What's That Noise? White Noise in Kimbel Library

Kimbel Library now has a white noise system on the first floor that should help keep things much quieter for groups working on projects as well as individuals trying to concentrate on their studies. The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology defines white noise as "an auditory stimulus that has all frequencies represented in random fluctuation and sounds like an ongoing ‘shhh’.", which makes it seem particularly library appropriate. As before, group project work and group studying is encouraged on the 1st floor and in the second floor study rooms, and the library's second floor is reserved for silent study only.

Room 110 Now Open for Quiet Study

Room 110 on the first floor of the library (the library instruction classroom) is open for quiet study from now until the end of the semester.

Need More Quiet?

Looking for more quiet in the library? From now through finals week, the library is experimenting with keeping rooms 110, 220, and the mini computer lab at the top of the stairs as quiet only zones. If you are in these rooms, you need to be studying silently. These rooms are not designated for group work during this time, so feel free to walk in and have a seat if you need a silent place to study. Please let library staff know if you observe any problems with the quiet zone areas.

A reminder - Quiet Study area on second floor

Sometimes, when living on (or off) campus, it can be difficult to find a quiet place to study or work on your homework. The second floor of Kimbel Library has been designated as a quiet study area.


Please show consideration for students in this area. For some students, this is the only place that they can go for a quiet environment. If you are working in groups, please use the first floor, or check out a key to one of our study rooms or presentation rooms. If you need to make or receive a telephone call, please take your cell phone to the first floor or outside the building.


We appreciate all students who respect this quiet zone. If you are on the second floor, and find that the noise level is too high, please report this to Library staff at the Information or Circulation Desks.


For more information, please see the library's Noise Policy on our website.