Mary Idema Pew Library
Visiting
- The Mary Idema Pew Library is located at the intersection of Campus Drive and West Campus Drive near the Cook Carillon Tower on the Allendale Campus.
- Study spaces are available whenever the library is open.
Parking
- The closest parking lot is Lot H, directly across Campus Drive from the library. A parking permit is required to park in all non-visitor spaces on campus.
- Visitors can pick up a free parking permit at Public Safety with a photo ID and license plate number. Public Safety is located on Service Drive, just past the Alumni House on Campus Drive.
- Paid visitor parking is also available in front of the Kirkhof Center next door to the Mary Idema Pew Library. Use the kiosk or ParkMobile app to pay.
At Mary Idema Pew Library
Knowledge Market
The Knowledge Market has highly-trained fellow students who can help you improve your skills. Our Peer Consultants work one-on-one or with small groups to help with research, writing, presentations, and digital skills.
Digital Creator Lab
The Digital Creator Lab (DCL) is located on the 2nd floor of the Mary Idema Pew Library. The DCL is staffed with highly trained Digital Skills Consultants to help you with your digital projects.
Technology Showcase
Across from the IT Help desk, the Atomic Object Technology Showcase gives students a hands-on chance to learn and play with the latest technologies.
Learning Alcove
On the first floor, the Learning Alcove is a mini-theater that shows a range of intellectual, inspirational, and provocative pieces to engage students in serendipitous moments of conversation and learning.
Service Desk
Located on the first floor, check out materials, pick up items you have requested, and get help with your questions.
IT Help Desk
Located on the Atrium level, the IT Help desk loans laptops and provides hardware and software support for current GVSU students, faculty, and staff.
Learning Labs
The library has two rooms for library instruction on the Atrium level: a traditional computer lab as well as a lab designed for high-tech collaboration. Both labs are open to students when not reserved for formal instruction.
GV Brew
Need a coffee or Boba Tea to get you through your study session? GV Brew is a coffee and tea shop located on the first floor of the Mary Idema Pew Library. Check the Laker Food Co. for hours.
Librarian Suite
We have liaison librarians who are experts in every subject GVSU offers. Stop by the suite on the second floor or reach out to meet with a librarian in your field!
CUSE
Seeking opportunities to pursue research, immerse yourself in language study, pursue a competitive internship, prepare well for graduate or professional school—or for gap-year experiences after graduation like Peace Corps or a Fulbright? The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement on the second floor can help!
Event Spaces
On the Atrium level, the library has the ability to host educational speakers and larger events in the Multipurpose Room. Contact Event Services to reserve the space.
Study Spaces
Atrium
The "Living Room" of campus, the Atrium features moveable furniture and white boards, floor to tall floor to ceiling windows, and plenty of space for group or solo work.
Reading Rooms
Quiet Reading Rooms on the 3rd and 4th floors offer work tables, comfortable cubicles, and stunning views of campus.
The third floor reading room also has a 20-ft fireplace.
Group Study Rooms
Private study rooms are available on all floors of the library and are reservable online. Students can also create a room on-the-fly in any of the collaborative areas.
Innovation Zone
The third-floor Innovation Zone offers flexible seating, white board walls, and manipulative to spark your creativity.
Computer Workstations
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Computer workstations are located on every floor with a mixture of Macintosh and PC computers.
Stacks Seating
Individual quiet study spaces surround the book stacks on the east side of floors 2-4 in the Mary Idema Pew Library. Comfortable chairs, semi-private work spaces, and work tables ensure you can find the space you need,
Collaboration Areas
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Located in the West wing of each floor of the library, large tables and seating facilitate group work.
Nooks and Small Tables
Semi-private study spaces are tucked throughout the Mary Idema Pew Library.
Café Seating
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Stop by the GV Brew Café on the first floor of Mary Idema Pew for a coffee or Boba and stay for the comfortable study tables and chairs.
Reading Garden
Located in the center of the third floor, the outdoor Reading Garden is a seasonal place to get away, while in the heart of the library.
Roof Terrace
Perched atop the Mary Idema Pew Library, a rooftop terrace offers good-weather study spots and breathtaking views of campus.
Patio Seating
Located on the South side of Mary Idema Pew next to the GV Brew Café, patio seating offers outdoor comfort and shade.
Amenities
Restrooms
- Single-gender restrooms are available on each floor near the southwest side. On the first floor, restrooms are next to GV Brew. On floors 2-4, these are located by the computer tables. In the Atrium, restrooms are located behind the central stairwell.
- Accessible, gender-inclusive restrooms are located on the Atrium level in rooms LIB 017 and LIB 027.
- Baby changing tables installed in the Accessible, gender-inclusive restroom LIB 017, both Atrium level single-gender restrooms, and both first-floor single-gender restrooms.
Wellness Rooms
- A room for nursing mothers is located on the Atrium level in LIB 016.
- An Interfaith Reflection Room is located in the Kirkhof Center, room 2243, and can be accessed from the Atrium level through the Kirkhof connector.
Technology
- Computer stations throughout the library with a mix of Macintosh and PC computers.
- A print release room on each floor. You can print from a library computer, a laptop, or even a mobile device with GVPrint.
- Laptops, chargers, and graphic calculators available for check out.
- Podcasting and video equipment available from the Digital Creator Lab
- 3D printing, computer-controlled embroidery machines, and more at the Technology Showcase.
Collections
Browsable Collections
The library’s open stacks can hold 150,000 books, allowing for browsing and serendipitous discovery. The books are surrounded by window seats, carrels, and cozy chairs to encourage students to linger.
ASRS
The rest of the collection is housed in an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) that can hold up to 600,000 books, while taking up a fraction of the space conventional shelving would require. Books may be requested on the library’s website and delivered to patrons in minutes at the service desk.
Digital Creator Lab Tools
The Digital Creator Lab offers equipment checkout at the Mary Idema Pew Library and Steelcase Library service desks for all GVSU students. Equipment includes DSLR cameras, podcasting equipment, Wacom tablets, and more!
Technology & Study Aids
Check out Phone chargers, headphones, adapters, calculators, as well as focus tools like fidgets and stress relief balls. Stop by the Service Desk!
Juvenile Literature
Located on the 4th floor, the Juvenile Literature collection contains books and magazines for K-12 educators.
Popular Reading
Check out the latest popular reads in our collection curated by Schuler Books. We have a variety of fiction and non-fiction when you need to take a break from studying.
Musical Recordings
Located on the third floor, Mary Idema Pew has thousands of compact discs and musical score collection across all genres of music.
Map Collection
Located on the fourth floor, the Map collection is housed in flat file cabinets and contains maps that support the Geography and Planning Department, mostly provided by the United States Government.
Need to find an item in the collection? You can search the Library Catalog for items physically held in the library (and some eBooks).
Want to find everything? Use Library Search and you can also find online articles, journals, and databases in one place!
