Need a quiet study space? Book a Library carrel

Study Carrels are bookable Library spaces with single, double and group units. Open seats, carrels and group study rooms have different arrangements, so check the resource name before booking.

Advance booking is for students on CityUHK award-bearing programmes, including associate, bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees, and eligible staff. Single units are 101–110 and 113–118; double units 111–112; group unit 119. Bring your student card for Library entry and find the room number shown on your reservation.

Enter the Library from YEUNG 3/F. Study Carrels 101–119 are in the Purple Zone by the Law Collection, to the left of the entrance. For presentations/discussions with four or more people, choose a Group Study Room in the Humanities Academy behind the Oval instead of a single carrel.

Book carrels through Resource Booker on a first-come, first-served basis. Bookable hours follow Circulation Counter service hours, which may differ from Library opening hours.

The 20-hour weekly limit is shared by Study Carrels, Group Study Rooms and The Collab Nest. For example, eight carrel hours plus six group-room hours leave six hours for the week; each type does not receive a separate 20-hour allowance.

From 31 August to 20 December 2026, both the Circulation Counter and Library IT Help Desk operate Monday–Friday 08:30–21:00, Saturday 09:00–18:00 and Sunday 13:00–18:00; closed public holidays. For 21 December 2026–10 January 2027, hours change to weekdays 08:30–18:00 and Saturday 09:00–17:00, closed Sundays/public holidays. Library opening is longer, daily 08:30–23:00 except 25 December and 1 January.

Open Resource Booker from the Library home page or the button below. Sign in with your University account, choose Study Carrels, and check the room, date and start/end times.

After submitting, confirm the record in My Bookings. If your plans change, use the same system to view and cancel the original booking, then rebook subject to availability.

1. 1

   Open the dedicated booking page

   Use this page’s button and sign in with your University EID. Check the resource is Study Carrels and select the room for single, double or group use.

   Book a Study Carrel (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Choose hourly sessions and submit

   Select date/start/end, using whole-hour slots within five days and your 20-hour weekly allowance; confirm the reservation.

3. 3

   Check the record

   In My Bookings, verify room/date/start/end and save the details. No record or an error does not establish a reservation.

4. 4

   Cancel unused sessions

   Open the corresponding My Bookings record and cancel it; check it disappears. If full, choose another time or an open seat.

Use the booked carrel during your reserved session. If you are 15 minutes late for any booked hour, the Library may forfeit that hour and let another user use the remaining time.

Carrels are for academic use. Bookings cannot be transferred and food is not allowed. Doors do not lock: take valuables with you, and remove belongings, switch off lights, restore furniture and close the door when leaving.

Group Study Rooms are in the Humanities Academy behind the Oval. At least four users, including the person who booked, must attend. Select a room and capacity actually offered in Resource Booker. Book up to five days ahead in one-hour sessions starting on the hour, within Library IT Help Desk service hours and the shared 20-hour weekly allowance.

1. 1

   Choose and confirm a Group Study Room

   In Resource Booker select Group Study Room, check the room, capacity, date and hourly slots. Confirm the entry in My Bookings before notifying your group.

   Open Group Study Room booking (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   The booker checks in with their card

   Arrive on time with at least four users. The booker swipes their own CityUHK smart ID card at the room door. Being over 15 minutes late in any booked hour, an absent booker or insufficient users can forfeit that hour; use the room IP phone for equipment help.

3. 3

   Lock the room after use

   Switch off lights, restore equipment and furniture, take belongings and lock the room to sign off. Group rooms must be locked after use; Study Carrel doors must not be locked.

Opened in August 2026, The Collab Nest provides four semi-soundproof booths, Nest 01–04, for up to two users each. For quiet collaboration, online meetings or focused work, select The Collab Nest in Resource Booker. Book hourly slots starting on the hour, up to five days ahead during counter service hours, using the same shared weekly quota. Access directly after booking; leaving it vacant for the first 15 minutes may forfeit the hour. Restore the facilities and close the door after use.

The booths are on Library 3/F in the Yellow Zone, toward the far end from the entrance. Continue past the Oval toward that zone and find The Nest 01–04 signs; use your booked number.

1. 1

   Choose a pod and an hourly slot

   Open The Collab Nest booking below. Choose Nest 01–04, date and an hourly slot within the shared 20-hour weekly quota.

   Book The Collab Nest (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Confirm and find the correct pod

   Check the pod and time in My Bookings. Bring your student card into the Library and find the numbered pod in Yellow Zone. Maximum two people, including the booker; an empty pod may be released after the first 15 minutes of each hour.

3. 3

   Cancel changes and leave the pod ready

   Cancel unused time in My Bookings. Take belongings, restore facilities and close the door. For an occupied pod or booking discrepancy, give the Circulation Counter the pod and time: 3442 8316.