Visiting us - Covid-19
The Library is open all year round to members of the University, and currently to external visitors as well. This page gives some more information on what to expect when you visit.
Services we're offering
- The main Library on Campus West is currently open 8am until midnight, seven days a week.
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Please continue to wear face coverings in our buildings if you can, to help keep everyone safe.
- We now offer a mix of bookable and non-bookable study spaces. This system came in from December 2021. There’s a video explaining how it all works here, and this update video explaining some of the further improvements we introduced in Summer 2022.
- You can get Library and basic IT support from our Help Desk from 9am to 5pm daily, or contact us online for help over the weekend.
- The Library Cafe is open 7 days a week: here are the full opening times for the cafe and other campus Eateries.
- There are 100 Laptop loans available at the Library: 80 four-hour loan laptops in the Morrell and Fairhurst, and 20 Long-Loan Laptops which you can keep for up to a week, again at the Fairhurst. You can also borrow laptops at King's Manor Library and at the Piazza Building.
Other Library sites, and the Archives
- King’s Manor Library’s current opening hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 11am to 5pm on Saturday (term-time only).
- The Borthwick Institute for Archives has reopened for University of York staff and students. Read the Borthwick’s latest information about opening hours and visiting arrangements.
- You can study in the Library space on the top floor of the Piazza Learning Centre without booking.
- York Minster Library is open for research appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only, which can be requested through our online booking form. You can request books via YorSearch for collection at either the Morrell or King’s Manor Library, or request a postal loan, using the Book Takeaway service
Go on a Virtual Tour of the Library so you know what to expect when you visit us:
We are open to external users
We have re-opened to the public and other external users, with some limitations.
The Library is open for browsing and if you already have borrowing rights you can borrow books too. Contact us to discuss membership options. If you would like to book a study space in advance of your visit, we have a booking system specifically for external users (if you’re not a member of the University please do use that link as the other links on this page might not work for you). You’re welcome to study anywhere else in the Library too, but be aware of the booking policies in different parts of our buildings.
At the moment, the services for external users is limited to what is described above - study space and browsing. Walk-in access to e-resources, and use of the photocopiers, isn't possible. If you are a student at another University we can welcome you as a member of the public; the SCONUL access scheme has also now resumed.
Keeping everyone safe
Our main priority is making our services work for everyone whilst keeping everyone safe, and we'd really like your help with this.
We strongly recommend that you wear a face-covering in our buildings and although social-distancing regulations have been relaxed, we'd encourage everyone to give each other space and help people feel comfortable. Please keep the windows open (it helps keep the library open!) and use the hand sanitiser you'll find all round our buildings. If you have any questions or are worried about any of this, please speak to our staff.
Find out more
We hope that this gives you a better understanding of what is currently available - we update this page frequently and post regular updates via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Library News section of the website.
The pandemic is very much still going on, so we need everyone, staff and students alike, to help us make this work. The wellbeing of our community at York is always the priority. Please help us keep everyone as safe as possible!
If you have any questions about any of this, please get in touch.