Four rules, and how loud each may get
Every room has one. We measure every month to hold ourselves to it.
Free, and no membership needed
What each one asks of you
silent
No talking, no calls, keyboards only.
- Reading Room: 36 at its loudest, ceiling 40
low voice
Talk at the volume of the person beside you; take calls in a booth.
- Commons: 51 at its loudest, ceiling 52
calls
Calls and video, door shut.
- Booths: 39 at its loudest, ceiling 42
talk freely
Talk, eat, take a call standing up.
- Kitchen: 64 at its loudest, no ceiling
When the doors open, and for whom
| Who | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Day passMonday to Friday | Monday to Friday | 08:00–18:00 |
| FlexMonday to Friday | Monday to Friday | 07:00–21:00 |
| Reading Room desk, OfficeEvery day | Every day | Any hour, by fob |
| Front deskMonday to Friday | Monday to Friday | 08:00–17:30 |
| ToursWednesday and Friday | Wednesday and Friday | 11:00 and 13:00 |
What is where
- Showers on the fifth floor, beside Booth 6.
- Bikes in the courtyard store, fob only.
- Lockers along the Reading Room’s back wall, one per desk.
- Filtered water and the kettle in the Kitchen.
- Printing at the front desk, staffed weekdays.
How we measure
An A-weighted 10-minute average (LAeq) with the meter on a tripod at seated ear height, 1.2 m, on the first Tuesday of the month at 08:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00 and 19:00. You can check us with a free phone meter app, once it has been checked against a calibrated meter.
Last measured Tue 3 Nov 2026, at 08:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, 19:00
Hear the rules at work.
Tours Wednesday and Friday at 11:00 and 13:00: two of the hours we measure, so the rooms sound the way the readings say.
Free, and no membership needed. Or ring (253) 555-0186.