Overview
The Scholars Lab offers services and spaces to enrich multidisciplinary research and digital scholarship for UT students, faculty, and staff. Located within the Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL), the Scholars Lab operates within and strives to uphold all aspects of the PCL Building Use Policy.
These Scholars Lab Policies have been created to protect the rights and safety of PCL users and staff, and for preserving and protecting PCL materials, equipment, facilities and grounds.
Expectations
While using Scholar Lab spaces, please be considerate of others in PCL by maintaining a low noise level, keeping the door closed where possible, and cleaning up before you leave.
Data Lab
Requests for events and instruction will be prioritized for academic (lectures, symposia) or promotional (fundraising) events that advance the mission of the Libraries and the Scholars Lab. Requests are considered in light of time of the semester and number of existing reservations.The Data Lab cannot be reserved for individual or group studying, or for tutoring purposes.
The Libraries requires at least 8 weeks advance notice when requesting to use the space for a special event that requires furniture set-up, publicity, and custodial services. Faculty or their designates, centers, colleges, and departments requesting to use the Data Lab for a special event will assume responsibility for set-up, coordination of custodial services, catering, and entertainment for their event. A library representative will need to be present to unlock and/or lock facilities if the event begins before or after normal operating hours, and will be present in the facility during the event.
Computer, software, and network policies apply to the Data Lab's computers.
Project Room Reservation
Project rooms can be reserved for collaborative group studying or group hybrid meetings. Reservations can only be made by UT Austin students, faculty, and staff. The rooms cannot be reserved for office hours and tutoring.
Students, faculty, and staff have the option to reserve a Project Room online in 1-hour blocks for a maximum of 4 hours per week during PCL’s operating hours. Please note that if you are 15 minutes late to your reservation, it will be forfeited. In instances where the rooms are not reserved, UT Austin students may use them on a walk-up basis for collaborative group study. Walk-up groups are given priority over individuals.
While using the rooms, please be considerate of others in PCL by maintaining a low noise level, keeping the door closed, and cleaning up before you leave.
Scan Tech Studio
The Scan Tech Studio may be reserved by UT Austin students, staff, and faculty who need to utilize digitization, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology. Reservations are available for both individual and group use, providing access to these advanced technologies.
Students, faculty, and staff have the option to reserve a Scan Tech Studio online in 1-hour blocks for a maximum of 4 hours per week during PCL’s operating hours. Please note that if you are 15 minutes late to your reservation, it will be forfeited. In instances where the rooms are not reserved, UT Austin students may use them on a walk-up basis for collaborative group study. Walk-up groups may not prevent other users from accessing the scanners.
Huddle Rooms
The Huddle Rooms in The Scholars Lab are available for walk-up use by all library users. These rooms are designed to facilitate collaborative group study sessions, promoting active learning and knowledge-sharing among peers.
Huddle Rooms may not be reserved, rather, they are intended to be available to all library users.
Technology and Technical Support
Provision of all technology, and technical support, is the responsibility of the requester. Sound amplification is permitted but must not disrupt library users in adjoining spaces.
Food, Drink, and Event Set-up
Food and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted at reserved events. Prepared foods are permitted, but cooking is prohibited.
The requester is responsible for all set up and break down in the room. After the event, the requester is responsible for cleaning the room and returning furniture to its original location within the reservation time period. Trash must be placed in appropriate receptacles. Failure to clean and arrange the room may result in the inability to reserve the space in the future.
Branding
The Libraries requires that Libraries branding be included on all event flyers, posters, digital handouts, and promotional material. Libraries staff will coordinate branding efforts with the sponsoring entity.
