Library and lockdown – latest update

A summary of changes to our services during the latest lockdown.

We’ve made some changes to library services since the government’s latest lockdown was announced. Here’s the latest info you need to know about borrowing, returning, study space and online services, plus a plea for your help at this time.

Click-and-collect and home delivery

Click and collect for books is still available at the Edward Boyle Library. If you cannot get to campus, you can request books for home delivery within the UK. You can return books at the Laidlaw or Edward Boyle Library, or by post.

Essential study spaces

Following government guidance during the current lockdown, we have limited numbers of study spaces for essential use only.

This means you should only use the libraries if you must come onto campus as part of your course, you don’t have access to study space at home or you need extra support, including for mental health or wellbeing issues.

Please think very carefully before you book a library study session so that they can be used by those who need them most, and so that we continue to play our part in reducing the number of visits to campus and so reduce the spread of the virus.

Be kind

A huge thank you to the majority who have been following the safety measures, but now it’s even more important that everyone plays their part to keep everyone using the library and our library staff safe.

Here’s the run down of what to do:

Get a test

Please use the testing facility in the refectory when you first return to campus and receive a negative test result before using the Library facilities. If you are going to be on campus regularly, please keep getting tested, even if you feel fine, even if you think you may have had the virus already. This variant of the virus is highly contagious and the tests are more effective at picking up new infections when used regularly.

Wear a mask

Keep your mask on when you’re in the Library buildings. You will be sat at some distance from the nearest person, but we all need to look out for ourselves and for those around us. At the moment, this means keeping your mask on.

Sit in the seat you’re given

Only sit in your assigned seat. People can arrive at any point in the session, so the seat you think is empty is probably assigned to someone else who just hasn’t arrived yet. We can’t allow you to study in groups, even if you live together, so please don’t (it’s illegal).

Follow the one-way system in place across the libraries. It’s there so that everyone can maintain a social distance and we’ve removed as many touch points as possible – this also means you can’t currently browse the shelves.

Online support

Our online services continue – access to books and journals, Skills@Library workshops, resources and appointments, virtual consultations for Special Collections, and our enquiries and webchat is available from 9am–5pm.

Subject to change!

What we’ve outlined here is what we hope we can offer through this lockdown. But as we’ve learnt over the course of the pandemic, everything can change quickly, and if so, we have to adapt. If this happens, we’ll update you via the library webpages and on Twitter @UoLLibrary.