Named in honor of alumnus Arley D. Cathey, PhB’50, the Learning Center is a hub for undergraduate intellectual and social exchange. Comprised of two grand reading rooms that originally held nearly 60,000 book volumes, today, the Learning Center offers students 20,000 square feet of study space.
The Main Reading Room is designated for quiet, individual study, while the North Reading Room, with its multiple cubicles and open-seating plan, is ideally suited for group work. The North Reading Room hosts the College Core Tutor Program and Writing Program, which provide peer-to-peer tutoring for Core courses and help students refine writing skills.
Starting Autumn 2024, books will be available in the Main Reading Room thanks to a partnership with the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative and with generous book donations from the UChicago Library and others. These books are free for students and guests to take and enjoy and are organized by area of interest.
The reading room is not part of the library system and books that were checked out of the libraries cannot be returned here. More information on library book returns can be found here.
The Learning Center also is home to the student-run Harper Cafe to help fuel long study sessions, and the Al Weisman Corner, which contains a collection of more than 80 magazine subscriptions for casual reading.
Food and Drink Policy:
To maintain an optimal study environment and preserve recent renovations to the study tables and flooring, food and drinks are not permitted in the Main Reading Room. You are welcome to enjoy refreshments in designated areas, such as the student-run Harper Cafe.
Water Bottles: Sealed water bottles are allowed if they remain in backpacks or personal items. Water bottles may not be placed on the study tables or furniture.
Students and guests who are not complying with the Learning Center's food and drink policy will be notified of the policy and asked to abide by it. Guests who fail to abide by the policy will be asked to relocate to an appropriate space or leave the Learning Center.