Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery

Places to Study

Choose one or more to find the right space for you:

Group Study Rooms

These 16 rooms are available to any UMBC faculty, students, or staff. You can reserve one ahead up to five days in advance. Reservations are limited to 3 hours per person or group each day. Book yours today!

Group Study, Conversation Allowed, Whiteboards, Computers, Reservable

Table with seating for one in a Study Room

Individual Study Rooms

These 6 rooms are available to any UMBC faculty, students, or staff. You can reserve one ahead up to five days in advance. Reservations are limited to 3 hours per person each day. Book yours today!

Individual Study, Conversation Allowed, Quiet, Reservable

Retriever Learning Center (RLC)

The RLC is UMBC's best place for lively group study, scholarly discussion, collaboration, and academic coaching. This room features comfortable, mobile furniture so that students can design their own study spaces. Movable white boards and large monitors allow for collaboration.

Group Study, Conversation Allowed, Whiteboards, 24-hour, Computers, Individual Study

Large conference table in the Retriever Learning Center Seminar Room

Richard Roberts Seminar Room (140)

This room in the RLC is available to UMBC students, faculty, and staff. It contains a small conference table, large-screen monitor, and a projector with cables to connect to your laptop. Reserve the seminar room for your group for periods up to 2 hours.

Group Study, Conversation Allowed, Reservable, 24-hour, Whiteboards, Presentation Space

Lactation Room (755)

The Library is pleased to offer a Lactation Room for its users who need a private space to express breast milk. The room includes a table, two chairs, an outlet and power strip, and sanitizing wipes. It is located close to the restrooms on the 7th floor. It may be reserved for up to one hour, up to 5 days in advance. A key is also available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Check Out Desk on the Library's first floor. Reserve the Lactation Room for periods up to 1 hour.

Reservable, Quiet, Individual Study, Specialty

Open Study Rooms

These 12 rooms are left open for students to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Each room has four seats. Room numbers are listed here.

Individual Study, Conversation Allowed

Podium and screen in the Presentation Practice Room

Presentation Practice Room (257)

This room has been set up for students to practice giving presentations, speeches, etc. Bring your flash drive to plug into our one-button recording system - when you're finished, you'll have a recording of your presentation to critique. Reserve the Presentation Practice Room. Reservations are not required but do take precedence over walk-up appointments. You can check out the key at the Check Out desk.

Presentation Space, Conversation Allowed, Group Study, Individual Study, Reservable

Digital Media Lab (DML)

The Digital Media Lab is open to all UMBC students, faculty, and staff and contains a Whisper Room, an Audio/Video Recording Room, and computer workspaces with editing software. Book time in the Whisper Room or Audio/Video Recording Room here. For information on hours and available equipment, please visit the DML homepage.

Creation Space, Computers, Reservable, Group Study, Individual Study, Conversation Allowed

Rows of chairs and screen in the Screening Room

Screening Room (258)

Our Screening Room is designed for groups to view films. It features a Blu-ray/DVD player, Windows computer, HD Plasma TV, and VHS player. A minimum of 3 people is required to use the room. Reserve the Screening Room. Reservations are not required but do take precedence over walk-up appointments. You can check out the key at the Check Out desk.

Reservable, Conversation Allowed, Presentation Space

Faculty Study Rooms

These 32 rooms are available to UMBC faculty, as well as visiting and Emeritus faculty. They are assigned each semester; to apply for a room, please fill out an application form.

Individual Study, Quiet, Reservable

Workstation in an Assistive Technology Room

Assistive Technology Rooms

Ask at the Check Out desk to access Room 455. It is equipped with Jaws screenreader software, magnifiers, and scanners. Learn more about assistive technology facilities.

Individual Study, Computers

Floors 1, 2, and 7

The first, second, and seventh floors of the AOK Library have 160 computers (both Macs and PCs) for student use, as well as printers, scanners, and photocopiers.

Individual Study, Group Study, Computers, Conversation Allowed

Floors 3 and 4

The third and fourth floors of the AOK Library are designated Quiet areas, so please keep volume to a whisper. These floors have 22 (PCs) for student use.

