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Brock Libraries: James A. Gibson Library, Makerspace and Study Rooms

Brock's main library is the James A. Gibson Library, inside the Arthur Schmon Tower on the St. Catharines campus. The main floor is the Matheson Learning Commons, and the print collection fills floors 5 to 10. The Library Makerspace is in a separate building, the Rankin Family Pavilion. Brock also runs a small library at its Burlington Campus. Details below were checked on September 30, 2026.

Sources checked September 30, 2026. View sources

Brock's library locations

Most students will only use the Gibson Library and the Makerspace. Hours shown are for the week of September 28, 2026. Check the live hours page before exams and holidays.

Brock's library locations
LocationWhereBest forHours this week
James A. Gibson LibraryArthur Schmon Tower, main campusStudy space, print collection, research help at the Ask Us desk8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends
Library MakerspaceRankin Family Pavilion, main campus3D printing, laser cutting, audio and video labs, sewing machines10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 30
Burlington Campus LibraryRobert Bateman Community Centre, BurlingtonTeacher Education instructional materials9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday
Arthur Schmon Tower, a tall concrete building at Brock University, seen across a lawn under a blue sky
Arthur Schmon Tower, home of the James A. Gibson Library, photographed on August 2, 2008. The exterior doesn't show current study spaces. Balcer / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.5. Resized to 1,600 pixels wide and converted to WebP; no crop.
A long aisle of library shelving beside a row of study carrels on an upper floor of Schmon Tower
Library stacks and carrels on the eighth or ninth floor of Schmon Tower, photographed on April 6, 2022. AvroInterceptor / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized to 1,200 pixels wide and converted to WebP; no crop. Shared under the same licence.

Pick a floor by noise level

Gibson has three study zones. Choose the floor that matches how much talking you need. The library's occupancy tracker shows which floors are busy, using counts of devices on its Wi-Fi access points.

Pick a floor by noise level
ZoneWhereWhat's allowed
GroupMost of floor 2 (Learning Commons); group areas on floors 5, 6 and 7Quiet conversation. Floors 5 to 7 have bookable group rooms, whiteboards and outlets.
QuietCarrels and computers on floor 2; carrels on floors 5 to 8Hushed conversation between individuals
SilentFloors 9 and 10; an enclosed room for 30-plus on floor 5No talking. Learning Commons Classroom B is also silent when no class is using it.
  • Floor 2 has the Ask Us desk, course readings, the Indigenous Collection, games and a Coco Fresh.
  • Archives and Special Collections are on floor 10.

How to book a study room

All bookable rooms are for students only. You reserve them through the library's online booking calendar.

  • Group rooms: 12 rooms for 2 to 6 people and 2 large rooms for 2 to 10 people, on floors 2 and 5.
  • Individual rooms: 7 on floor 8 (quiet), 7 on floor 9 (silent) and 5 on floor 10 (silent). Speaking is allowed only in the floor 8 rooms; use headphones for any sound.
  • Book up to 2 hours at a time and up to 14 days ahead. Academic use takes priority.
  • If you don't show up within 15 minutes, the room can be rebooked. Leaving your things doesn't hold it.
  • Individual room doorways are 75 cm wide, too narrow for some wheelchairs and scooters. Ask at the Ask Us desk for an alternative.

Late-night study before fall exams

From November 22 to December 22, 2026, the Matheson Learning Commons on the main floor stays open late. The stacks on floors 5 to 10 and the Ask Us desk still close at regular times, and borrowing and research help aren't available late at night.

  • Sundays: 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
  • Monday to Thursday: 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
  • Fridays, December 11 and 18: 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
  • All floors stay open to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, December 12 and 19.
  • Campus Safety can walk you to your residence or car. Call 905-688-5550 ext. 3200.

Using the Makerspace

Walk-ins are welcome. Students, faculty and community members can use it. You reserve the sewing machines, audio lab and video lab online. The video and photography lab needs an orientation through ExperienceBU before you book.

For 3D prints, laser cuts and CNC carving, submit the request form. Allow one week, and you'll get an email when it's ready.

Using the Makerspace
MaterialBrock membersCommunity members
PLA filament (3D printing)$0.10 per gram$0.30 per gram
Resin (3D printing)$0.25 per ml$0.75 per ml
Birch, 1/8 inch, 12 by 20 inches (laser)$10$15
Black, white or clear acrylic, 12 by 24 inches (laser)$13$18

Studying at the Burlington Campus

The Burlington Campus Library supports the Faculty of Education's Teacher Education program. Outside its hours, you can use the Burlington Public Library's New Appleby branch next door with your Brock ID. Items from the main collection can be shipped to Burlington for pickup.

Keep exploring

Sources and updates

This independent guide summarizes the official information linked below. Availability, access rules and application cycles can change; check the relevant university page before making a decision.