Library Carrel Policy

English and Comparative Literature Graduate students are eligible for a 9-Month Academic Year (August 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025) contract for a Butler carrel once they have passed their orals and received the M.Phil.  

Students who have not received the M.Phil. by the time their assignment begins will not be considered eligible.  Although the Graduate Student Council liaison is responsible for approving applicants, GSAS has the final word.  GSAS will make sure that each applicant has in fact received the M.Phil.  and will not be able to assign students who have not officially received their M.Phil.
 
To avoid delays, if you expect to receive your M.Phil.  by the beginning of the academic year make sure to follow up with the English department in the months leading up to the fall semester.  Otherwise, you will have to wait until your M.Phil. is processed and your space will be assigned to someone else.  This might result in the loss of your space for the current academic year.

The library committee will delegate library space primarily according to seniority and to special needs among post-orals students within the program:

  • 1st priority: Parents and commuters who have never had access to a carrel.
  • 2nd priority: students in their 5th and 6th years who have never had access to a carrel.
  • 3rd priority: 4th-year students who have just passed their orals.
  • 4th priority: Students who have been assigned a carrel before and are applying for renewal.

Duration of Carrel Lease

Carrel spaces are leased for one 9-Month Academic Year (August 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025).

Please note that not all carrel assignments may begin August 1st. Due to Butler Library’s carrel assignment schedule, some carrel assignments begin in after the start of the Fall Semester. We ask that you be patient while your carrel is vacated.

In addition, some students might vacate their carrels mid-year.  In this case, the Library’s personnel will work with our Graduate Student Council liaison to ensure that this space is re-assigned as soon as possible.

Please complete the carrel application form. 

Upon assignment, you will receive a letter from Butler Library indicating the duration of your carrel lease and stating Butler’s carrel space policy.

*Carrel holders who fail to vacate their spaces in time will not be allowed to re-apply for carrel space or carrel shares in the future.*
 

Application Deadline and Carrel Assignment

Every year, the Graduate Student Council liaison will send out an email announcing the beginning of the application process in mid-July.

The deadline for applications will be July 19th.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Current carrel holders will be contacted in order to estimate the number of available carrels for the following academic year.  

Questions and Concerns

Questions and concerns regarding carrel space assignment and occupation should be addressed to the Graduate Studies Coordinator.  

Please do not contact Butler Library directly.  If the Library Committee fails to answer your questions or concerns, contact your Graduate Student Council liaison.

To all post-M.Phil. graduate students:

If you would like to be part of the Library Committee, please contact the GSC at [email protected].