Fenwick Atrium is an open, two story space. In the Atrium, you can find study spaces, peruse new resources, look at the latest exhibit in the Fenwick Gallery, checkout laptops, borrow books with the check express check-out machine, and get friendly assistance at the information desk. The main service hub of Fenwick Library, staff at the Information Desk can assist you with getting started with research, checking out items, locating library resources at Mason and beyond, and navigating around the library and the campus.
Walk through the security gates, and look to your left. The Information Table is stocked with handouts about library services, programs, workshops and events. These varied library activities are aimed to help you acquire skills and expand your horizons - and help you succeed at Mason. Fenwick Library LCDs (located in the Atrium and the North / South Lobby areas) also highlight core services and current happenings in the Libraries.
With your back to the Information Desk, you can see double doors in front of you with the words Connect & Learn above the doorway. This is one of the First Floor entrances to the towers’ book stacks. Straight through the doors in room 1604 is the Assistive Technology Lab. The lab has a variety of software and equipment available to patrons requiring disability accommodations. We will not visit the lab today, however, if you are interested in using the equipment, inquire at the Information Desk for more details. Reference books, children’s literature, curriculum materials, newspapers, atlases, maps and microforms are located on the towers’ first floor, too.
Keeping your back to the Information Desk, look down the hallway on your right. Here you will find two Instruction Rooms. Librarians and library staff use these rooms to teach classes and workshops on a variety of topics to help students effectively use the library and its information resources. At the very end of the hallway, to the left, are compact stacks, which hold current and bound periodicals as well as government documents.
Now go down the hallway toward the Instruction Rooms. On your left you’ll see a separate alcove which contains a printer/copier/scanner, Mason Money machine, laptop dispenser, restrooms, elevators and the Atrium staircase. Please note, restrooms, elevators, printers/copiers/scanners are in the same areas on the five floors of the new building. There are also elevators, stairs, and restrooms in the towers’ book stacks.
To continue the tour, go to the next alcove to take an elevator to the Second Floor, or return to the Atrium. The next stop is at the top of the stairs on Second Floor.