Library re-opening FAQs

The Georgia Tech Library opened August 3 with the goal of prioritizing health and safety while providing the delivery of critical services to support campus-based instruction for students, faculty and staff.

Our guiding principles include:

• Supporting students in their academic progression and faculty in their quality of instruction;
• Assisting the research and innovation enterprises;
• Promoting transparency and communication with our decision-making process;
• Seeking direction from public health experts to inform and refine our decisions;
• Promoting empathy in responding to the needs and concerns of the campus community;
• Remaining flexible in our planning and execution;
• And encouraging each member of the Georgia Tech Community to demonstrate personal health responsibility.

Is the Library open? What are the hours?
Yes. The Library, which includes the S. Price Gilbert Memorial Library and Crosland Tower, plus connections to Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, opened August 3. All three resumed 24-hour schedule Sunday, August 16 in anticipation for the coming semester. All three buildings will be open to the campus community from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., access will be BuzzCard only.

As always, before entering any campus building conduct the Daily Self-Checklist. Use the provided hand sanitizer at each entrance and exit. Masks are required throughout the building.

In order to maintain high standards of cleanliness and mitigate health risks, the Library experience will be different. We ask the Georgia Tech community help us ensure the Library sets the gold standard for Jackets Protecting Jackets.

Can I use the Library to study?
Yes. Please be advised that all entrants must wear a CDC-compliant face covering per University System of Georgia mandate. They are also encouraged to maintain social distancing of at least six feet per CDC guidelines in all areas of the Library, including the collaboration rooms. As such, open study rooms will have furniture removed/covered to promote social distancing. Additionally, some study areas may be used periodically to accommodate distanced, in-person instruction. Overall, total seating capacity will be reduced by 40 to 50 percent.

We ask that use of elevators be limited to one or two people (restrictions are posted for each elevator). If you are capable of using stairs, please do so to keep elevators free for those who need them. Please do not use stairwells for calls, conversations, eating or studying.

Eating and drinking is discouraged in the buildings due to the removal of masks, which are required in all publicly accessible areas of the buildings.

Please note signage throughout the building for entry and exit, traffic flow on stairs, queuing for service, seating, and other normal business procedures.

Are collaboration rooms open?
No. Collaboration rooms are currently unavailable.

Can I use the Library’s computers and printers?
Remote printing is available throughout both buildings in the Library and Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons. Printing from the Library and Clough cluster computing stations is currently unavailable due to the clusters being closed.

Computing stations are currently closed, but are expected to open within the first two weeks of the semester. The delay is due to the delivery of a UV-C chamber to sanitize keyboards and mice.

Please be advised that once open, students will find computing stations have been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing. Upon delivery and testing of the UV-C chamber, keyboards and mice will be available for checkout and contact-less delivery using a Library locker. After use, the keyboards and mice will be quarantined, then sanitized.

Each patron is responsible for using centrally located cleaning supplies on each work station and printer before and after use. Hand sanitizer will also be available for use. 

There will be no visitor terminals for the non-Georgia Tech community.

How do I get physical materials?
All Library collections, including the circulating science fiction collection, are now in the Library Service Center as part of Covid-19 response. Physical materials can be requested using the Library’s online catalog and will be delivered without contact using Library lockers. Returned items will be in quarantine for four days. Expect delivery delays for physical items borrowed from non-Georgia Tech libraries due to quarantine procedures.

Physical course reserves and gadget lending will begin after the delivery and testing of the UV-C chamber for sterilization.

Visiting researchers seeking in-person archival materials must schedule an appointment at least 48 hours in advance using the online contact form. The Archives Reading Room is open by appointment only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Masks are required in the Archives Reading Room.

Can I borrow a camera, microphone, or other periphery?
In September, again dependent on the delivery of the UV-C chamber for sterilization, the Library will reinstate gadgets lending. All lending will take place online, with contact-less delivery to a Library locker.

Can I borrow a laptop for long-term use?
For students in need of a computer, a limited supply of laptops/tablets are available for no-cost, long-term loan and can be shipped to addresses off campus or picked up on campus by appointment.

Contact customersupport@library.gatech.edu to request a laptop or tablet.

Will I be able to use a Library locker?
Not currently. The Library is using lockers for contact-less delivery for the foreseeable future. If demand does not meet capacity, lockers will be made available for checkout.