Research Services and Instruction
Library faculty work with instructional and research faculty and students in specific academic programs and departments to promote and use new resources, consult with faculty about acquiring specific scholarly resources, assist graduate students with thesis or dissertation research, develop and maintain research guides, support online courses, collaborate in offering research programs and scholarly events, and conduct instructional and training sessions for all levels of library users—students, faculty and staff.
Instructional Services
The Libraries provides a variety of onsite and online instructional services tailored to the curricular and academic programs of the university's schools and colleges. Library instruction ranges from workshops to classes, and is aligned with and embedded in the university's undergraduate and graduate curricula. Technology-rich instructional venues are available in all of the libraries.
Research & Consultation Services
Expert library faculty provide research and consultative assistance, both in-person and virtually, to students, faculty and staff at any stage of the research process. Research support ranges from class assignments to lengthier research projects, to capstone course and graduate degree requirements (i.e., thesis or dissertation), to digital humanities, data and GIS support, to research and scholarship leading to publication and related scholarly communications. For help in a specific discipline, consult the website.
Scholarly Resources
Library research materials in various formats are housed on the Fairfax Campus at the Fenwick Library; on the Mason Square Campus (Van Metre Hall); and on the Science and Technology Campus at the Mercer Library (Colgan Hall). The Antonin Scalia Law School Library, on the Mason Square Campus (Hazel Hall), is administered separately, but maintains close programmatic and service coordination with all of Mason's libraries. Combined resources, including the law library, total in the millions of holdings of research materials and include: print books and bound journal volumes; e-books; online journals and proceedings; electronic databases; online audiovisual items; multimedia materials; microform units; print government documents; maps; and significant holdings of manuscripts, special collections, and archives.
Mason's integrated library information system and its discovery layer interface access an online catalog, circulation, and course-reserves information. The system can be used in any of the libraries from campus locations on the network or via the web. Electronic course reserves are provided through Blackboard (Bb), the university's learning management system. The Libraries' website, (https://library.gmu.edu), offers access to a variety of networked digital resources and electronically mediated services, including a virtual reference service.
George Mason University Libraries' resources are significantly supplemented by the following current affiliations:
- VIVA, Virginia's academic library consortium, which provides shared collections, open and affordable course content programs, and resource sharing;
- The Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), whose other members include American, Catholic, Gallaudet, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, Marymount, and District of Columbia universities, which provides resource sharing services and a shared collections facility;
- The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), which includes the 36 largest university libraries in a 10-state region;
- The Center for Research Libraries - Global Resources Network, a Chicago-based research library, along with its affiliate Linda Hall Library of Engineering and Technology (Kansas City, MO), whose multimillion volume holdings comprise specialized and uniquely held materials in North America;
- HathiTrust Digital Library, a partnership of academic and research institutions, which offers a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world; and
- The international Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) extensive computerized system and network, which facilitates national and international library resource-sharing activities and shared cataloging of scholarly material worldwide.
An intercampus delivery service is available for students and faculty requesting materials held at any Mason campus library. Materials not held by Mason can be obtained by direct borrowing from WRLC institution libraries via the Consortium Loan Service, and other research libraries via interlibrary loan, or, when required, commercial delivery services.
Expanded academic support services also include the following:
Digital Scholarship Center
Web: https://dsc.gmu.edu
The Digital Scholarship Center (DiSC) is the Libraries' most sophisticated response to the interdisciplinary research, teaching, and learning needs of our digital researchers. The focus is on supporting scholarly or academic activities conducted or enhanced through the use of data and digital technologies. DiSC staff and affiliates deliver digital research services, and the center itself offers a technology-rich environment where discovery, exploration, collaboration, and learning occur.
Data Services & GIS
An integrated service supporting faculty and students engaged in data-centric research (e.g., social science data sets, polling, census, geospatial data, and data archives). Services include consultations, training and assistance with finding and using data, conducting data collection and analysis, using statistical and qualitative software packages, and geographic information systems (GIS). Other assistance offered includes advice on creating funder-mandated data management plans, research data repository services (Dataverse) and access to government information, data, and maps.
Digital Humanities
The field of digital humanities is broad, encompassing multiple disciplines within the humanities. At a basic level, digital humanities simply refers to the use of digital tools and methods to further scholarship. At its more complex, digital humanities involves re-imagining the way we approach original textual sources, electronic texts and data, research, narrative, and the publication and interpretation of scholarship.
To support digital scholarship in the field of digital humanities, the Digital Scholarship Center (DiSC) provides a variety of services, including offering workshops and providing one-on-one consultations and in-classroom instruction sessions on digital humanities platforms, software, and skills. DiSC also provides support for Omeka users. The computer lab offers access to relevant hardware, such as scanners and a HoverCam, as well as software, including Gephi, Palladio, Voyant, and GIS. DiSC also has access to content from selected full text primary source databases in a form that can be used for text mining and analysis.
