Study Room Guidelines
Study Room Reservations Changing this April
Starting April 1, 2026, study rooms will be available for reservation online, in person, or by phone. To review the updated guidelines, please see the Study Room Overview & Rules and the Questions and Answers section.
If you have any questions, contact the Reference Desk at 510-747-7713 or by emailing refdesk@alamedaca.gov.
There are five study rooms available at the Main Library for individuals or small groups. Study Rooms 1-4 are located on the second floor and accommodate 1-6 people. The Large Group Study Room is located on the first floor and accommodates 6 – 12 people.
Study rooms are free to use. Individuals or small groups may have one reservation per day; maximum reservation time is two hours. Study room reservations can be made online, in person, or by phone.
Rules:
- Study rooms may be reserved up to 7 days in advance; beginning 7 days before the room’s start time.
- One reservation per day per individual/group, maximum reservation time is two hours. * (*time duration is contingent on the room’s availability)
- A group may not book multiple reservations under different names.
- Please check in at the service desk upon arrival for your reservation. For study rooms 1-4, please check in at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor. For the Large Group Study Room, please check in at the Children’s Desk on the 1st floor.
- If you do not arrive within the first 15 minutes of your reservation, your reservation will be cancelled.
- When your reservation ends, you are expected to leave the room in the same condition as it was when you arrived.
- Rooms must be actively used during the reservation period and may not be used for storing personal items while off-site or in another area of the library.
- Patrons are not permitted to move furniture in or out of the study room.
- The library is not responsible for items left unattended in a study room or the library.
- Patrons must adhere to the Library Behavior Policy while in the room.
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Visit alamedafree.org/reserve , and click on Room Bookings
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Select your reservation date by using the Date field in the top menu, then click Search.
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Choose your room and time by finding the room you would like to use and click on an available green time slot on the calendar grid.
(Alternatively, you may also click Book Now.)
Bookings default to 15-minute increments; you can adjust the time during the booking process.
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Log in using your library card number and PIN/password or book as a guest.
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If needed, adjust your booking time by using the Booking Time and Booking End Time field.
If booking as a guest, you must enter your Name and Email Address.
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Click Add Booking.
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Confirm your reservation by clicking OK.
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You will receive a confirmation email.
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At your reserved date and time, check in at a service desk.
Q: How can I make a reservation for a study room?
A: You can make a reservation online, in person at any service desk, or by phone by calling the Reference Desk at 510-747-7713.
Q: How many study rooms are at the Main Library?
A: There are five study rooms. There are four study rooms located on the second floor, and there is large group study room located on the first floor.
Q: How many people can each room hold?
A: Study rooms 1-4 hold 1-6 people. The Large Group study room holds 6-12 people.
Q: Does it cost anything to use a study room? Do I need a library card to use a study room?
A: No, all study rooms are free to use. You do not need a library card to use the study rooms.
Q: How long can I reserve a study room?
A: An individual or small group may reserve a study room for up to two hours per day. * (*depending on availability.)
Q: Can I extend my reservation time?
A: No, you cannot extend your reservation time. The maximum duration allowed is two hours.
Q: How often can I make a reservation?
A: You may have one reservation per day per individual/group.
Q: How far in advance can I reserve a study room?
A: You can reserve a room up to 7 days in advance. Rooms become available for booking exactly one week before its scheduled start time. For example, if you want to book a study room at 2:00 PM, it will become available to reserve at 2:00 PM seven days earlier.
Q: Can different members of my group make separate reservations on the same day?
A: No. A group may not book multiple reservations under different names.
Q: Do I need to check in when I arrive for my reservation?
A: Yes. For study rooms 1-4, please check in at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor. For the Large Group Study Room, please check in at the Children’s Desk on the 1st floor.
Q: What happens if I’m late to my reservation?
A: If you do not arrive and check in with a service desk within the first 15 minutes, your reservation will be canceled.
Q: What if I finish my reservation early? Do I need to notify staff?
A: Yes, please close the door and let staff know that you are done using the room.
Q: If I no longer need my reservation, how can I cancel it?
A: You can cancel your reservation online by navigating to the “My Bookings” tab:
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If you made a reservation using your library credentials, you would need to provide your library card number and library card PIN/password.
Alternatively, you can also cancel your reservation by calling the Reference Desk at 510-747-7713.
Q: Can I use a study room without a reservation?
A: No. Even if the room is currently available, you still need to make a reservation for the room. You can make this reservation online, in person, or by phone.
Q: Do the study rooms have any amenities?
A: Study Rooms 1-4 have a whiteboard and 1 power outlet. The Large Group Study Room has a whiteboard and 2 power outlets.
If you need dry erase markers and a dry eraser, please visit the Reference Desk to borrow a kit.