Quiet, Individual Study, Computers

Floors 5 and 6

The fifth and sixth floors of the AOK Library are designated Absolute Quiet areas at all times. These floors have 32 computers (PCs) for student use.

Individual Study, Absolute Quiet, Computers

2nd Floor Study Area

Head up to the 2nd floor and take a left at the Serials sign - there you'll find a group study space featuring whiteboards, big tables, and large monitors with cables to connect to your laptop.

Group Study, Whiteboards, Conversation Allowed

Atrium

The entry hall of the library is a vibrant social and conversation space. It is open 24 hours a day.

Individual Study, Group Study, 24-hour, Conversation Allowed

Daily Lockers

Daily lockers are available to UMBC students, faculty, and staff for a 24 hour period. Daily locker keys are checked out at the Check Out Desk. For more information, please visit the Locker page.

Semester Lockers

Semester lockers are a great place for UMBC students, faculty, and staff to store their study materials. They are assigned each semester; to apply for a locker, please fill out an application form. For more information, please visit the Locker page.

Reservable

Table and screen in the Collaboration Room

Collaboration Room (368)

This room is available to UMBC students, faculty, and staff. It contains a small conference table and a smart TV with Chromecast, which allows a laptop, tablet or smartphone to stream content to the screen. Reserve this room for your group of 3-7 people for periods up to 3 hours. You can find instructions for how to use Chromecast here (Note: the Chromecast device is already connected to the room screen).

Presentation Space, Conversation Allowed, Group Study, Reservable

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Printing in the Library

Where can I print?

You can print from any of our computers.
You can print from any laptop or mobile device using Pharos MobilePrint.
You must release and pick up the print job on the 1^st, 2^nd, or 7^th floor, or in the RLC.

How much does it cost?

Black and white: $0.10 per side
Color: $0.70 per side

How do I pay?

UMBC Campus ID card
Add more money online using a credit card or add cash at the Campus Information Center (Commons) or Student Business Services (Admin).

Still have questions about printing?

Equipment Loan

The Library loans laptops and a variety of audio/video equipment. You can request a laptop using the links below and pick it up from the Circulation desk. Audio/video equipment is available at the Digital Media Lab (DML) on a first-come, first-served basis. Please take a moment to read the Equipment Loan Policies and Laptop Loan Policies pages for detailed information about the program.

From March 3 to May 16, you can request select models of DML equipment. Read more at the DML Holds Pilot Program page.

At the Circulation Desk:

	Dell Latitude Laptop (7 Days)	Available at Circulation Desk; Click here to see availability and place a hold.
	MacBook Pro Laptop (7 Days)	Available at Circulation Desk; Click here to see availability and place a hold.
	HP Chromebook (7 Days)	Available at Circulation Desk; Click here to see availability and place a hold.
	HP Chromebook (7 Hours)	Available at Circulation Desk

In the Digital Media Lab:

The Digital Media Lab has a variety of A/V equipment for use and checkout. Click here to see what's available.

Upcoming Events

Other events scheduled in the Library can be found on the full Events page.

Writing Wednesday Workshop: Research 101
Date: Wednesday September 3rd at 12:00pm

Summary: Are you confused between Google searching and database searching? This workshop is designed to give you an overview of how to begin the searching process, with an introduction to the AOK Library’s...

Library Services for Graduate Student Success
Date: Tuesday September 9th at 12:00pm

Summary: Explore resources and services the library has to offer for graduate students, including online databases, library study space reservations, Interlibrary loan, workshops, and research assistance....

How to use Zotero for citation management
Date: Tuesday September 16th at 3:00pm

Summary: Have you ever wondered if there is a better way to organize your citations? Have you used citation software in the past but have some lingering questions? This workshop provides an overview of...

Navigating the UMBC Library: Resources and Support for International Students
Date: Wednesday September 17th at 12:00pm

Summary: Explore the resources and services the Albin O. Kuhn (AOK) Library offers to support international students, including online databases, research help, and finding academic sources on the library...

