Study Spaces

Reserve Teamwork Hubs Reserve Group Study Rooms Reserve Individual Study Carrels Reserve Privacy Booths

The Health Sciences Library (HSL) provides an array of study spaces to meet the needs of our diverse users. All Library spaces are located in the Hammer Health Sciences Center:

  • Lobby level: Knowledge Center
  • Lower Level 1 (LL1): Quiet Reading Room (LL1-112), Group Study Rooms, Individual Study Carrels

Using study spaces

Reservations are available for selected spaces, including two Teamwork Hubs and four Privacy Booths in the Knowledge Center, Group Study Rooms, and Individual Study Carrels. Learn more about each space below. For information on how the space can best be shared by all using it, please refer to Health Sciences Library's guidelines on use of Library spaces.

Knowledge Center (Hammer Lobby Level)

The Knowledge Center is located on the Lobby level of the Hammer Health Sciences Center and is open 24/7 to CUIMC students, faculty, and staff with an active CUIMC ID. Columbia students, faculty, and staff as well as NYP-Columbia and NYSPI staff are welcome to use the Knowledge Center during study spaces hours. Access for additional visitor groups are detailed in Health Sciences Library's explanation of who can use the Library.

The Knowledge Center features a variety of seating options to support both individual and collaborative work. In addition, a silent study space is available on the south side of the Knowledge Center, equipped with iMac and Windows workstations.

  • Banquettes/booths
Two booth seats
MacOS workstations and scanner
  • Orange Room 1-102: 8 seats
The Orange Room with three people studying
  • Round tables
The Knowledge Center with view of the tall table, round table, and booths
  • Square chairs
Square chairs in front of book shelves
  • Tall tables
Tall table area in the Knowledge Center, with a pereson studying with a laptop
Four teamwork hubs
Windows computer workstation

The Knowledge Center also has six printers and a scanning station.

Please note: all computers, printers, and scanners, as well as the wireless network and virtual private network (VPN), are managed by CUIMC IT. For technical help with any of the equipment (including software) or networks, please contact them at (212) 305-HELP (4357) or via email at 5help@columbia.edu.

Privacy Booths (Knowledge Center)

The Health Sciences Library offers 4 privacy booths in the Knowledge Center, Lobby Level of Hammer. The Privacy Booths are available for zoom calls, taking online courses, making phone calls and other activities that require privacy.

Columbia students can book Privacy Booths for up to two hours per day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Privacy booths are first come, first served for any unreserved time slots.

Privacy Booth reservation guidelines:

  • Current CUIMC students can reserve.
  • Reservations can be made for up to two hours per day with a minimum of 30 minutes.
  • Reservations may be scheduled through the end of the current semester.
  • Reservations are held for 15 minutes after start time. After 15 minutes, the room will be available to any user and becomes reservable online.
  • Please be sure to follow the Health Sciences Library's guidelines on Use of Library Spaces.
  • Arrive on time for your reservation and check in.
Quiet Reading Room (Hammer Lower Level 1)

Located on the Lower Level 1 of the Hammer Health Sciences Center, the quiet reading room is open 24/7 and does not require an ID to enter. It is designated as silent study space where no talking is allowed.

The Quiet Reading Room features two types of seating:

  • Privacy work lounges
A blue worklounge seat with blue dividers for privacy
  • Tall tables
Tall bar-style tables with chairs
Group Study Rooms (Hammer Lower Level 1)

The Health Sciences Library offers seven group study rooms on the Lower Level 1 of the Hammer Building. Five group study rooms each seat 4-8 individuals and two larger collaboration rooms each seat 8-10 individuals. Reservations are available daily between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Group Study Rooms are first come, first served for any unreserved time slots.

Group Study Room reservation guidelines:

  • Current CUIMC students only.
  • Group use only.
  • NOT for instruction or teaching purposes, including TA sessions.
  • Reservations can be made for up to three hours per day with a minimum of 30 minutes.
  • Reservations may be scheduled through the end of the current semester.
  • Reservations are held for 15 minutes after start time. After 15 minutes, the room will be available to any group and becomes reservable online.

Please observe the following when using the space:

  • Arrive on time for your reservation and check in.
Individual Study Carrels (Hammer Lower Level 1)

The Health Sciences Library offers ten 24/7 individual study carrels on the Lower Level 1 of Hammer, adjacent to the group study rooms. Each room is equipped with a glass sliding door that can also be used as a dry-erase board. The Individual Study Carrels are designated as silent study spaces where no talking is allowed. Please be courteous to colleagues in the neighboring carrels.

Columbia students, faculty, and staff can reserve individual study carrels for up to two hours per day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.. Study carrels are first come, first served for any unreserved time slots.

Individual Study Carrel reservation guidelines:

  • Current CUIMC students, faculty, and staff can reserve.
  • Reservations can be made for up to two hours per day with a minimum of 30 minutes.
  • Reservations may be scheduled through the end of the current semester.
  • Reservations are held for 15 minutes after start time. After 15 minutes, the room will be available to any user and becomes reservable online.

Please be sure to follow the Health Sciences Library's guidelines on Use of Library Spaces.

  • Arrive on time for your reservation and check in.

Last updated: 7/2023