in the iconic Hall of Texas located on the west end of the Life Science Library. The Hall of Texas – donning the names of influential figures in Texas History and cultural iconography of the various inhabitants of the state – is a large, all-access space dedicated to quiet study, and features natural light, large and small tables, and abundant seating.

Scan Tech Studio provides scholars access to advanced tools for Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities. The studio is equipped with a Zeutschel Scanner, OCR Flatbed Scanner, and a PC workstation. To reserve a room, please view the policy and request form.

UT Graduate Students: Reserve a room. These rooms are only available to UT graduate students.

The Scholars Lab provides open study spaces, accessible to anyone without reservation.

The Scholars Lab Project Rooms are reservable for students and faculty to conduct Digital Scholarship projects and offer Zoom technology for hybrid meetings. To reserve a room, please view the policy and request form.

The Benson Latin American Collection's Seminar Room is used for class meetings, Library Instruction sessions, and archival showings. It includes a large meeting table.

The main room in our Scholars Commons is dedicated to silent study when not being used for presentations and symposia. Designed with a variety of needs in mind, the goal was to create a space where any serious scholar would find a spot to be contemplative and productive.

Partitioned individual study spaces.

Small tables with natural light for individual quiet study.

Small tables for individual quiet study.

The four STEM Learning Spaces, which each seat 8-12 people, are booked by partners in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) and Engineering for tutoring in specific STEM classes. When they are not booked, they are open for individual or collaborative study by any student. Each space features large whiteboards and moveable furniture.

Study area open to all students, including those in STEM courses.

The Benson Latin American Collection's Study Commons is our quiet study space, featuring study tables with electrical outlets and check-out shelves for Benson materials you want to keep in the building.

Enclosed room with natural light offers ammenites for collaboration and study.

The Hall of Noble Words, one of two spacious reading rooms in the Life Science Library, is located on the west end of the library. The Hall of Noble Words – displaying philosophical quotes from some of the world's most influential authors, philosophers, and leaders – is a large, all-access space dedicated to quiet study, and features natural light, large and small tables, and abundant seating.

The PCL Map Room houses a large print map collection, atlases, travel guides, and globes. There are five large tables suitable for looking at map and studying and a large format scanner for digitizing maps.

The University Writing Center, a unit of the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, helps university students become more proficient, more versatile, and more confident in their writing abilities. Visit their website to learn more about this service. The Writing Center space is open study space outside normal hours.

The UT Poetry Center, home to the Ruth Stephan Poetry Collection, is a diverse collection of poetry unique to the University of Texas Libraries. The center is located on the entry level of the Perry-Castañeda Library in the UFCU room.

The Ruth Stephan Collection is more than 50 years old and promotes the reading of poetry for enjoyment and edification. The collection also supports poets from the university and the greater Austin community, and it serves as a record of small press publishing in Austin. Some of the collection’s chapbooks, no longer in print, are not found at any other library! The collection is meant to be enjoyed by all, including the greater Austin and Texas communities. Therefore, the books do not circulate and are intended to be available for anyone looking for inspiration.

Ruth Stephan's intention in creating the collection was to maintain and cherish the spirit of poetry and to recognize that poetry is the art of poets, not of critics.  It is our sincere hope that the UT Poetry Center serves as a place for all writers and readers of poetry in Austin and beyond.

Visit the UT Poetry Center research guide for recommended books and to learn more about the collection.