About the change

  • What's changing at the POA Library? Starting July 1, 2026, the POA Library becomes a fully self-service space. The room, its hours, its collection, and how you access it all stay the same—the one real change is that the service desk will no longer be staffed during open hours. 
  • Is the POA Library closing? The space stays open and available to you—as a self-service study and collection space, with the same hours and access as before. What's changing is that the desk won't be staffed during open hours.
  • When does this take effect? July 1, 2026.
  • Why is this change happening?  All units in the academic services division were asked to reduce their budgets for FY2027. In meeting that reduction at POA, we prioritized keeping the space, its hours, and the collection open and available to the people who rely on them. New self-checkout tools make it possible to do that without a staffed desk — so we could preserve access rather than reduce hours or close the space.
  • Is this part of larger budget cuts at the University? This is a River Campus Libraries budget decision made to meet a budget reduction target as part of the Academic Services Division. 
  • Are other libraries or service points changing? This change is specific to the POA service point. We'll always communicate directly with the people affected by any change to our spaces or services. 
  • Is this permanent? POA will operate as a self-service space for the foreseeable future.

 

Getting in and using the space

  • Can I still use the POA Library to study and meet? Yes. It stays open for studying and group work, on the same hours as today.
  • Who can access the space, and when? During open hours, the doors are unlocked and everyone is welcome—including non-majors. After hours, when the doors are locked, the space is accessible by card swipe to declared physics, optics, and astronomy majors, graduate students, faculty, and staff—the same access schedule as before.
  • Have the hours changed? No—the hours are unchanged, and the doors lock and unlock on their usual schedule.
  • Will anyone be at the desk? The desk won't be staffed during open hours. Library staff still check on the space regularly, and you can book an appointment with a subject librarian for research support. Librarians will also post a schedule every week indicating when they will be on-site for open office hours.
  • What if I need help while I'm in the space? Points of contact are posted at the POA desk. You can also book a librarian appointment, email your librarian, get help in person at Rush Rhees or Carlson, or reach us by emailing ask@library.rochester.edu or calling (585) 275-4441.
  • What about the Reservable Study Room?  This will become a first-come, first served collaborative space. We ask that users be considerate of others and limit time in this room to 1-2 hours.

 

Collection, checkout, and reserves

  • Can I still check out materials? Yes—a new self-checkout machine lets you borrow anything you'd like to take with you. Keys to the lockers and calculators/other equipment are managed by the department. 
  • Where do I return materials? All Library materials can be dropped off at the book drop outside of the POA Library doors, or at the Rush Rhees, Carlson or Art & Music Q&i Desks. 
  • What about course reserves? Open course reserves for physics, astronomy, and optics courses will remain at the POA Library as before. 
  • Is the collection staying in the space? Yes—the collection remains on-site and the Libraries will continue to manage the collection. You can browse it as you do now and check items out at the self-checkout.
  • What if the self-checkout isn't working? Please contact (585) 275-4471 or ask@library.rochester.edu if the self-checkout machine is not working. 

 

Research and librarian support

  • I usually work with the POA subject librarian. Who do I contact now? Research support is available via university librarians for the following subjects:
    • Mathematics, Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Science, Materials Science, & Mechanical Engineering: Sue Cardinal
    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), Optics, Computer Science, Data Science, Digital Media Studies, Electrical and Computer Engineering: Arjay Romanowski 
    • Physics, Astronomy, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, American Sign Language: Wendy Way
  • How do I get research help or make an appointment? Book a research appointment or email your librarian, You can also get help in person at Rush Rhees and Carlson, or online.
  • Faculty: who do I talk to about reserves, instruction, or collection requests? Contact ask@library.rochester.edu. As a reminder, in-room reserves stay in POA.

 

Accessibility and practical questions

  • I need assistance that staff used to provide on-site. What are my options? For research support, please Book a research appointment online. For general questions, contact ask@library.rochester.edu.
  • Are printing, computers, or other equipment still available? Yes. If there is an issue with any technology in the space, please contact) Contact: (585) 275-1757 or itsupport@library.rochester.edu.
  • Who do I contact about a problem — a lock, a device, or a safety concern? For building or equipment issues, contact: (585) 472-0689 or mculver@pas.rochester.edu.
  • In an emergency, call University Public Safety at (585) 725-3333.