Information for Undergraduate Students

• Get Help
• Articles, Books, and Other Materials
• Student Support
• Inside the Library Buildings

Ask Us

If you have questions or need help, there are many ways to contact us. Librarians and library staff are always here to help you:

• In person: Ask Us Desk at the entrance to Gelman Library, or the front desk of Eckles Library or the Virginia Science & Technology Campus (VSTC) Library.
• Email: AskUs@gwu.edu
• Phone: (202) 994-6048
• Chat with a librarian

• Make an appointment for a remote research consultation with a librarian or instructional technologist for more in-depth research assistance.

For more information, visit the Ask Us page. You can also use the "Ask Us" icon at the top of each webpage.

Articles, Books, and Other Materials

Find 

As a GW student you have access to millions of books and thousands of journals, databases, and other materials; most completely available online. To get started, use the search bar on the library home page or the magnifying glass icon at the top of any webpage to search the catalog. You can also use our database guides to find research databases by subject. Learn more, including how to find a wide range of materials, on the Find Materials page. 

Borrow 

Most library materials that aren't available online can be borrowed. Your GWorld card is required to borrow materials. Bring your card and the books you want to borrow to the checkout desk in Gelman, Eckles, or VSTC Libraries. Undergraduate students can borrow books or 42 days and renew them up to three times online. There are no fines for late books, but you may be charged if a book is overdue more than 40 days. 

Student Support

Tutoring

Academic Commons is a one-stop shop connecting you to academic services and support across GW. Academic Commons offers free course-specific tutoring or course review sessions for most introductory courses. You can also attend workshops to learn new skills or to improve your study skills. The Academic Commons website or a visit to the student-staffed Ask Us Desk at Gelman Library can help you find many other types of academic support. 

Course Reserves

Your professors may put readings “on reserve” for your classes. These are books or materials an instructor asks the library to set aside for a specific academic course. The loan period is shorter than other materials to allow the entire class access to them. Print reserves are available at the Check Out Desk at Gelman or Eckles. You may also have course reserves available to you electronically through Blackboard.

Top Textbooks

The Top Textbooks program acquires up to five copies of required textbooks for a select group of undergraduate, high enrollment courses with traditionally expensive textbooks and places them on course reserve for use by all students. Textbooks are available for students to check out for up to three hours. Top Textbooks are available at the Gelman Library Check Out Desk.

Software and Technology

Specialized Software

GW students have access to many different software packages depending on your school and program. Library computers are equipped with specialized research and programming tools as well.

Check Out Multimedia Equipment

Video production equipment loan, including cameras, lights, microphones, and smartphone accessories, is available to all GW students, faculty, and staff with a GWorld card.

Inside the Library Buildings

Printing 

Colonial Printing is a cloud-based, wireless printing service enabling you to print from anywhere on or off campus, and even from your smartphone or tablet. Printing kiosks are available throughout the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses, including several available at Gelman on the 1st, 2nd (entrance level), 3rd, 4th, and 7th floors. Eckles Library has two print kiosks, including one available in a 24-hour area of the building. 

Study Spaces

Gelman and Eckles have a variety of individual and group study spaces through the buildings. Gelman Library also has reservable study rooms for small groups. You can find out more about noise level expectations, available technology, and notable areas on each floor on the Gelman Learning Spaces page. 

Skill Building

We offer a regular series of specialized workshops on topics such as data analysis, learning Python, and Adobe Creative Suite. We also offer you access to thousands of useful skill-building videos via LinkedIn Learning (log in using your GW email) and Safari Tech Books (choose "Institution not listed" and use your GW email to create a free account).