If you’ve ever seen a movie or a television show with a plot development that takes place in a library, chances are you’re probably familiar with the following scene:

Two students navigate their way through the shelves in search of an important piece of information. As they search, they discuss their class assignment and how the information they’re looking for fits their topic. They’re talking in loud whispers until one of them gets excited, forgets where they are, and raises his voice to a normal (or slightly above normal) level.
From the reference desk, an annoyed librarian shushes the characters with a scowl. The characters smile sheepishly and return to their hushed conversation.

Can you imagine this exchange taking place at Kimbel Library? Hopefully not!

Believe it or not, there are librarians who work at Kimbel Library who say they’ve never had to use their shushing finger as part of their job. In fact, noise in the first floor of Kimbel Library is accepted, including the first floor area near Java City. Students are actually encouraged to use the library and information commons as a space for collaboration and interaction with one another.

You may have seen this on the first floor of the library, where students can sit with their textbooks or projects spread out as they study and work together. Café tables on the second floor of the Bryan Information Commons are also an excellent place for conversation, as are the sofas and other soft seating on the ground floor. You can take advantage of one of the study rooms or presentation rooms, utilizing new furniture and technology chosen with your study and presentation needs in mind. Whether you want a comfy chair to sit in for the long haul or an interactive board to share your ideas with friends and classmates, we’ve designed the library and information commons with your needs in mind.

All of this social space means Kimbel Library may not fit into traditional ideas of what a library should look and sound like. The noise level in particular may be naturally higher than what is usually associated with a library. Those librarians from the scene above would certainly have trouble adjusting to such an environment, where the sound of many voices can be heard all at once!

Of course, such a noisy atmosphere isn’t for everyone, and you may find that sometimes you want a place where you can study more quietly. If you want a more tranquil study environment, then you can take refuge on the second floor of Kimbel Library, which is designated as a quiet study area. This is a zone where you can set yourself up in a study room or other space and settle in to get work done.

Whether you prefer lots of activity and interaction or quiet and concentration, you are encouraged to explore the different spaces the library has to offer to meet your learning needs.