Carrels
The university library offers students working on their final theses the opportunity to reserve a carrel for quiet, concentrated work.
Who can reserve a carrel?
Carrels are available to doctoral candidates, those preparing to take their state examination at the master’s degree level, and guest researchers for all subjects covered by the Campus Library (natural sciences, cultural studies, education, mathematics, computer science, and psychology) at Freie Universität Berlin. Proof of your individual status can be provided by submitting a copy of the letter of admission to the doctoral procedure (Zulassung zur Promotion) from your examination office or, if you are a guest researcher, by submitting a signed note from your supervisor/host indicating the length of your contract.
How are carrels assigned?
Those interested in reserving a carrel can fill out a request form at the information desk or fill out the corresponding form on our homepage. Requests are processed and entered into the waiting list in the order that they are received. Users receive confirmation of their request and are notified when a carrel becomes available. Unfortunately, there is a long waiting list for carrels, so we recommend submitting your request well in advance.
How long can I reserve a carrel for?
Doctoral candidates and guest researchers can reserve carrels for an initial period of three months – with the option to extend the lease period for another three months if required. Those preparing to take their state examination at the master’s degree level and pharmacy students preparing for their second state examination can reserve carrels for a period of four weeks with the option to extend the lease twice for a period of one month (depending on current demand). You can also ask for an extension or send inquiries to raumbuchung@campusbib.fu-berlin.de.
You may use a carrel that you have reserved at any point during the opening hours of the library. It can be locked with a key fob that you receive at the beginning of the lease period.
What resources are available to people working in a carrel?
Carrels are usually equipped with a desk, shelf, pinboard, Wi-Fi, and an ethernet jack.
The carrel can be used to store private and borrowed media for as long as you have reserved the carrel. Please return media from the library’s open stacks to their rightful place once you have finished working for the day (provided you have not officially checked them out).