Please reinforce the fact that the group study rooms are for groups
and not for just one person. Every time my friends and I come to the library,
we can never get into a study room and they are always occupied by a single
individual. A policy reinforcing it would be very helpful and effective.
From: Artemis

Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services Barbara Anderson replies...
Configuring a library with serious space limitations to accommodate the different study needs of individuals and groups is a real challenge (for more on this you can see my April 22 blog response about the 3rd floor noise policy), As you know, Cabell Library has several rooms that will accommodate groups along the south (Commons) side of the 1st floor, in the central part of the 3rd floor and in a very large open area in the southwest corner of the 2nd floor. In fact, we do have printed regulations that govern the use of these rooms. They are available online at: http://www.library.vcu.edu/services/studyroom.html and they are posted on the walls outside the 1st floor study rooms, as well. Additional signage is on order for posting near the 3rd floor study rooms.

Here are some excerpts from those regulations:
- Priority use of group study rooms is given to groups of two or more people and to individuals with a demonstrated study or research-related need for a private room (e.g., using a tape record to tape notes or practice a speech)
- Groups have priority over individuals in the event all study rooms are in use. Individuals seeking a quiet place to study are encouraged to go to the designated quiet floor (fourth floor)
- A section of the second floor has been designated the Group Study Area. Please use this area if all study rooms are occupied.
- Please limit your use of a room to two hours. Time may be extended if no other group or individual is waiting.
- As a courtesy to other library patrons, please keep noise to a minimum.
- Rules regulating study rooms are the same as applied to Cabell Library as a whole.

So, while it's not exactly true that group study rooms are "not for just one person," if all other group study rooms/areas are full, you and your study partners are within your rights to ask (politely, of course) a single individual occupying one of these rooms to move to another area of the library. If you feel that you need assistance in negotiating group study space, please consult with library staff at one of our service points (reference desk or circulation desk on the first floor, or Media and Reserves desk on the third floor) or with security staff posted near the library entrance.