Libraries Usage Guidelines & Policies

The usage guidelines and policies below apply to the following libraries on WashU’s Danforth Campus: the John M. Olin Library, the Kenneth and Nancy Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library, the Al and Ruth Kopolow (Business) Library, the East Asian Library, and the Gaylord Music Library.

For usage guidelines and policies for the following libraries, please visit their websites or contact them directly:

General Usage Guidelines

For the comfort and safety of library users and the security of the buildings and collections, WashU Libraries expect users to observe the following guidelines. The Libraries reserve the right to address behaviors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

WashU Libraries reserves the right to restrict the access of any person who abuses the following:
Using resources for any purpose that violates federal or state laws
Using resources for unauthorized commercial purposes
Using resources in a manner that is disrespectful or intimidating to others
Damaging materials, including pest infestation, furnishings, or any building structure

To provide a secure environment for all, library staff or security are authorized to:

Request the current photo identification of any person in the library
Question any person if it appears that this policy or WashU policies are being disregarded, and call for other assistance if necessary
Limit or revoke library privileges at any time if policies are disregarded

Users who violate this policy may also be subject to disciplinary or legal actions.

Library Hours & Building Access

See the WashU Libraries Hours page for Olin Library and other Danforth Campus libraries’ regular hours, as well as special hours and closures during breaks and holidays.

A closing announcement will be made before the close of each day. At that time, prepare to leave. Users with materials to check out at the circulation desk should prepare to do so at least 10 minutes before closing time.

Users should always have their WashU ID with them. For safety and security reasons, library staff may request to see identification.

See the Libraries’ Accessibility page for information on accessibility in library buildings, spaces, and resources.

Building Access by Library Location

John M. Olin Library is a standalone building. During the fall and spring semesters, a valid WashU ID is required to use the library after 8 PM, including during extended end-of-semester hours. All users without a valid WashU ID are expected to leave the library by 8 PM and not visit during swipe-access-only hours. During the summer semester, breaks, and other times when the library has reduced operational hours, a card swipe is not required for entry during open hours.
Gaylord Music Library, a standalone building, does not require a WashU ID card swipe during open hours.
The Kenneth and Nancy Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library (inside the Kemper Art Museum building), the Al and Ruth Kopolow (Business) Library (inside Simon Hall), and the East Asian Library (inside January Hall) do not require a card swipe at their entrances during open hours. WashU Libraries do not manage card access to the buildings in which they are housed. Swipe hours for these locations may differ from the library entrance open hours.
Visitors and other users without a valid WashU ID may wish to contact the libraries directly before visiting to confirm access.

Visitors

Visitors are responsible for adhering to the University’s visitor guidance and protocols and the WashU Libraries General Usage Guidelines.

Eating and drinking are permitted in some library spaces according to the Food and Drink guidelines.

Visitors to the Libraires are invited to explore the For Visitors & Alumni page. While visitors to the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections reading room in the John M. Olin Library are always welcome during its open hours, Special Collections research visits are by appointment only and have limited capacity. Please see the Plan Your Visit portion of the Special Collections Research & Access page for more information.

Personal Property & Lost Items

Protect your personal property from theft or damage. Do not leave any personal property (including laptops, mobile devices, bags, and other articles of value) unattended. The Libraries are not responsible for lost or stolen property, and there is no guarantee that any item left or lost will be found and returned to the lost and found.

Lost items are collected at the circulation desk. Items such as mobile devices, laptops, wallets, and other items the WashU Police Department (WUPD) deems valuable are transferred to WUPD’s Lost & Found, the central location for lost items on the Danforth Campus, as soon as possible after they are turned in. Items that WUPD deems not valuable may be retained in the libraries for a limited time.

If you believe you left or lost something in the libraries, ask at the circulation desk during open hours and check with WUPD.

Study Spaces

See the Study Rooms page for information on library study rooms and spaces, including their features, general usage guidelines, and links to make reservation requests where applicable. Users are encouraged to explore all the libraries to find the environments that best support their needs.

Noise

When using WashU Libraries, be respectful of other users and mindful of surrounding noise levels. Users should select spaces that meet their noise and activity expectations.

