Visiting Information

The Georgetown University Library collections are designed to support the university’s curriculum. Because these materials are not appropriate for elementary or middle school students, we will provide instruction only for high school-age students and above.

Due to limited computer workstations in the library instruction classroom, groups are limited to 24 individuals. A teacher, librarian or school library media specialist must accompany classes. Groups of more than 15 must have an additional chaperone.

The best times for visits are during Spring Break (first week of March), Summer Sessions (mid-May through the first week of August), and Winter Break (mid-December through mid-January). We are not able to accommodate requests for dates in September, October, February or March after Spring Break.

Borrowing privileges are not available to anyone not associated with Georgetown University.

Georgetown University students, faculty, and staff may use the library during all hours of operation. Visitors without a current Georgetown University ID (GOCard) may use the library between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm.

Users with current, valid Georgetown University ID (GOCard)

• Everyone having a current, valid Georgetown University ID (GOCard) may enter without signing in.
• Guests (e.g. family members, GU tour groups) accompanying someone with a GU ID may also enter provided that they sign in at the Security Desk.
• Everyone entering the library between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am will be asked to swipe their GOCard to confirm their current status at the University.
• Everyone in the library between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am must have, and show upon the request of a Department of Public Safety officer, a current, valid Georgetown ID (GOCard).

Visitors to the Library

• The library is open to visitors from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. Visitors in the library between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am will be escorted out of the library.
• Visitors must show a current, government-issued, photo ID with an expiration date and sign in at the Security Desk each time they enter the library.
• Visitors from the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) and the Chesapeake Information Research Library Alliance (CIRLA) libraries may show their institutional photo IDs and sign in at the Security Desk each time they enter the library.
• High school students (9th – 12th grade), may show either a valid current school picture ID with an expiration date, or a current, government-issued, photo ID with an expiration date, and sign in at the Security Desk each time they enter the library.
• Visitors younger than 14 years who are not in high school must be accompanied by an adult.

Entering the Blommer Science Library, 3rd floor of the Reiss Science Building

• Access to the Reiss Building is restricted on weekdays after 8 pm and all day on weekends.
• Georgetown University students, faculty and staff must show their GU photo ID to gain access to the building during restricted hours.
• Non-Georgetown University individuals must obtain a building pass from the Lauinger Library Circulation Desk.

Exiting the Libraries
All persons leaving the library must pass through the electronic loss prevention system installed at the exits of the Lauinger and Blommer Science libraries. Occasionally non-library materials, such as rented videos or books from a bookstore, may activate the detection system. If the alarm sounds, you must present all materials for inspection to the security guard or a library staff member. Intentional removal of library-owned materials that are not properly checked out will result in disciplinary action.