Effective Date: August 27, 2025
Policy Owner: Gavin Thibodeau
Associated University Policies: University Policy 1109: Poster Posting
Procedures: See Section IV (Compliance)

I. Scope

This policy describes the Wide-Format Printing activities supported by Fenwick Library and the expected behavior of service users.

II. Policy Statement

Fenwick Library’s Research Poster Printing (RPP) service provides free wide-format printing to George Mason University students, faculty, and staff (“users”) for research posters and closely related materials.

Alumni do not qualify for poster printing.

Approved non-Research Poster requests must have educational value or demonstrably support the public activities of individuals or administrative groups at George Mason University. RPP does not offer services for personal or commercial requests, nor for individuals or organizations not affiliated with George Mason.

III. Definitions

Wide-Format Printing:
Printing of documents sized at least 18" × 18". Smaller sizes (Letter, Tabloid, etc.) are not accepted.

Research Poster:
A graphical display communicating the background, methods, findings, and other aspects of a quantitative or qualitative research project for a class or conference.

IV. Compliance

Submission Policies

  • Requests must be submitted through the online form at https://library.gmu.edu/poster-request at least 3 business days before the desired pick-up date.
    • Requests submitted after operating hours are considered received on the next business day.
    • Shorter turnaround times may not be feasible and depend on:
      • staffing levels
      • number of posters already in the queue
  • Users may request up to two posters per week.
    Each page in a printing request counts as a separate poster.
    Weekly limits reset every Monday.
  • Posters must be between 18" and 36" on one side, and between 18" and 80" on the other.
  • Files will be printed exactly as submitted.
    RPP staff do not perform design or layout services.
  • Users seeking design assistance may schedule a 30-minute virtual consultation at https://library.gmu.edu/research-posters (left-hand sidebar → “Schedule a Consultation”).

Pick-Up Policies

  • Completed posters can be retrieved from the Information Desk on Fenwick Library’s first floor during operating hours.
  • Users must show their confirmation email to pick up a poster.
    A user may pick up another person’s poster only if they present that individual’s original confirmation email.
  • Posters will be held for two weeks after the requested pick-up date.
    After this period, posters may be discarded as space dictates.
  • Users who repeatedly fail to pick up posters may lose future printing privileges.

Service staff reserve the right to deny requests that do not meet these guidelines.
A denied request will remain denied even if resubmitted by another user.

Failure to adhere to library policies may result in corrective action, including loss of privileges or other appropriate measures.

V. Forms

All poster printing requests must be submitted through the online form:
https://library.gmu.edu/poster-request
Requests sent by email or through other channels will not be accepted.

VI. Effective Date and Review

This policy was approved by the Senior Leadership Team on August 27, 2025, and will be reviewed every three years or as necessary.