How to Prepare a Social Science/Humanities Literature Review
Date: Monday September 22nd at 12:00pm

Summary: What are some of the best strategies and tips for writing a literature review? Whether you are just starting out with your research or have been involved in your project for a while, this workshop...

Skills for Graduate Students: Technical Writing
Date: Tuesday September 23rd at 3:00pm

Summary: This workshop introduces the fundamentals of technical writing for graduate students across disciplines. Participants will learn what qualifies as technical writing, when to use it, and how it...

Lunch and Learn for New Faculty
Date: Friday September 26th at 12:00pm

Summary: Learn about: Using ORCID to populate your annual report in Faculty Success Support for Open Access at UMBC Storage Options for Research Data Accessing the campus computing cluster Library...

How to Write a STEM Literature Review (Introduction)
Date: Monday September 29th at 12:00pm

Summary: Have you ever wondered what a literature review is? Have you been assigned to write one and you don’t know where to begin? This workshop will discuss what a literature review is, how to begin the...

Exploring the Gadgets & Gizmos In Your AI Toolkit: Dr. Mariann Hawken
Date: Wednesday October 1st at 12:00pm

Summary: Google Gemini offers powerful capabilities for academic research, teaching, and learning. This session introduces Gemini’s core features, including the Deep Research tool for generating...

How to Use EndNote Online for Citation Management
Date: Wednesday October 1st at 12:00pm

Summary: Learn how to utilize the full range of features included in the web-accessible citation manager. This hands-on workshop will focus on setting up an account, importing and transferring references,...

Library News

Visit the Digital Media Lab
The DML offers free equipment loans, two recording spaces, and Mac editing stations.

What kind of equipment do you have?
Quite a few models of DSLRs plus tripods, audio recorders, camcorders, mini-projectors, and DVD drives (among others). Find a full list and details on our website under "Equipment that can be checked out."

Unless you request an item, everything is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

How do I request an item for pickup at the Circulation desk?
It's pretty easy! Visit this website and click on what you want, then sign in with your myUMBC credentials and click "Request from UMBC."

Note: when you request an item, you enter a queue for the next available one.

What new equipment have you added?
Glad you asked. We've now got:
Aaxa P6 projectors with built-in streaming apps
Two-person Rode podcast kits with USB connection and optional crane arms
Four-person Rode podcast kit with USB connection and optional crane arms
Note: the podcast kit bags are bulky

How do I book time in the Whisper Room or A/V Room?
On our website under Spaces, choose the room and click "Reserve this Space." You need to book the room at least 24 hours in advance (walk-ups are fine if no one reserved it).

FYI, the Whisper Room only fits one person!

Do I need a reservation to use a Mac?
Nope, no reservation needed. You must use headphones and we may restrict conversations if someone is recording. The Macs have Adobe CC, Final Cut Pro, Audacity, Garage Band, and other standard software. One has a flatbed scanner that can process slide negatives.

How do I find you?
It can be tricky! We're in room 216H on the second floor, next to the Honors College.

From the elevators: turn left and go until you see a bunch of double doors on your right. Pass through those doors and continue straight. We've got a digital sign outside our door.

Can I bring my class or student org to tour the DML?
Absolutely! Please reach out to circlib-group@umbc.edu and staff will coordinate your visit.
Read more…

eResources & Discovery Services Librarian
View and apply job no: 494962
Work type: Faculty- Librarian
Location: UMBC Campus

Responsibilities: Reporting to and working collaboratively with the Associate Director for Technical Services, the position oversees work related to managing the life cycle of the Library’s electronic resources and print serials collection and manages the Library’s discovery services platform (currently Ex Libris Primo).
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, establishing and maintaining access to electronic resources; assisting with developing collection development assessment strategies for print journal/database/electronic resources; overseeing database maintenance projects related to the management of the print serials collection; provides leadership for eResources and Serials Unit staff (currently 3 nonexempt staff); communicates with other library units about decisions, policies, and practices affecting the Library’s print serials and electronic resources collections; and participates in library, campus, consortium, and regional/national communities and organizations as appropriate.

