Whether you’re an incoming freshman or a super senior, I think we can all agree that the W.E.B. Dubois Library can be a scary place. With its incredible 26 floors and seemingly never-ending list of services, it’s super easy for someone to get overwhelmed. But once you learn to navigate it, the library can be an incredibly helpful and necessary resource for every Collegiette. So if you need help figuring out what’s what in what some may call the tower of terror, don’t worry, we’ll teach you everything we know!
First things first: when is the library open? It’s open 24 hours 5 days a week. This means that from 11 AM on Sunday to 9 PM on Friday, the library remains open for the whole day (yes, this means you can print something at 4 AM if you need to). On Saturday, the library is open from 9 AM to 9 PM.
Next, you should know what the directory is. It’s this pink sheet of paper located at the circulation desk and pasted on the wall next to the elevators on every floor. It gives a brief overview of what services the library has and where everything is. You should also be familiar with the library’s website. Like the directory, it also gives an overview of what services the library has, but it’s also where you go to look up books and access the library databases.
So, this brings us to the next important question: what do you need the library for?
If you need to find a book: First, look it up in the library’s online catalog. Does UMass own it? If so, you can go grab it from the floor it’s on, or put in a request for it online, meaning someone will pull it for you and you can pick it up at the Circulation Desk. If the book is owned by one of the other four colleges or another college not affiliated with UMass, you can request it to be sent to UMass for you. This gives you access to an insane number of resources from colleges and universities all of the country; it’s incredibly helpful!
If you need a computer: The Learning Commons (the Lower Level of the library) has a ton of computers (both Macs and PCs) but I personally find that it can be super hard to find a computer down there during the day, so you may want to try the 6th, 7th, and 16th floors as well. You can also checkout laptops from the Circulation Desk.
If you need a printer: The Learning Commons has both black and white and color printers, and the 6th floor also has a black and white printer. During the day, the printers can get pretty crowded, so if you plan on printing something before class, make sure you get there a little early so you aren’t late for class. You can print from the library computers or from a flash drive or your UDrive. Printing costs $0.10 per black and white page and $0.50 for each color page. UMass gives you a free five dollars to use for printing each semester.
If you need to do a research project: The library has access to a crazy amount of books and databases for research, but looking at it all by yourself can be a little difficult. You definitely want to ask for help from a reference librarian at the reference desk in the Learning Commons. They are experts at all of the library services and can absolutely help you find the information you need.
If you need help writing/editing a paper: Head over to The Writing Center in the Learning Commons! There are a ton of students there who are trained in helping people write and edit their essays. You can make an appointment for a 45 minute session with one of their tutors.This is definitely a service you should check out.
If you need a bathroom: The library’s bathrooms are located on the lower level and floors 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22.
If you need something to eat: Head to the Procrastination Station on the entrance floor. It’s this cute little café that has a bunch of different drinks, sandwiches, salads, wraps, snacks, baked goods, and more! Plus it could also be used as another place to study (as long as you don’t get too distracted by all of the food). I’m not gonna lie, its coffee isn’t the greatest in the world, but it definitely gets the job done. Also, if you buy a library mug, you get coffee refills for only .99 cents. Their fancier drinks, like their vanilla lattes, are pretty solid, and I’d definitely recommend grabbing a chocolate chip muffin if you’re gonna be in the library for a while.
If you need a place to study and do homework by yourself: The Learning Commons, along with all of its other services, also has a bunch of cool, comfy furniture located by the writing center where you can easily curl up, pop in your headphones, and study away. Beyond that, the 6th floor and 9th floor also have a lot of furniture you can sit in, and every floor that has books on it also have study cubicles available. The floors that are designated quiet study floors are 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20.
If you need a place to do a group project: The Learning Commons, along with all of its furniture, also has a bunch of tables and small study classrooms that can fit three or more people. I’d also recommend trying the 6th and 9th floors, as they have a ton of furniture and tables where you can easily sit with a group of people and work.
If you need an answer to a question that isn’t here: Head to the information desk next to the main entrance or the Circulation Desk in the learning commons. There you’ll find a ton of staff that can help you figure out anything you need.
If you need to see the best view of campus: Head to the 23rd floor! There you can admire UMass from above and Instagram it to your hearts content. (No judgment, that’s one of the first things I did when I was a freshman.)
So next time you need to head to the library for a project, to study, or just for a quick snack, do it without fear! We’re UMass Collegiettes, after all, which means we can conquer anything, especially a freakishly tall library. Happy Studying!
Photo Sources; 1, 2, 3 (all other photos taken by author)
Information Source: 1