Welcome to the Library!
Posted on Thursday 3 September 2026
1. It’s free to use the library resources.
You don’t need to pay to use the study spaces, or borrow the books, or use the online resources we provide via YorSearch (the library catalogue which tells you what we have and where to find it). You’ll have to pay for things like printing, and there’s a charge if you lose something, but generally the library is free to use - we don’t even charge fines for overdue books. Even things like the 3D printers in YorCreate (see point 4, below) are free for members of our University.
2. You don’t need to register: you’re already a member of the library.
Your IT username and password is your library username and password, and your University Card is your library card. You can use your Uni card or the MyUoY app to get in and out of the library building, and to borrow books using our self-issue machines. Talking of which…
3. Anyone can borrow anything borrowable.
As a member of the University you can access all of our books (and scores, and audiovisual materials, and other borrowable items) whether you need them for your degree or not. As well as all the academic materials we’ve also got a reading-for-pleasure section, and a life-skills section with cookbooks etc - find them in the Fairhurst Living Room. You can take books out yourself using the self-issue machines - if the book you need is on the shelf, you don’t need to request it; just borrow it right away. You can borrow up to 75 items at once, but please don’t take this as a challenge…
4. We have loads of extra facilities beyond books and eResources, which are all free to use too.
For example we’ve got two digital labs (the Creativity Lab and YorCreate, our maker space); two Skills Centres (the Maths Skills Centre and the Writing Centre); four Sensory Rooms that allow you to moderate your sensory environment; a Family Study Room for students with children to study alongside them; a Student Kitchen, free laptop loans… There’s so much good stuff at the library - just come in and explore. Plus if you need more info, just ask.
5. We have a temporary front door...
The main Library on Campus West consists of three connected buildings - the Fairhurst, the Morrell and the Burton. For almost all of your time at York you'll come in and out through the Morrell, but at the moment Floor 0 is being refurbished, to expand the number of study spaces in the library to more than 1,500. So for the first month or two of Semester 1, everyone is entering and exiting via the Fairhurst instead - don't worry though, there are lots of signs pointing you in the right direction when you get to the library. Normal service will resume soon!
6. You can and should ask questions!
This sounds trite but we really don’t expect everyone to know how everything works or where everything is. It takes a while to get used to the scale of it all: just come and ask at the Help Desk (Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm in the Morrell) or you can email or use Chat, or DM us on Instagram or TikTok. It doesn’t matter how you get in touch, the important thing is to just get in touch and ask for guidance when you want it.
Have a look at our quick-start guide, and welcome to the library!