Library Spaces

The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library’s primary mission is to support the research, learning and teaching needs of the students and faculty of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg by providing access to information resources and classroom technologies; by assisting users in finding, evaluating and utilizing those resources and technologies effectively; and by using Library space creatively to enhance learning/teaching opportunities for USF St. Petersburg campus.

As an academic unit of USF St. Petersburg, the Poynter Library’s secondary mission is to support USF St. Petersburg’s partnerships with the other  USF campuses and beyond, as well as its efforts to engage with and develop stronger relationships with the community at large. Because the Library is located on Bayboro Harbor, beautiful views abound. Because the Library has been well designed and maintained over the years, it boasts many rooms and spaces that attract the interest of the USF St. Petersburg community and beyond.

While the use of the Library’s public and private spaces is weighted in favor of our primary mandate, we also strive to accommodate as many of the needs of USF St. Petersburg campus' partners and the general public as possible.  Floor maps can be found on our Maps Page, with an image of each floor with all rooms marked.

Public Spaces

The Library has numerous public spaces designed for individual and group use. These include:

• First floor lobby and atrium (Use the  Events Space Reservation Form for special events)
• Group study rooms (Rooms reserved through Study Room Reservations)
• Library instruction classroom (Use the  Online Form for reservations)
• USF St. Petersburg Information Commons open use computing lab

Requests by USF St. Petersburg or other groups to use the Library’s public spaces for promotional or business events not directly related to the Library’s primary mission will be reviewed by the Campus Library Dean or her designated representatives.  Refer to the guideline below for information on use.

Special Events Guidelines

The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library (NPML) Special Event Guidelines are designed to offer detailed information to ensure library users and visitors have a variety of safe and welcoming spaces that offer opportunities for learning, research, creative activities, and collaboration.

The following policies apply to all reservable spaces at the NPML. Note: The NPML does not employ an events manager. All events hosted in the library and its spaces are managed by the department or unit requesting use of individual spaces and the building (See "Special Event Sponsors" below). Library staff are not responsible for special event scheduling, set-up, or clean-up.

Special Event Sponsors

• Academic and administrative units on campus must designate a staff member as the "sponsor" or contact person for the event to be held in the library.
• The sponsor will be the primary contact between the campus unit hosting the event and the Executive Administrative Specialist (departments within USF St. Petersburg and community partnership events) and/or the Marketing & Outreach Librarian (student & faculty events) and other Library staff as directed.
• The sponsor will be responsible for coordination with other campus entities, including Facilities, University Police, Catering, Student Centers & Events, and other units, for requests related to room set-up, catering, delivery, custodial, technology, security, parking, and other specialized services for their event.
• The sponsor is responsible for communicating library space and room-use policies and procedures to all outside vendors who service the event.
• Student organizations must identify a staff member to act as the Special Event Sponsor, who will be responsible for scheduling and will be on site for the duration of the event.

Guidelines for Use

Scheduling:

• To request use of library space(s) for an event, complete the space reservation form at least 7 days prior to your event.
• An event is not fully confirmed until a reservation for relevant spaces is confirmed by a library representative. The library is not responsible for making room reservations.
• Certain spaces may have different scheduling guidelines and procedures. A representative for the Library Campus Dean is available to consult on exceptions to scheduling mechanisms and policies.

Set Up and Use:

• All facilities requests need to be submitted and managed by the sponsor and not by the library. The sponsor is responsible for all communications with Facilities/Custodial Services.
• Events should take place during library open hours. One or more library staff members must be present in the building while an event is underway, and access will not be granted to public areas for times when the building is not open. *Exceptions may be made for events of high importance to the administration of the institution.
• Sponsors are responsible for set-up and clean-up of library spaces and to ensure that spaces are returned to the condition in which they were found.
• Furniture should not be moved unless prior approval has been granted by a Library Campus Dean’s representative. The event sponsor is responsible for any costs of moving furniture and returning it to the original location.
• All service items, equipment, and food must be removed, and waste should be collected at the conclusion of an event.
• Event sponsors are responsible for keeping library spaces and furniture in good condition. Any additional furniture (i.e., catering or registration tables and chairs) should be removed following the event.
• Sponsors are responsible for providing all food and beverages, table service, and utensils for an event. The library does not provide storage for catering. Sponsors serving alcoholic beverages must obtain approval from the University of South Florida Police Department as appropriate.
• The sponsor’s department/unit is responsible for any expenses that are required due to costs incurred for cleaning which is above and beyond a normal cleaning or for repairs to the library premises that are assessed after the event. Please contact the Executive Administrative Specialist at ericalovelette@usf.edu (departments within USF St. Petersburg and community partnership events) and/or the Marketing & Outreach Librarian ccrampsie@usf.edu (student & faculty events) with questions and for consultation on specific events.

NOTE: Use of the library’s public spaces must recognize that the space is still library space. Organizers and attendees of approved events must respect the students, their safety, and their need for quiet study space. Organizers and attendees must follow fire and other safety regulations and keep entrances and exits into the area unobstructed and may not have any lighted or flammable materials (except approved catering equipment).