Carrel desk

A carrel desk is a small desk (usually) featuring high sides meant to visually isolate its user from any surrounding, in a partial or total manner. In a sense it is a micro-cubicle desk. Unlike the cubicle desk, though, carrel desks usually have no file drawers or other nooks and crannies.

Carrel desks are most often found in the study spaces of large universities or college libraries.

Most carrel desks are rectangular in shape and their amenities are often very limited. Above the main desktop area there is often a shelf for books. Sometimes the seat is integrated with the carrel desk.

Like the school desk, the carrel desk is normally produced and sold in large quantities for an institutional market. Unlike the school desk, however, the carrel desk is usually not found on the antiques market. A well-built used school desk can sometimes be reused in a domestic setting, while there aren't as many justifiable occasions where a carrel desk can be used efficiently and/or displayed for aesthetic reasons.

See also the list of desk forms and types.