Digital Projects Lab
One of two labs in the Digital Scholarship Center (DiSC), the Digital Projects Lab is designed and equipped to support and encourage collaborative work on digital research projects. Lab support, in certain instances, is also provided virtually.
Scholarly Production @ the Research Commons (SP@RC) Lab
Web: https://library.gmu.edu/sparc
The SP@RC Lab provides point-of-need assistance for students in disseminating their research, regardless of format. The goal of this service is to create self-sufficient scholars who are able to apply best practices in design and research presentation to their work. Services include poster printing (in partnership with OSCAR), poster design consultations and in-class instruction, Adobe and GIMP software consultations and training, presentation skills workshops, and use of lab computers. There are two One Button Studios that allow students to make video presentations (lighting and camera provided), as well as support and training for editing videos.
Virtual Reference
Web: https://library.gmu.edu/ask
This service provides a virtual, real-time, reference service which allows staff to provide help to students, faculty, and staff remotely.
Mason Publishing
Phone: 703-993-3636
Web: https://library.gmu.edu/masonpublishing
The Mason Publishing Group provides support and resources to the George Mason University community for creating, curating, and disseminating scholarly, creative, and educational works. Mason Publishing includes a cluster of publishing-related activities such as the George Mason University Press, scholarly communication and copyright, Open Educational Resources, University Dissertation & Thesis Services, Mason's institutional repository (MARS), electronic journal hosting and publishing, and data publication.
George Mason University Press
Phone: 703-993-3636
Web: https://publishing.gmu.edu/press
A component of Mason Publishing, the George Mason University Press publishes in a variety of disciplines ranging from literature to public policy. The Press seeks to promote access to scholarly works that concern the university, other area organizations, and the history, politics and culture of the region.
Scholarly Communications and Copyright Resources
Phone: 703-993-2544 or 2427
Web: https://publishing.gmu.edu/communication
Integrated within Mason Publishing, this service provides guidance, assistance, and education on copyright, open access, and scholarly communications issues. Specifically, this office provides assistance with the application of fair use of proprietary content used in teaching, electronic course reserves, and online education; student assignments; open access and university publishing and support; and promoting faculty scholarship and collaborations. Workshops and class instruction on these topics and others are available year-round, upon request.
Open Educational Resources (OER)
Phone: 703-993-2544
Web: https://oer.gmu.edu
Through the Mason Publishing program, the Libraries provide a "one-stop-shop" for university faculty interested in understanding the purpose of OER, finding and using OER, and assistance finding resources to adapt or develop OER for teaching university classes on their own terms.
University Dissertation and Thesis Services
Phone: 703-993-2222
Web: https://library.gmu.edu/udts
The University Dissertation and Thesis Service (UDTS) assists students and academic units in the dissertation, thesis, and graduate-level project process by helping students meet all university requirements and deadlines for submission of work. The UDTS website provides useful tools such as the university's Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Guide, containing downloadable templates of necessary elements, forms required for the submission process, and links to related websites. UDTS also assists graduate students through individual consultation and informational workshops.
Mason Archival Repository Service
Phone: 703-993-3742
Web: https://mars.gmu.edu
Another facet of Mason Publishing, the Mason Archival Repository Service (MARS) serves as an institutional repository and provides a stable digital archive for scholarly and research materials of lasting value held by Special Collections Research Center or produced by Mason faculty, students, and staff. Staff provide expert advice on digital archiving these materials, file formats, copyright issues, long-term management of archived materials, and issues pertaining to scholarly communication.
Special Collections Research Center
Web: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Located within the Fenwick Library in a state-of-the-art space, this unit acquires, documents, preserves, and provides access to primary research collections and documents. The Special Collections Research Center's (SCRC) services, collections and programs support the teaching, learning, and research activities of George Mason University, the Fairfax community, and researchers around the world. SCRC's collections - physical and digital - focus on Mason's academic areas of strength, Virginia and Northern Virginia history and development, military conflicts and conflict resolution, visual and performing arts, planned communities, transportation and planning, photography, and artists' books. The center also actively collects the history of George Mason University through its University Archives program, including oral histories of alumni, staff, faculty, and administrators. SCRC staff work to incorporate diverse voices in these collections, as well as through their exhibitions and outreach activities.
University Records Management
Phone: 703-993-2201
The University Records Management program assists all university offices and programs with the implementation of their records processes by providing excellent service to the campus community through education, the application of best practices for records management, and secure services to ensure the proper retention and disposition of public records, in accordance with Virginia state laws, federal policies, and guidelines. University Records Management offers online training, in-person or remote consultations, and records evaluations to assist faculty and staff. University Records Management manages an on-site records center holding inactive paper records, and works with offices to access their records and properly dispose documents.
