On this page:
Overview
Food and drink guidelines help users and staff understand their roles in ensuring library spaces are welcoming, while valuable library collections and infrastructure are protected for generations to come. The consumption of food and drink in libraries should be minimized to avoid disturbing others and to protect collections, equipment, and furnishings.
We ask everyone attending the library to:
- Dispose of garbage and recycling properly
- Avoid emptying liquids into bins
- Leave the space free of debris and ready for others to use
- Notify library staff or security if a spill or mess requires attention
- Embrace the benefits of taking breaks during long study periods to enjoy meals in the designated food service areas in libraries and across campus
What is permitted in the library?
- Hot and cold covered beverages
- Small, cold, hand-held snacks such as pastries, cookies, bars, fresh or dried fruit or vegetables, cold sandwiches, roasted seaweed, crackers, and chips
What is not permitted in the library?
- Alcoholic beverages
- Food deliveries
- Food that melts, including ice cream, and popsicles
- Hot food and hand-held meals, including hot dogs, hamburgers, pitas, pizza, french fries and other fried or grilled food, heated sandwiches or wraps
- Food that is usually eaten with utensils, including salads, soup, stir fries, noodle or rice dishes
Library locations where food & drinks are prohibited
Because of the presence of particularly high-value or rare collections or equipment, no food or drink is allowed in the following locations:
- Queen’s University’s Archives at Kathleen Ryan Hall
- The W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections floor of Douglas Library
- The Art and Maps collections spaces in Stauffer Library
- At library computers and equipment (e.g., photocopiers, scanners).
Communication
- Signs are posted to promote a shared understanding of food and drink policies in libraries, particularly in spaces where no snacks or drinks are allowed.
- If someone enters the library with non-permitted food or drink or is observed consuming food in the library that is not permitted, library staff or security will:
- Respectfully remind them of the rules about food and drink in the library.
- Provide information by pointing them to signage or other documentation.
- Ask them to put away non-permitted food or finish it elsewhere.
Someone who persistently disregards rules about food and drink in the library is in violation of the Library’s Code of Conduct.