Carrels & Lockers

Library research carrels are small, quiet work spaces in the W. E. B. Du Bois Library for graduate students and faculty. Contact carrels@library.umass.edu for more info.

Priority for Research Carrel Assignment

  1. Graduate students
  2. Faculty
Current Campus Affiliation Status Length of Assignment
Doctoral Students One year, option to renew for an additional year (maximum two-years)
Masters Students One year (no renewal)
Faculty One year, renewable based on eligibility
  • A limited number of large (window), double-occupancy carrels are available for two individuals to share. Applicants must each reciprocally name each other as their carrel partner on their application in order to be assigned to a double-occupancy carrel.
  • Small interior carrels will be assigned to one individual. That individual may opt to designate one other eligible individual to share this space. In this case, the initial assignee will be the primary occupant on record and will prevail in any dispute over the space.
  • A very limited number of small interior carrels are available for 28-day (one time, no renewal) use on a first-come-first-serve basis to active UMass Amherst Graduate Students only (no advance reservations). Please inquire at the Learning Commons desk as to availability.
  • A very limited number of small, single-occupant 4 Hour Student Use Carrels at the Du Bois Library are available for current UMass Amherst student use only. These must be reserved at least two hours in advance using the 4-Hour Carrels reservation link (subject to availability). Keys will be available 10 minutes in advance of the reservation time from the Du Bois Learning Commons desk and must be returned to that desk promptly at the end of the 4 hour reserved time.

The 2023-2024 Academic Year Research Carrel application submission process has concluded.

Additional applications are not being accepted at this time.

The Libraries also provide the Graduate Commons as a scholarly workspace for Graduate Students.

Public Lockers

Public lockers are available in the 2nd and 5th Floor Quiet Study area of the W. E. B. Du Bois Library for short-term (3-day maximum) use.  Locker keys are available for checkout at the Learning Commons Desk on the Lower Level with a valid library card.

  1. Public locker keys are available for checkout on a first-come-first serve basis at the Learning Commons desk and must be returned to the Learning Commons desk. Overdue locker keys will be billed a $50 replacement charge plus a $25 processing fee to the patron for a total of $75.
  2. Lockers with overdue keys will be emptied after 3 days, and any remaining contents will be stored in the Libraries’ Lost and Found for 30 days then discarded if not claimed, with the exception of library books which will be returned to circulation.
  3. Materials kept in lockers are the responsibility of the user. The Library is not responsible for the contents of the locker.
  4. No hazardous or illegal objects may be stored in lockers.
  5. The Library reserves the right to open lockers and inspect their contents for library material that has not been checked out. Any such materials found will be returned to their proper locations.
  6. Padlocks or personal locks of any type are not permitted on lockers. Staff will remove any such locks

Violation of these rules may result in suspension of privileges.