Library Faculty
Professional Faculty
Algenio, Badilla-Meléndez, Bell, Blackburn, Blinstrub, Bopp, Bowdoin, Bushallow, Butler, Calkins, Ding, Durrant, Eaton, Edwards, Evans, Fahringer, Fehsenfeld, Gourlay, Grimm, Heilbrun, Hunter, Jordan, Kermer, Kim, Kirker, Kirschner, Landry, Lee, Lee, Lemmons, Lewis, Magee, Mann, Mattson, McManus, Menjivar, Meslener, Munnlyn, Oberle, O'Gara, Reichelt, Rondeau, Rouner, Schubel, Spitler, Stitz, Sullivan, Tieszen, Vay, Watkins, Westcott
Administrative Faculty
Euliano, Garritty, Grotophorst, Kehoe, Khazal, Osterman
Library Locations
Fenwick Library
Phone: 703-993-2240
Designed to LEED silver standards, the Fenwick Library, George Mason University's main research library, provides services, learning spaces, digital technology and resources for the Mason community. The modern, bright facility accommodates individual study as well as group collaboration. The majority of the University Libraries' volumes are located in Fenwick Library. General circulating materials are available on floors three through five, with periodicals and government documents on the first floor. The state-of-the-art Special Collections Research Center is located on the second floor. Compact shelving on the first, third, and fourth floors allow for increased capacity of the Libraries' print collection, freeing up space for research, study, and collaboration.
Located on the first floor, the Information Desk is a unified full-service assistance desk, providing a single point of contact for research questions and access to collections in Fenwick Library. It is located in the Atrium as you enter the library. The addition provides 30 group study rooms, each equipped with white boards and monitors. A handful of MediaScape collaboration study rooms allow up to four students to share their laptop screens simultaneously. Also, two "One Button Studio" presentation practice rooms are designed to allow students a space to practice and revise oral presentations.
Fenwick Library offers a number of both instructional and seminar spaces. The first floor rooms can be combined to accommodate up to 80 students, and the fourth floor instruction space is a sandbox for exploring innovative classroom technology. Two exhibition and gallery spaces showcase student and faculty art, as well as items from the Special Collections Research Center.
The second floor houses the Research Commons, a space designed to bring together much of the research activity in the Libraries in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary environment. The Research Commons includes a large open area for group study and collaboration, the Special Collections Research Center, the Digital Scholarship Center, the Music Library, University Dissertation and Thesis Services, tutoring space for the Writing Center, and the offices of most of the University Libraries' subject specialist librarians.
The fifth floor graduate study zone offers quiet spots designed to give graduate students a place to pursue their research and writing.
Assistive technologies are available onsite (for individuals with disabilities).
Mercer Library
Phone: 703-993-8340
This library, located on the first floor of Colgan Hall, supports Mason faculty, students, and staff in the programs and courses offered on the Science and Technology Campus, including applied information technology; biotechnology, bioinformatics, and biodefense; education; environmental sciences and policy; Governor's School @ Innovation Park; health, fitness and recreation resources; molecular and microbiology; tourism; and visual and performing arts. This library also supports faculty and students in the Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation on the Front Royal Campus.
The library provides access to university-wide electronic resources, with an emphasis on instruction and assistance with information resources and research. The library fosters partnerships to provide information services to the rapidly expanding corporate and technology presence in Prince William County. Assistive technologies for people with disabilities are available.
Mason Square Campus Library
Phone: 703-993-8188
This library, located on the second and third floors of Van Metre Hall, is a full-service research facility supporting the teaching and research needs of Mason faculty, students, and staff at Mason Square. Consistent with this campus' distinct areas of academic specialization at the graduate level, the library's collection emphasizes public policy, international commerce, economics, management of nonprofit organizations, conflict resolution and arts management. Intercampus delivery of circulating materials from other library sites is available. Library staff can provide research assistance and instruction for students, faculty, and staff in identifying and using research resources, which continue to grow in breadth and depth. Assistive technologies are available for people with disabilities.
Antonin Scalia Law School Library
Phone: 703-993-8120 (circulation desk)
Administration
Melanie Knapp, Associate Dean, Library and Technology
The law library, located in Hazel Hall, Mason Square, supports the Antonin Scalia Law School and has a collection of over 476,000 volumes in a variety of formats with an emphasis on law and economics, intellectual property, corporate and securities law, regulatory law, and Virginia law. The library also provides access to electronic law resources including LexisNexis, Westlaw, HeinOnline, Index to Legal Periodicals, and Bloomberg Law. The law library is open to all members of the university community, although some resources and services are only available to law school affiliates. Most of the collection does not circulate, but many of the books in the treatise collection are available for checkout by all faculty, students, and staff.