The Caltech Library offers study spaces across five locations.  Each location has limited seating with priority given to Caltech students, faculty, and staff.  Visitors and external researchers should refer to our Rules of Access for more information.  Access to the libraries of Caltech varies based on day of the week and specific library.  For the most up-to-date library hours by location, please visit the hours page. 

The Library has three types of study areas:

  • These areas can be reserved.
  • Conversations are allowed.
  • Set phones to vibrate.

Group Study locations

Sherman Fairchild Library - 2nd floor

  • Group study rooms (4)

Millikan Library - 9th floor

  • Group study room (1)
    • Reservations are required.  Please visit the room reservation page. Please note, the room is available as a group study room from 8am to 4pm, Mondays through Fridays.  After 4pm during the week and all day Saturdays and Sundays, this room is only available as a Teaching Resource Room.  Reservations are mediated and limited to faculty, graduate students, and post docs who are teaching a course. 
  • Study tables (29)
  • Individual study tables (16)
  • Windows computer workstations (2)
  • Mac computer workstations (3)

  • Occasional and quiet discussion allowed.
  • Phones set to vibrate or silent; phone conversations are not permitted.
  • Headphones set at low volume.

Quiet Study locations

Sherman Fairchild Library

  • Basement
    • 4 person tables (5)
    • Window computer workstations (7)
    • Soft seating (6)
  • 1st floor
    • 4 person tables (6)
    • Window computer workstations (14)
    • Mac computer workstations (4)
    • Soft seating (6)
  • 2nd floor
    • Individual study carrels (6)
    • Window computer workstations (2)

Cahill Library (1st floor)

  • Soft seating (6)
  • 4 person tables (2)
  • Windows computer workstations (2)

Dabney Library

  • Basement
    • 1 person study tables (3)
    • Windows computer workstations (2)
    • 4 person study table (1)
    • Microfiche scanning workstation (1)
  • 1st floor
    • 4 person tables (4)
    • Soft seating (8)
    • Windows computer workstations (2)

Geology Library

  • 4 person tables (3)
  • Study carrels (4)
  • Soft seating (4)
  • 1 person table (1)

  • Silent study only.
  • No talking.
  • Phones set to silent; phone conversations are not permitted.
  • Headphones set at low volume.

Silent Study locations

Sherman Fairchild Library

  • 2nd floor
    • 4-6 person tables (2)
    • Individual study carrels (6)
    • 2 person table (2)
  • 3rd floor
    • Individual study carrels (5)
    • Soft seating (14)
    • 4-6 person tables (9)
    • Windows computer workstations (2)