Olin Library has five floors, with two above the ground floor and two below. Level 1, the ground floor, is generally the most active and has the highest noise levels. Noise levels are generally lowest on Level 3 (the top floor) and Level B (the bottom floor), as well as in quiet study rooms throughout the building.

In general, open study spaces in the Art, Business, East Asian, and Music libraries are quiet, with more active, noise-generating study and interaction occurring in group study rooms.

Item & Activity Restrictions

Please use your cell phone or other device outside the library or on the staircase landing on each floor of Olin Library, and keep it on silent or vibrate at all times.
Running, skating, and similar activities are not allowed. Carry (do not ride) your skateboard, in-line skates, or collapsible scooter in the building; do not place these items where they obstruct pathways or stairways, and do not leave them unattended.
Bicycles and non-collapsible scooters are not allowed in the libraries.
For safety reasons, do not stretch electrical cords across pathways. Doing so creates a trip hazard.
Due to safety and fire regulations, do not linger or sit on staircases.
Do not smoke (including e-cigarettes) or chew tobacco. Per the university’s Tobacco-Free Policy, these activities are not allowed anywhere on WashU campuses.
Except for trained service animals, do not bring animals into the library.
Balloons and confetti are not permitted in the libraries.

Food & Drink

WashU Libraries strive to maintain an environment that supports user comfort, study, and research while preserving collections, equipment, and furnishings. As outlined below, eating and drinking are permitted in some areas.

Food & Covered Drinks Allowed

Food and covered drinks are not generally monitored in most spaces except the areas listed in the “Restricted Food and Drink Spaces” section below.
All food deliveries must be received outside the library.
Cooking appliances such as griddles, hot pots, and crock pots are prohibited.
Users are expected to dispose of all food and drink waste properly.
Promptly report all spills to the circulation desk or email CFU-LIBFacilitiesandSafety@email.wustl.edu.

Restricted Food & Drink Spaces

No food or drink permitted in:

All book stacks
All Special Collections areas
Olin Library AVA Studio

No food, but covered drinks are allowed in:

At library computers, microform readers, and DVD/VHS viewing stations
Olin Library Research Studio, Instruction Room 2, Graduate Study Room A30
Kenneth and Nancy Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library
East Asian Library

Events

WashU Libraries strive to make its spaces welcoming, build community, and support its education and research missions through events. To that end, the Libraries regularly host public events, including events co-sponsored between the Libraries and non-Libraries partners.

Those seeking to partner with the Libraries should contact the Office of the Vice Provost and University Librarian at ovpul@wustl.edu with as much advance notice as possible; at least 90 days is preferred.

While the Libraries are open to partnerships, the Libraries are not campus event spaces and do not support events planned solely by non-Libraries departments or non-WashU people or entities. Those seeking event spaces for campus activities without the Libraries’ partnership should contact WashU Event Management.

Tabling & Related Activities

WashU Libraries do not offer tabling or similar engagement activities inside the libraries or on the grounds outside library standalone buildings, except by Libraries staff for content that is programmatic to the Libraries.

Filming & Photography

WashU Libraries must grant permission in advance for formal film or photography sessions in all library spaces, including any filming/photography using equipment such as tripods and lighting, and/or needing a reserved space. WashU Libraries spaces cannot be used for commercial filming or photography.

To request permission, email Kimberly Singer (ksinger@wustl.edu) at least one week before the desired date and include a brief description of the intended project along with the date, time, anticipated duration, and the number of people involved. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as the requested location, duration, and impact on study, learning, and research.

Posters, Flyers & Digital Signage

Do not hang, place, or distribute posters and flyers within or outside the building, except in designated areas listed in the Libraries’ Posting & Digital Signage Policy. Users are welcome to submit content for display on the Libraries’ digital signage. More details, including the complete WashU Libraries Posting Policy, are available.

Artwork & Project Display

WashU Libraries must grant permission in advance to allow artwork and project display in all library spaces. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Due to space constraints and logistical considerations, approvals cannot be guaranteed and are generally limited to the Kenneth and Nancy Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library for work associated with Sam Fox School courses.

To request permission, email Paul McArthur (paul.m@wustl.edu) with as much advance notice as possible and at least one month before the desired start date. Include a brief description of the intended display and purpose, along with the anticipated duration.