The library director makes final decisions about which events are appropriate for any library space, balancing the day-to-day needs of library patrons, the nature of the event, library staffing, and the appropriateness of the space for the event. No library spaces are reservable using the standard GCC space reservation form. As with all GCC spaces, use of the library requires event organizers to follow GCC’s Facilities Use Policy. Event organizers will need to work with Catering, Educational Technology, Marketing, Public Safety, and Facilities to ensure all aspects of the event are covered. Each office requires different amounts of lead time for events. Library staff will notify Public Safety of your event day/time/location and work with Facilities to organize space setup. Other services and preparation are the sole responsibility of the event organizer. A library staff member must be present for the duration of the event. All publicity for events in the library must list the Nahman-Watson Library at GCC as an event co-sponsor. For questions or to ask the library to consider hosting an event, reach out to Liza Harrington, director of the Nahman-Watson Library, at harringtonl@gcc.mass.edu or (413)775-1836.

Library Solarium

The solarium is designed primarily as study space for students, which makes it unique on campus. It is heavily used by students, and events are disruptive. There is no integrated audio or visual technology available, and the events require the rearrangement of all of the furniture. For these reasons, the library will not allow events in the solarium when another suitable space on campus is available. GCC offers a number of flexible event spaces and meeting rooms, including the Multi-Purpose Room (C208), the MacLeish Room (C307), the President’s Conference Room (C201), and the Dining Commons, and event organizers should consider these spaces first. The library solarium may be used no more than twice a semester, on a case-by-case basis, for events that the library sponsors or co-sponsors, and that directly connect with information literacy, digital privacy, reading, civic engagement, or another aspect of the library's mission. Every attempt will be made to stagger the day and time of events so as to not disrupt one group of students more than once in a semester.

Library Classroom

The library classroom (C301) is used by library staff for information literacy instruction. When instruction is not taking place, the classroom is open as a study space for GCC students and other library patrons. The library classroom is equipped with a teaching station attached to a large LCD display, as well as a Meeting OWL videoconferencing system for hybrid remote/face-to-face meetings and events. A GCC academic login is required to access the teaching station and other technology. The library is only able to offer limited technical support for these devices, and organizers are encouraged to reach out to GCC’s information technology or educational technology offices for assistance. 12 PC desktops, 1 Mac desktop, and a black-and-white laser printer are available to all patrons without a login. When another suitable space is unavailable, the library may occasionally allow faculty, GCC offices, or off-campus groups to use the library classroom for other events that further GCC’s educational mission and require the use of the classroom technology.

Adopted January 2024