Facilities

Students in Western’s Master of Library and Information Science program have access to a wide array of educational, collaborative and shared spaces, just inside our own FIMS & Nursing Building. While the larger Western campus offers a huge variety of teaching and learning spaces, libraries, eateries, study spots and recreational facilities, much of what you need as an MLIS student is right in your home building. Take a peek at what’s available below.

Video: Filmed and produced by Shawn Cheatham, Media Studies PhD student.

The FIMS & Nursing Building

The FIMS and Nursing Building opened in 2017 and is home to the Faculty of Information & Media Studies as well as the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing. The design of the building puts a premium on seating and break-out space for students. When entering the building, there’s a large atrium that spans three floors with lots of workspace and natural light. It's a bustling spot, with students from across campus coming and going each day for classes in one of its many general use lecture halls. A large chunk of the north side of the building is reserved FIMS space so MLIS students can be assured that there will always be a place for them to rest, meet up with classmates, or study.

Second floor of the FIMS & Nursing Building

The FIMS Graduate Library

The FIMS Graduate Library is a faculty-supported library that exists outside the central Western Libraries system. As a faculty-supported facility, its mandate is to provide library services specialized to FIMS' graduate programs, including the MLIS program. In addition to providing study space, the library offers access to a range of physical and electronic resources, special collections, course reserves and expert staff including a library director, full-time library assistant, and several part-time student library assistants hired from within FIMS. The library also houses a makerspace, and offers students co-curricular support through workshops, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.

FIMS Grad Library

Shared & Common Spaces

The FIMS & Nursing Building offers many shared and common spaces for students, both in general-use areas of the building as well as in FIMS space. MLIS students can spend time in the bright and lively FNB atrium, the FIMS Grad Library, the graduate student lounge, or in bookable meeting spaces reserved for the FIMS community. FIMS graduate students also have access to two computer labs, printer/photocopiers, and will find themselves attending classes on the fourth floor in three hybrid-equipped FIMS seminar rooms.