DiMenna-Nyselius Library Reviews

not impressed with this pathetic excuse for a learning commons/ library. Way below average staff, annoying students, and dumb layout. one star at most

Some of the librarians are super nice (Lisa is the best!); others are unhelpful and sometimes rude. The people at the check out desk do not know what they are doing half the time. I once called to renew a book and they did not renew it. They charged me a late fee even though it was their fault. A also had a random 20 cent fee show up on my account and no one could explain it. They took it off my account, but it makes me suspicious. I have since switched to another school that it much bigger. Their staff is more helpful.

I would also like to respond to my classmates who question what you should expect when you enter a uni library. Here is what I expect: I expect students to be respectful and quiet. You are adults; it is time to grow up. The world does not revolve around you and there are so many other places on campus where you can talk and hang out with friends. The fact that students cannot follow rules shows how immature they are.

The small group study rooms are a gr8 resource but they are seriously misused by the immature students. Students meet up in them for lunch and they use them as 'hand out' rooms. No cool. I was unable to reserve a room for my math review. We needed to use a dorm room. Yet, I saw a group of students in a room not working.

Students are always talking in the silent section. If they are asked to stop, they stop for one second and then continue as soon as the other student or librarian walks away. Some of the staff in this lib can also be rude at times. Others can be gr8 though.idk

As a student, I enjoy the library and use it often. It's unfortunate that many people who have rated the library have rated it so poorly. I guess it's a perspective thing. I do agree that my peers can be noisy at times and parking is horrendous, but I've enjoyed my experiences at the library and continue to use it to this day. Hopefully they can work on enforcing policies that a library should have so outsiders can enjoy their experiences more.

I do not like this library very much. The head of circulation is a real jerk and so are two of the research librarians. As my peers have stated, students are constantly talking in the library. No one stops them. It is disrespectful to those of us who care. I will not go to the library during COVID because I am sure the librarians will not be able to enforce any of the rule.
-KM

Fairfield University students are extremely rude and disrespectful in the library. They talk with their fiends on on their phones in the silent section. I require a quiet work environment due to APD and it is almost impossible to get this kind of environment at Fairfield University. It is really frustrating because the library provides plenty of spaces where students can chat and work on group projects. I wish the librarians would be stricter at enforcing the quiet section. It is like no one cares.

Worst library ever! The staff are so rude. They favor some students over other students. They have never been very helpful to me. They are inpersonal and only care about the typical white, preppy, blond Fairfield University brats. The "Live Chat" is a complete joke.

Rude staff. Rude students. Loud and annoying students. Books in poor condition with writing ripped pages. Not enough study spaces. Blaa

The library is hard to get to from any point on campus and there are no parking lots near it. It is basically a long walk from any building. There is also very limited seating during the Spring and Fall semesters. This is especially true for individual desks. There are many times when I went to the library and there were no individual desks available in the silent section on the third floor. I had to use either one of the larger tables with other people, or go to the talking floor for an individual desk. In addition to limited space, students talk in the silent section and no one does anything to stop them. I had to regularly ask a librarian to tell students to stop talking, but they rarely did. There is also very limited resources for pre-law majors which is ridiculous considering the fact that they have a pre-law program. I had to use ILL to get most of the books I needed for classes in my law minor which was very time consuming and they often did not come on time.

it is not a greate place to study or work beacuse fairfield u students talk in every section, they are also always doing construction. the new lib has lots of empty space that isnt necessary plus they also are low on seating and do not have many quite places. :(

My experience with the DiMenna-Nyselius library is limited, but I have not been impressed. I went to check out a book for one of my history classes, and it was covered in highlighting and notes. Some of the pages were even ripped. I asked the student librarian at the front desk to make a note of it. The book was in such bad condition that I was unbale to do my project. When I returned the book, I told the librarian about its condition and expressed my personal opinion that they should get a new version of it. She thanked me for my input and put the book aside. I assumed that she put the book aside so that they could replace it. However, a week later, a $50 fine appeared on my account. I questioned the penalty and a librarian told me that it was for the damage that I confessed to inflicting upon the book. I eventually got the fine cleared by having the student worker testify that it had been that way when I brought it to her to check out of the library. They stated that they would remove the fine, but it was still on my account for weeks. It interfered with my course registration, and I could not get into one of the classes I needed for my minor. When I expressed my concern with the head of circulation, I was informed that "most students just pay it without question." Well, I am not most students. I attend this university on a scholarship. I feel that these librarians thought I was being crazy going after $50, but this is a lot for someone like me. This experience just seemed to confirm that I do not fit in or belong at this university for rich white kids. The head of circulation was very rude in every interaction I had with her about this matter. She also refused to send any emails or answer mine. I am thinking that she did not want anything in writing.

I would also like to agree with my classmates, who mentioned the noise level. It is ridiculous. When I enter a college library, I expect students to be respectful and mature. This is not the case at Fairfield University. I wish the librarians would do more about it.

This being said, the library has a beautiful building and a lot of potential. I hope that they will take my criticism to heart and change the way they interact with students.

The library staff is unhelpful and there is limited seating.

Well, it is Fairfield University. The library staff is better than the staff at the rest of the college but not by much. The ILL person is rude and very hard to get in touch with. I am glad that transfered. Scared Heart has a much better library.

I would like to agree with my peer below, Luckario Alcide. Fairfield University's library is top tier - compared to none. I have always been able to do my best work in the library within an efficient time period. This is due to the fact that the library offers multiple, comfortable settings such as the upper level, lower level, cafe, and 24/7 study room. The librarians are always willing to help any student when it comes to research, finding a book, or simply providing fun events that cater to the larger student population. Sure, the library may often be a little loud in certain sections, but what do you expect when you walk into a University's library? I, like many others, enjoy the library and would recommend it to all.

Literally the best library ever. Everyone has been so helpful anytime I've needed anything. They make my future student debt worth it.

A very disappointing library. There are no quiet places to study. Students talk and make phone calls on the third floor silent section. One time I was in there and a student was having a phone interview in the middle of the silent section. Sad. You cannot make this stuff up! The staff at this library is a hit or miss. Some people are super nice and helpful and others are shockingly rude and downright disrespectful. This seems especially true of the people in positions of authority at this university library (and this institution in general). While the infrastructure of this library is impressive from the outside and when your first enter (large open space/ fancy) it is rather cold and uninviting. It also seems like a waste of space in a library that does not have much seating to begin with. I loved this library when I first came to Fairfield this September, but now I prefer to go to the town library or SHU's library.