Use Library Spaces

Please note:  Library spaces and availability have changed while the Library's main (entrance) floor is under construction through A Term 2026.  Library hours have not changed, but floor plans have changed to accommodate the renovation and construction work.  We have posted up to date signage in the building for the location of service desks. 
 

Please ask us if you have questions about Library spaces or locations. 

In the Gordon Library, students, faculty, and staff can find spaces for collaboration and quiet study, reservable meeting rooms and Tech Suites, spaces with computers and other technologies, exhibit galleries, and space for reflection.  

  • For an overview of the library’s four floors, please consult our floor plans
  • For library hours, please consult our hours schedule
    • Please note that card access is needed to enter the building after 8pm Sunday - Friday and 6pm on Saturday.

Accessible Spaces

  • All floors are accessible by stairs and elevator.
  • Restrooms, including accessible restrooms, are located on all floors; a multi-stall gender-neutral bathroom is located on the first floor in the multimedia lab area. 
  • For assistance in retrieving books or other materials, please ask at the Information Desk on the first (lower) level of the Library.

Reserve Meeting Rooms

Several library meeting rooms and spaces can be reserved for faculty and staff use. For more information about these and other library spaces, please contact library@wpi.edu.

  • Gordon Conference Room (Room 303) includes a large conference room table, seating for 25-30, an LCD projector and screen, and multimedia podium with Logitech Meet Up software. The room can be reserved by WPI faculty and staff; students need an advisor present. Room reservations are mediated by Gordon Library staff who will inform you if your request is approved.  Reserve online here. 
  • Shuster Lab (Room 114):  Currently unavailable.  This room is located next to the Multimedia Lab on the first floor. It has reconfigurable seating for up to 26, and is ideal for small workshops or training sessions. It includes two Solstice-enabled wall-mounted monitors and whiteboards. WPI faculty, staff and student groups (with advisor or faculty member) may reserve the room. Room reservations are mediated by Gordon Library staff who will inform you if your request is approved. Reserve online here.
  • Anderson Lab (Room 117A): Currently unavailable.  This room is located next to the Multimedia Lab on the first floor.  It offers an instructor PC, projection system, DVD/VCR, and a whiteboard. It  has 14 PCs at fixed workstations, and seating for 20. The Anderson Lab is open to the WPI community for use during all Library open hours as long as there is not a reservation. The room is available for open study when not reserved; reservations can be made by faculty and staff.  Reserve online here.  
CONTACT
Location: George C. Gordon Library
Phone: +1-508-831-5410
Fax: +1-508-831-5829

Tech Suites

Please note:  During the renovation of the entrance (main) floor of the Library, most Tech Suites are not available.  At this time only one Tech Suite, 316, is open for student reservations. Access to all Tech Suites will be restored once the renovation is complete in fall 2026. Meanwhile we welcome students to use open group study spaces on the upper (third) floor, and suggest seeking Tech Suites in the Innovation Studio or Unity Hall.

Tech Suites are the perfect place for group collaboration for current undergraduate and graduate students. Most Tech Suites seat up to 6 students. You can  reserve spaces online or at the Tech Suite Reservation Station at the Information Services Desk.

Open Group Study

Active group study areas including 4-5 person tables located on the ground and third floors. Some tables are moveable and there are numerous rolling whiteboards.

Individual Study

Please note that our "Phone Booths" and Interview Room are not available during the Library's main (entrance) floor renovation.  Once the renovation is complete, new spaces suitable for zoom or phone conversations will become available again.

Two "Phone Booths" and an Interview Room are available for individual users and have only one seat and work space each.  There are no computers or monitors in these rooms, but there are desk lamps that include the ability to power up your phone.  Otherwise policies for reserving and using these spaces are the same as for Tech Suites.  Reserve spaces online (specify 1-2 person capacity).

Quiet Study

Please note that quiet study spaces are limited during the main (entrance) floor renovation, while Library and IT service desks are relocated to the first (lower) floor.  

Quiet study spaces are available throughout the Library. The entire first floor (lower level) is a dedicated quiet area, Other quiet study spaces in the library include individual study carrels on the upper / third floor. 

Reflection Space

The Reflection Space on the lower level (first floor) is a quiet space for reflection, prayer, and meditation, equipped with soft seating, meditation pillows, prayer mats, carpets, plants, and rocking chairs, overlooking a quiet green space on campus. 

Computers, Scanners and Printers

Please note that computers, scanners, and printers have all been relocated to the IT Service Desk area on the lower (first) floor until the main (entrance) floor renovation is complete in fall 2026.

  • Computers for general use are located near the temporary IT Service Desk on the first (lower) floor.
  • Over 30 computers are located in the Multimedia Lab on the first (lower) floor
  • Printers are available near the temporary IT Service desk on the first (lower) floor
  • Scanners are available near the temporary IT Service desk on the first (lower) floor
  • Tech tools are also available to borrow from the temporary Library Information Services desk on the first (lower) floor, including power strips, HDMI cables, and more.
  • Wireless network access is available in the building for personal laptops and those loaned from the IT Service Desk. Contact the IT Service desk to check one out or to set up your wireless access.

Café

Please note that the Class of 1970 Café is temporarily closed throughout the renovation of the main (entrance) floor.  

The Café will reopen in fall 2026 as an expanded café and relaxed study space seating 40+,  immediately inside the main Library entrance.  We look forward to welcoming all the WPI community to this new space to connect and enjoy food, good coffee and good company!

Exhibit Spaces

The Gordon Library has several spaces for curated exhibits and displaying artwork:

  • The Gladwin Gallery, located on the ground floor adjacent to WPI Archives & Special Collections, focuses on curated exhibits highlighting WPI history or objects from our collections. 
     
  • The Library's upper (third) floor open study and gallery areas feature several permanent exhibits, including sculptures and paintings by Bernard Brenner.  Several Brenner sculptures can also be seen on the lower (first) floor. Also on long-term exhibit on the upper floor are photographs from WPI's collections by Worcester artist Tony King.  King's photographs can also be seen in our online exhibit, "Reflections of Tony."  The upper (third) floor also exhibits two remarkable large scale paintings: "Altar of Steel," by painter Buell Mullen; and a late18th century "Korean Ancestor Portrait."Other paintings and prints from the Library's Special Collections are featured throughout the Library.
     
  • Other spaces throughout the library can be used to display student art works.  If you're interested in exhibiting with us, please email us at libraryexhibits@wpi.edu.

Visitors may also be interested in the growing number of digital exhibitions WPI Archives and Special Collections are making available at exhibits.wpi.edu.