William and Mary libraries are open to the public. Anyone may use library materials in the libraries, ask research questions of the reference librarians, and use photocopiers, microfilm readers, and public computers.
Before you visit Swem Library:
Please be aware of our hours, especially if you require assistance or use special equipment (e.g. microform materials). Additionally, if the materials you wish to view are located within a specific department, you may have limited hours of access.
Swem's online catalog lists books, journal titles, documents, audio and video recordings, manuscripts, and other materials available at Swem and fourteen affiliated libraries. The catalog will indicate if the materials you want are owned by W&M libraries and where they are located.
Swem has access to over 250 online databases which visitors can search while in Swem Library.
Due to licensing agreements with our database vendors, only current W&M students, staff, and faculty have off-campus access to these databases.
Citations, articles, or other information that you retrieve while searching databases at Swem Library can often be emailed to your email address or downloaded to a computer disk. Printing is not available to visitors.
Public use computers are distributed throughout the library. Computers are located in the lobbies of the first , second, and third floors; near the Reference Desk on the first floor, as well as one on the ground floor. These computers are available to visitors for searching library databases, accessing the Internet, and checking email.
Our public use computers require no passwords; an Internet browser is provided. Other software is not available for visitors. If you require additional software, please check with the Williamsburg Regional Library.
Although printing is not available for visiting patrons, many databases permit you to send citations or articles to your email address or to download information to your own travel/flash/thumb drive. The Copy Center, located on Swem Library's 2nd floor, may be able to print from your travel drive.
For email attachments, it's best to keep the attachments smaller than 2 megabytes in total size to make sure you are able to access the information.
Please Note: a few databases may appear to let you email the whole text of articles, but in fact are emailing only the link. Non-W&M patrons are not able use these links from off-campus. Try saving the text to the desktop and either copying to your travel drive or emailing as an attachment.
Visitors with personal laptop computers can access the campus wired and wireless networks with certain restrictions. For more information, see Access to the W&M Network for Campus Visitors.
Reference librarians are available to help with the online catalog, locating resources, and other questions. Researchers should remember, however, that these librarians are not trained genealogists. The library also provides an online guide to its genealogical resources. Swem�s Special Collections and Government Information departments also provide research assistance.
A purchased visitor's copy card, a loaned copy card (from the Circulation Desk), or cash may be used to make basic copies on public photocopiers distributed around the library. Please ask at the Circulation Desk for details.
For specialized copying, please contact the Copy Center at 757-221-3116.
A Swem library card allows visitors to check out up to 10 items at one time. Library cards do not provide off-campus access to online databases or our interlibrary loan services.
Please return all library materials by their due dates to the Circulation Desk or the the book return slots at the library's entrance.
If a W&M student, staff, or faculty needs an item checked out to you, you may be asked to return the item early.
If you provide the library with an email address, we'll automatically send email reminders when due dates are approaching and when items are a few days overdue. For information on overdue fees and charges for lost or damaged items, please refer to Swem Library Borrowing Privileges.
