The third floor contains stacks, a variety of study spaces, a large seminar room, conference rooms, a classroom, and the Graduate Student Lounge. The Digital Humanities Center (Scholars’ Lab and Makerspace and the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities) is on this floor, along with other spaces for Library and University staff.
- Shannon Library third floor map
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Stop 1: Third floor central area
As on other floors, we’ll start in the central area, which on this floor contains study tables and some soft seating. The central area has easy access in every direction. We’ll move through the south and east wings here before exploring the north portion of the third floor. Before that, feel free to walk through the west wing, which contains the classroom and conference rooms, as well as a comfortable lounge and kitchenette exclusively for graduate students.
Extra credit
The west wing’s Taylor Room was originally installed in the building to house the Taylor Family Collection of popular American Literature bequeathed by Lillian Gary Taylor. Among other materials, the collection includes 1,800 first editions of American bestselling novels dating from 1752 through 1950. That collection is now housed in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, and the Taylor Room serves as a conference room.
Next stop
Head through the bridge to the south wing. In the bridge, be sure to check out the view of the Study Courts below on the second floor. In the hallway at the end of the bridge are the Library’s Scholarly Communication Services (which support research and scholarly publishing at UVA), as well as other office space. The Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities is also here. After passing through the bridge, turn left to go into the east wing where the Scholars’ Lab and Makerspace is located.
Stop 2: Scholars’ Lab and Makerspace
The east wing of the third floor is the Scholars’ Lab and Makerspace, which along with the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities makes up the Library’s Digital Humanities Center.
The Scholars’ Lab is a community lab for the practice of experimental scholarship in all fields and offers expert consultation for scholarly projects and teaching, hosts events and workshops, and administers DH fellowships.
In addition to staff offices and community space, the Scholars’ Lab includes a makerspace, which is open to all for projects using 3D printers, sewing and crafting materials, electronics, laser cutters, and more.
Extra credit
Like the Scholars’ Lab, staff in the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities (in the south wing of the third floor) have deep expertise in the digital humanities, and partner with faculty, staff, and researchers to explore and develop information technology as a tool for humanities research. IATH administers a fellowship program open to UVA faculty whose scholarship would be enhanced through use of computer analysis, interpretation, modeling, and other research activities. IATH also offers consulting, technical support, applications programming, and networked publishing facilities.
Next stop
Feel free to explore the public areas of the Scholars’ Lab, including the Makerspace. When you’re ready to move on, exit the Scholars’ Lab toward the central area, turn right, and move to the large reading room on the north end of the floor.
Stop 3: Reading Room and study spaces
As on the second and fourth floors, the north end here is a large open reading room with natural light from a row of windows. To the east of the reading room is the Seminar Room which is available by reservation for lectures, classes, and events.
In addition to the reading room there are a variety of spaces for reading and study in the north area. As you explore the north area of the floor, note the study carrels on the west end and, on either side of the stacks, eight private reservable rooms for group study as well reading rooms with study tables.
Extra credit
Stacks on the third floor hold materials in Education and Language and Literature. You’ll notice that on this floor as well as the first floor, stacks feature compact mobile shelving. The shelving units are fitted with wheeled traction systems and are easily moved with rotary handles, allowing for more books to be held in the same footprint than with traditional shelving. The floors in Shannon Library are reinforced to accommodate the weight of the books.
Next stop
Once you’re done with the third floor and you’re ready to tour another floor, make your way back to the central area (stop 1 on the map). From the central area, use the central stairs or elevators to go up to whichever floor you’d like to visit next. On that floor, we’ll also begin in the central area between the central stairs and elevators.
If you’re done with the tour, feel free to continue to explore Shannon Library and take advantage of the building’s spaces, services, and resources. To leave, you can exit Shannon Library on either the second or fourth floor.