Rationale

The mission of the Indiana University Bloomington Libraries is to "inspire and empower students and faculty to excel in innovative research and creative activity, outstanding teaching and publishing, and deep, reflective learning." The Quiet Policy that follows has been developed to encourage individuals to respect the rights of all library users and to help create an environment that promotes learning and supports research.

Policy

All Indiana University Bloomington Libraries attempt to maintain quiet study areas. The availability of limited talking and group study areas is dependent upon the size and configuration of the individual libraries. Some cannot support limited and unlimited talking areas.

Cell phones: While in the library, please turn off your ringer or set your phone to vibrate. Confine your voice conversations to non-library spaces in the building or, in the case of the Wells Library, to the lobby or the BookMarket Cafe.

Quiet Areas in Bloomington Campus Libraries

Herman B Wells Library

Quiet Areas:

East TowerReference Reading Room and Floors 2, 4-11
West TowerFloors 2 and 3

 

Limited Talking:

East TowerReference Desk Area 
Circulation Desk Area                                                                                   
Government Information, Maps & Microform Services (GIMMS), Floor 2
Ground FloorMoving Image Collections and Archives

 

Group Study Areas:

Main Lobby 
West TowerFloor 1, Learning Commons 
Floors 4 and 5

 

IUB Branch Libraries

Business/SPEA Information CommonsLimited Talking and Group Study Areas
Education LibraryQuiet and Limited Talking areas
Lilly LibraryQuiet
Music Library & Archives of Traditional MusicQuiet, Limited Talking, and Unlimited Talking areas
Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center LibraryLimited Talking with one Quiet Study Room
Sciences LibraryQuiet, Limited Talking, and Group Study Areas
University ArchivesQuiet

 

Areas within a library may be designated as follows:

  • Quiet Area: Use is reserved for individual research and study with library materials. No study groups are allowed in these areas.
  • Limited Talking: Use of library resources may require library staff assistance, instruction and/or consultation. There may be residual noise from programs and media. Personal conversations and extended talking are not appropriate.
  • Group Study Areas: Talking in normal conversational tones is permitted as appropriate for collaboration and small group (2-8) discussion. Large groups (more than 8), loud talking and other disruptive behavior is not appropriate. Work on class projects, tutoring and joint use of library materials is encouraged.

Location: