Library Information for Parents & Guardians of Fairfield University Undergraduate Students
The DiMenna-Nyselius Library empowers the members of our community in the development
of their whole person, including their intellectual, psychological, spiritual, and professional
exploration; their growth as critical thinkers; their endeavors as knowledge creators; and their
quest for lifelong fulfillment.
Students are informed about the DiMenna-Nyselius Library's services & resources via Life@Fairfield posts and emails, their First Year Experience class, communications from their "Personal Librarian" (see below), and information literacy instruction with a research librarian embedded within ENG1001 courses, among other ways.
Academic Support:
• One-on-one research help with a librarian (information experts) in-person, virtually, by email, or phone
• 24/7 help via chat service from the library homepage
• Course-integrated library instruction
• Online research and citation guides. Plus research tutorials, an academic integrity tutorial, and citation management software.
• One million books/ebooks & over 200 databases of academic articles & streaming media
• Student Donated Textbook Collection and Faculty Course Reserves (students can search for their class texts in the Library catalog or ask a librarian for assistance)
• Digital subscriptions to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Chronicle of Higher Education. Other newspapers are available through various Library databases.
• Access to the Fairfield University Archives and Special Collections
• Interlibrary Loan, a free service to request articles/books from other libraries
• Reservable spaces to conduct individual or group work
• Tech equipment such as computers, laptops, printers (and poster printer), scanners. In addition the "Library of Things" offers a broad range of non-traditional library items like chargers, board games, lawn chairs, museum passes, creative technology, and other useful items to help you study or relax.
• 24/7 study space available in the Café and Innovation Lab
Other student support departments located within the Library, as part of the Academic Commons, include: The Writing Center, ITS Help Desk, Global Fairfield, Math Center, Office of Academic Support & Retention, Office of Accessibility, and Frederickson Family Innovation Lab. Each October we host an Open House, "The Academic Commons Trick or Treat", and encourage all students to attend.
First-years & New Transfers have a "Personal Librarian"
The Personal Librarian Program introduces first-years and new transfer students to the collections and services of the Library. A research librarian is paired with each First-Year Experience (FYE) section and contacts students via email approximately once per month throughout their first year with research tips, Library news, and encourages students to get in touch if they have any questions about their research (or even any University related questions). Many FYE sections also invite their section's Personal Librarian to a FYE class in the fall semester. Students can email their Personal Librarian to ask a question or schedule an appointment.
De-Stress support:
• Popular Reading Collection on the main level, which includes best-sellers.
• De-stress table with coloring supplies and puzzles available on the main level.
• Summer and Winter Reading Challenges offered which connect students, faculty, and staff to share book recommendations and find reading motivation.
• Therapy dog events are scheduled for monthly visits to the Library with more dates added during finals weeks. These events are held with the support of the University's Health & Wellness Committee’s Pet Therapy Program. All therapy animals and handlers are certified and are properly insured, with documentation submitted to Fairfield University’s Office of Human Resources.
• During finals week there are several de-stress programs plus free late night coffee/tea and snacks while the building is open 24 hours..
Additional opportunities:
• Student employment opportunities. Students can visit the Library Services & Information Desk to fill out an application.
• Opportunity to apply to be on the Student Library Advisory Board. This is a great leadership opportunity for student resumes.
• Students can propose an exhibit or resource display to curate.
• Annual Library Research Prize of $1,000 awarded to an undergraduate student/team. Winners also share their research at a reception and their names are added to a plaque in the Library.
If you have any questions about the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, or would like to have a building tour or a discussion via Zoom, please contact Lisa Thornell, Head of Library Outreach & Communications, at lthornell@fairfield.edu. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram @fairfieldulib and subscribe to our newsletter, Beyond the Stacks, which is published twice per year.