Required Minimum Qualifications:
- Requires a Master of Library & Information Science degree (or equivalent ALA accredited degree).
- Three years of experience (five preferred) working with eResources and print serials including:
  Understanding of best practices for managing and evaluating electronic resources
  Experience managing a print serials collection including knowledge of current issues related to maintaining a print serials collection;
  Demonstrated knowledge of electronic resource industry standards, best practices, and protocols, including but not limited to ER Licensing, SUSHI, COUNTER, and open URL link resolvers
  Experience supervising staff and student assistants;
- Three years of experience (five preferred) managing a library discovery services platform.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability to develop and document procedures;
Experience with Ex Libris Alma and Primo;
Experience with SFX
Experience working in a library consortium environment.
A background check will be required. Please upload a cover letter, a resume or curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three professional references. Review of application materials will begin June 23, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.
Salary & Benefits:
This position is a full time (40 hours/week), 12-month library faculty appointment at anticipated rank of Librarian II. Salary commensurate with experience.
Starting Salary: $63,000
The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
UMBC offers a rich benefits package. Benefits offered align with type of position and may be prorated based on hours per week.
Paid Leave
Tuition Remission
Medical, Prescription and Dental Insurance
Retirement plans
Life and Disability Insurance
Professional development opportunities
Wellness opportunities & much more
See Benefits Summary
The successful candidate will be expected to meet library and university requirements for reappointment, promotion, and permanent status, as outlined in part 6.6 of the Faculty Handbook - http://provost.umbc.edu/faculty-handbook/.
To view and apply for this job, please visit the UMBC jobs site.
Read more…

New! Place a hold on DML equipment

The Digital Media Lab will accept hold requests on two equipment categories (cameras and projectors) between March 3–May 16, 2025 as part of a pilot program.

After you place a request, you'll enter a queue and receive the next item when it becomes available. You will pick it up from the Circulation desk within one (1) day and keep it for one week (no renewals).

Due to our limited supply, you may only have one active request per category and we cannot guarantee a specific date of availability. Our regular loan policies and late fines will apply.

Visit our LibGuide at https://lib.guides.umbc.edu/dml-holds for complete details, a step-by-step process, and links to the equipment records. Direct any specific questions to circlib-group@umbc.edu.

Read more…

Farewell to the Virtual Study Room

The Library's Virtual Study Room is graduating! We have been proud to offer this online study and support space as a resource for students, especially during and in the years following COVID. As we move forward, the VSR will be closing down on December 21 to allow us to prioritize other library services.

It has been a pleasure to watch the VSR grow over the past years and we know it has been a special place for many of you! We look forward to seeing you in the Library and hope you will continue to take advantage of all that we have to offer.

A huge thank you to our student staff who developed, supported, and maintained the space in Discord: noshsplice1, wingsofmorning, and theclowncorp. You're the best!

Read more…

ICPSR Short Workshops

Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Summer Program short workshops feature instruction in a specific statistical technique or research method over the period of a week or two. They offer short workshops in a range of topics, including machine learning, mixed methods, causal inference, quantitative methods to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and more.

For online short workshops, you can participate synchronously via Zoom or watch lecture recordings asynchronously at your convenience. ICPSR also offers several in-person short workshops for those topics that rely on in-person learning and collaboration. In ICPSR short workshops, you’ll have direct access to exceptional faculty, as well as extended access to lecture recordings and workshop materials until December 31, 2023.

UMBC is a member of ICPSR so anyone affiliated with UMBC attend at the member price.

For more information on ICPSR short workshops and other summer programs, visit the program overview.

Read more…

AOK OneSearch

Library Hours

Places to Study

Printing in the Library

Where can I print?

How much does it cost?

How do I pay?

Still have questions about printing?

Equipment Loan

At the Circulation Desk:

The Digital Media Lab has a variety of A/V equipment for use and checkout. Click here to see what's available.

Upcoming Events

Library News

The DML offers free equipment loans, two recording spaces, and Mac editing stations.

Search & Find

Using the Library

Research Help

About AOK

Special Collections & Gallery