The DiMenna-Nyselius Library is here to help you do your best during finals week. Check out all of the ways we’ll help you stay focused, calm, and awake during finals week….

Important Building Info & Reminders:

  • The DiMenna-Nyselius Library is open 24 hours starting at 7:45am on Thursday May 1st and then closing at 8pm on Friday May 9th. View our staffed research hours and our summer building hours.
  • We are opening up additional study space in the evenings! The door will be open and a sign will be in front of the following areas when available:
    • Library Instruction Classroom (room 114, lower level), available from 5pm-8am starting 5/1 AND open available for 24 hours on Sat. 5/3 and Sun. 5/4.
    • Math Center, available from 10pm-10am 5/1-5/8
    • Writing Center, available all day Sat. 5/3, Sun. 5/4, and Tues. 5/6, as well as from 5pm-10am, 5/1, 5/2, 5/5, 5/7
    • Additional spaces will be added to this page soon.
  • Be courteous of others looking for study space. Please be mindful of how much space you take up at the large tables and avoid placing your bags on the chairs you are not sitting in.
  • Peet’s Coffee has extended hours! Open 5/1-5/8 from 8:00am -8:00pm and 8:00am-4pm on 5/9.
  • Don't forget to visit our new Wellness Room, located on the lower level near Global Fairfield. This is a drop in space that more than one student can use at a time. There are sensory materials, adjustable lighting, a massage chair, and an area for spiritual reflection. We ask that you only use this room for quick study breaks (no homework, phone calls, or meetings) since we want all students to have the opportunity to relax in the room.
  • Vending machines, microwave, and a toaster available in the Cafe. There are also desktop computers towards the back of this space and gender inclusive restrooms.
  • Return your Library Books before you leave campus. You can drop your books at the Library Services & Information Desk or one of the book drops (located in the lobby and another on the exterior Bannow side of the building).
  • Donate your class textbooks (or any required class texts) to our Student Donated Textbook Collection. Pay it forward to help other students save money! Drop your books off at the Library Services & Information Desk and fill out a quick form so we know which classes they were from.

Free Stuff

  • Study supplies (highlighters, pens, index cards, and ear plugs) will be available at the Library Services & Information Desk starting 5/1. While supplies last.
  • Coffee, tea, and snacks available every night starting at 11:30pm at the Library Services & Information Desk. To be green, we encourage you to bring your own coffee mug (with a lid).
  • Borrow useful items from our “Library of Things” with your StagCard at the Library Services & Information Desk such as phone and laptop chargers, mini white boards, blue light glasses, book stands, lap desks, a white noise machine for your study room, etc. You can also borrow board games, lawn chairs, etc.

Academic Support

  • Finals Prep: Make a Plan, Mon. 4/28, drop by our lobby 11am-1pm. Come use the space and time to organize your calendar, or grab a to-do list sheet to fill out another time. We will have snacks too!
  • Drop by CRAM JAM at North Benson campus (Fri. 5/2 from 11am-3pm) and at the Bellarmine campus too (Tues. 4/30 from 11:30am-1:30pm) to get help from peer tutors or get citation/research help from a librarian. There will also be therapy dogs, de-stress activities, snacks and study supplies. Specific times tutors are posted below (see Math Center and Science Center section). Event organized by the Library, Academic Commons, and Fairfield Wellness.
  • Eat the Frog (procrastination buster), Mon. 5/5, 9:30am-11:00am. Make a plan to stop procrastinating, set priorities, and manage your time. Learn about the Eat the Frog Method, set a goal, and…. eat a frog! Don’t worry, it’s a candy frog. While supplies last.
  • Bites & Cites, Mon. 5/5 from 2-4pm in the Research Consultation Room. Get citation help from librarians and grab some coffee and snacks.
  • Librarians are available to help you with research, citations, and study skills:
    • Drop by the Library Services & Information Desk to ask for a librarian during staffed drop-in hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10am-10pm, Fri. 10am-6pm, & Sun. 12pm-6pm
    • Use the 24/7 chat box from our homepage. Staffed by librarians (not a bot)!
    • Schedule a one-on-one appointment (In-person or Zoom)
  • And don’t forget that we have tutorials and research and citation guides too!
  • Peer Tutoring:
    • The Writing Center will have limited hours for tutoring and students can make an appointment on The Writing Center website. Walk-in appointments are available only if the tutor has no other sessions scheduled at that time.  
    • The Math Center will offer drop-in tutoring and individual tutoring sessions. Sign-ups online through the Math Center website.
    • The Science Center will offer drop-in tutoring sessions at Cram Jam (North Benson campus) on Fri. May 2. Click here for times.
  • The ITS Help Desk has extended hours, open 8am-9pm Monday through Thursday, Friday 8am-7pm, and Sunday 4-8pm.

De-Stress Opportunities

  • De-stress programming such as:
  • Sunset Before Finals, Tues. April 29th, 6-8pm, library lawn. Hosted by FUSA. Lawn games, tote bag painting, Crumbl Cookies.
  • Wags & Wellness part of the Pet Therapy Program which is hosted by the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, Fairfield U Wellness, and Animal Love Club. All therapy animals and handlers are certified and are properly insured, with documentation submitted to Fairfield University’s Office of Human Resources.
    • Pet a Therapy Dog on Thurs. May 1st at De-Stress Fest (1-4pm on the lawn), Fri. May 2nd at Cram Jam (11-3pm, Innovation Lab).
  • Group Scream, every night 5/1 – 5/8 at 10:00pm on the dot on the Library lawn. Just show up and scream into the night sky. Rain or shine.
  • Book Cafe, Thurs. 5/1, 10am-11am, rm 114. Casual chat about books over coffee and muffins. And learn about the Summer Reading Challenge which kicks off this day.
    • Looking ahead to the summer break? In need of reading motivation? Sign-up for the Summer Reading Challenge!
  • De-Stress Fest, Thurs. 5/1, 12pm-4pm, Campus Ministry/Library lawn/RecPlex. Hosted by Fairfield U Wellness, this event on the first reading day will start with a bbq at Campus Ministry, then goats, therapy dogs and bubbles on the library lawn and make your own snack bag and essential oils in the library lobby, and chair massages at the RecPlex. See the graphic below for times.
  • Cram Jam: A Reading Day Tradition, Fri. 5/2, 11am-3pm. Drop by the Innovation Lab for de-stress activities which include coloring, play-doh, therapy dog visits, snacks, essential oils, and more. There will also be tutors and librarians available for academic support. See the Academic Support section above for Math Center and Science Center information. Event organized by the Library, Academic Commons, and Fairfield Wellness.
  • Lo-fi Study Beats Lounge, Sat & Sun 5/3 and 5/4 8pm-10pm, Auditorium. Drop-by for dim-lighting and lo-fi music.
  • Bookmarks & Blooms: a watercolor craft party, hosted by the Fairfield University Art Museum, Tues. May 6th, 1:30-3:30, rm 114. Use watercolor paint to create floral bookmarks.
  • Coloring and puzzle table on the main level
  • Spotify channel with a variety of playlists and study tunes