How to Lau: Getting the Most Out of the Library

How to Lau wordmark logo beside Lauinger Library's exterior.

Think you know all you need to know about the Georgetown libraries? Think again. This guide will familiarize you with our most essential (and often underutilized) resources and services so you don’t leave campus without taking full advantage of the tools at your disposal.
 

Make the library your ultimate research partner.
 

Through the library, you have access to more than 950 databases, each collecting materials from hundreds, if not thousands, of academic journals and other scholarly sources. 
 

Don’t get overwhelmed: Our librarians have created curated research guides to help you cut through the noise and find what you need. 
 

Need a more personal touch? Schedule a research consultation, and we’ll connect you with a dedicated librarian for a one-on-one.
 

Plan on doing online research off-campus and want to skip past the paywalls? The Lean Library browser extension gives you access to full-text scholarly articles and ebooks wherever the library has a subscription.
 

And if you ever want to get hands-on with rare materials about Georgetown’s history and many other topics, contact the Booth Center for Special Collections.
 

Take advantage of can’t-miss library resources.
 

The library offers millions of books and articles through Hoyasearch, but we provide Hoyas with so much more.
 

Through the library, you can stay informed with free subscriptions to top news outlets, such as the New York Times, the Washington PostThe Economist, and more. 
 

Want to kickstart your career at your own pace? With unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning and its 21,000-plus expert-led courses, you can learn valuable professional skills no matter your major.
 

Finally, don’t overlook the softwareequipment, and tools at your disposal. Want to make a short film? You can get inspired by movies from our DVD and streaming collections, build props with the tools available in the Maker Hub, rent cameras and lights through the service desk, and edit everything together with Adobe Creative Cloud apps, all with free-to-use library resources.
 

When in doubt, ask for help.
 

Need help finding specific materials in our collection? Struggling to decide a topic for your paper? Or just having trouble logging in? 
 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! There’s a team behind the scenes dedicated to answering any questions you may have while using the library. 
 

During service hours, you can bring your questions to the staffed service desk on Lau’s third floor, instantly connect with a human librarian through our online chat service, or call us at 202-687-7607. 
 

If you have a question outside of service hours, you can always email a reference librarian or schedule an appointment to speak to a librarian in person or over Zoom as soon as they’re available. 

Get what you need with Interlibrary Loans.
 

Looking for an obscure movie that’s not on our DVD stacks? On a quest to finish a fantasy series, but the last book has been checked out for months? Found the perfect journal article to cite in your project, but the complete text is only available in hard copy?
 

With Interlibrary & Consortium Loans, the library can almost always get what you need, regardless of whether it’s in our collection. Simply request the materials you want in Hoyasearch, and our staff will get it to you in as soon as two days.

Find your place at the library.
 

The library is a home for learning, creating knowledge, discovering stories, and building meaningful connections. For study spaces, many students gravitate toward Lauinger’s second floor, or Lau2. There, you’ll find plenty of desks, outlets, the Writing Center, and the Corp’s beloved student-run coffeehouse, the Midnight Mug
 

Beyond Lau2, there are individual and group study rooms located throughout the library, as well as quiet areas (including the third-floor Pierce Reading Room) and study lounges reserved for graduate students on the first and fourth floors. 
 

Want to tinker, create, and make some friends? The Maker Hub not only provides access to plenty of tools and equipment but also a diverse community of passionate makers, inventors, designers, and entrepreneurs. 
 

If you’re more likely to bond with others over books, look no further than the Lattes and Lit Book Club, which meets several times a semester to discuss group reads from diverse perspectives.
 

Finally, the Student Library Council invites Hoyas from across campus to get an inside look at what’s going on in the library, discuss issues, and offer feedback to help improve our operations, services, and spaces.
 

No matter who you are or where you are in your Hilltop journey, the library is here to help you succeed and stay connected to your academic community. Keep an eye on our events calendar for workshops, lectures, club meetings, and other exciting get-togethers. Hoya Saxa!