University guides
On this page
Waterloo Libraries and Study Spaces
Waterloo's two main-campus libraries split by subject: Dana Porter for arts, humanities and social sciences, and Davis Centre for engineering, math and science. Both use silent, quiet and group zones. This guide covers the four library locations, booking rules and study space outside the libraries.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. View sources
Compare the four library locations
The subject focus describes each collection. It doesn't limit who can study there. Hours below are the published hours for the week of September 28, 2026, and they change around holidays and exams.
Dana Porter, Davis Centre and Witer are listed as closed on Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, 2026. Check the hours page for the day you plan to go.
| Library | Location and subject focus | Hours, week of September 28, 2026 | Bookable group rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Porter | Centre of main campus; arts, humanities, social sciences and government publications | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends | Yes, throughout the library |
| Davis Centre | William G. Davis Computer Research Centre; engineering, mathematics and science | 8 a.m. to midnight Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight weekends | Yes, rooms F, M and N |
| Musagetes Architecture | School of Architecture in Cambridge; architecture and design, including rare books | 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily; help desk noon to 4 p.m. weekdays | Yes, the Elder Lodge, for up to four people, on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays |
| Witer Learning Resource Centre | School of Optometry and Vision Science; optometry and vision science | 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends | Not listed on the Libraries' study room pages |
_-_Waterloo,_ON.jpg){kind=link}
Dana Porter: pick your floor by noise level
Floors six to ten in Dana Porter are split into three study zones. The Libraries says the fifth floor will be permanently inaccessible to students, so don't plan around it.
- Silent (floors seven and eight): no talking, phones on silent, single study carrels.
- Quiet (floors six and nine): low-volume conversation, phones on vibrate, carrels and lounge seating.
- Group (floor ten): moderate-volume conversation and group study tables.
Davis Centre: colour-coded zones and stricter rules
Davis Centre marks its zones by colour. Beige is silent, green is quiet and grey is for groups. Staff actively monitor noise, hot food and phone use.
Silent space is on the main floor: the far-left carrels, the Silent Study room and the Peter Sims Silent Study area. The quiet zone covers the RBC Information Commons, the middle carrels, study rooms A to E and the lower-floor lounge and room 0505. Group work belongs in rooms F, M and N and at the lower-floor group tables.
Drinks need a lid. Messy or strong-smelling food isn't allowed anywhere in the library, and that includes hot food like pizza and fries. Take calls in the Great Hall outside. If you ignore the guidelines, staff may ask you to leave.
Booking a study room
Bookable rooms at Dana Porter, Davis Centre and Musagetes are for current Waterloo students, faculty and staff. You book online with your WatIAM account.
- Book up to one week ahead.
- Each booking can last up to three hours.
- You can hold up to three active bookings per week.
- An unclaimed booking can be cancelled 15 minutes after its start time.
- Walk in to an empty room if it isn't booked, but leave when a booking begins.
Study space outside the libraries
The Libraries' campus study list includes spaces run by other units. Some are first-come, first-served and some have their own booking rules.
- The Centre, Needles Hall first floor: six rooms, first-come, first-served.
- Student Life Centre: six study rooms remain open while one is closed for construction; a small part of the third-floor quiet study room is also closed.
- Tatham Centre: interview rooms can be requested as study rooms on the day, outside interview cycles, at the CEE Hub on the main floor.
- Conrad Grebel, Renison and St. Jerome's libraries: study carrels, plus bookable group rooms through each college's own booking page.
- Pharmacy Library: carrels and three study rooms available 24/7, but only to students, staff and faculty in the School of Pharmacy.
Accessible study space in Dana Porter
The Adaptive Technology Centre (ATC) is on Dana Porter's main floor, room 251. Since the winter 2020 term it has been open to all students with accessibility needs. It's a quiet, scent-free space with six first-come workstations and assistive software.
Two private rooms, A and B, must be booked ahead. They're meant for students who need individual silent study, use screen-reader or voice-to-text software, or work with a tutor.
To start, contact Library Accessibility Services through AskUs or the request form. Staff reply within two business days with a meeting date. You don't have to disclose a disability to get an accommodation plan.
Lockers, a reflection room and coffee
Dana Porter's sixth floor has free day-use lockers, first-come, first-served. You set your own PIN, and lockers unlock automatically after eight hours. Don't leave anything inside past closing.
Room 702 on the seventh floor is a reflection and wellness space. It's open to all students during library hours to pray, rest or decompress.
Browsers Café is inside Dana Porter. Its posted hours are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, closed weekends. DC Bytes in the Davis Centre is closed for M4 construction.
Check before you go
Open the Libraries' hours page for your date, then the clickable floor plans for Dana Porter, Davis Centre or Musagetes. Hours, room availability and construction closures can change after this guide's review date.
Keep exploring
Sources and updates
This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.
- Waterloo Libraries: Our locations
- Waterloo Libraries: Opening hours
- Waterloo Libraries: Study rooms and booking guidelines
- Waterloo Libraries: Study spaces on campus
- Waterloo Libraries: Study zones in the Dana Porter Library
- Waterloo Libraries: Study zones in the Davis Centre Library
- Waterloo Libraries: Study spaces and lockers
- Waterloo Library Accessibility Services: Adaptive Technology Centre
- UW Food Services: Locations and hours