Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to pay to use space at the Library?

The Libraries will incur significant cleaning charges and maintenance while hosting events and cannot offer this as a free service.

 What rooms can students reserve?

Recognized student organizations in good standing with the University may use meeting rooms at no charge.  Student Organizations must use existing furniture in reserved rooms and may not re-arrange the furniture or bring additional furniture into the room. 

 Rental time is limited to 2 hours.  Your organization will be required to pay a $100 refundable deposit to hold a room.  That deposit will be returned after your last event if there is no damage to the room.

 Use of the room must be for academic purposes and not social functions.  An organization may not make more than one reservation per week and reservations can only be made for the current quarter.

 Can I reserve a group study room?

The group study rooms located on the ground and first floors are open to students on a first-come, first-served basis.  Rooms 045A and 045B may be reserved for group study by completing the online request form.  However several meeting rooms are available to reserve for recognized student organizations in good standing with the University.

 Can I serve alcohol at my event?

Our policy states that there is no alcohol permitted in the Thompson Library.  In order to make an exception, you will need to submit, in writing, why you need to have alcohol at your event and University Libraries will review the request.  You also must follow University policy for serving alcohol on campus.  See the link and permission request form from legal affairs at: http://legal.osu.edu/legaltopics.php.

 You will need to provide University Libraries with a copy of the signed approved form from Legal Affairs.

 We do not allow red wine (or any red beverages) to be served in the building. 

 Can I use a meeting room without making a reservation?

When rooms are not scheduled for meetings, they are considered open student study space.  There will be signage that will let students know meeting schedules and when use of those rooms is not permitted.

 Will I be charged for an event that is open to the public?

Please note that we have made some adjustments to our rental policy and will not be offering free use of our space to anyone other than student organizations.  The Libraries will incur significant cleaning charges and maintenance while hosting events and will no longer be able to offer this as a free service. 

 What furniture can I use in a rented room?

Rental cost includes use of the existing furniture in that room.  Event planners should stop by and take a look at the room to see if that set up will suit their needs.  OSUL can possibly re-arrange the existing furniture and we do have 120 stackable meeting room chairs that can also be used to supplement the existing furniture in any reserved room at no additional cost. 

 In very limited cases, if additional furnishings are necessary, OSUL may be able to move some of the existing furniture out of the room and you may use a rental company to bring in what you need.  Thompson Library does not have adequate storage space to be able to entirely empty a room. Event planners need to be sure to include any set up time in the rental time request.  Depending on the extent of the furniture move and set up time, renters may incur additional labor costs.

 Can I serve food at my event?

Yes.  University Catering is the preferred caterer for University Libraries. Please see Catering Information for details.