Western General Hospital Library

The library holds part of the University's medicine collections, including literature covering oncology, gastroenterology and neurology.

Western General Hospital Library opening hours

Location and contacts

The Western General Hospital Library is located in the Medical Education Centre (MEC) on the 3rd floor above the Outpatients entrance

Access and opening hours

Please note that access to all libraries is currently restricted to University of Edinburgh Students, Staff and Official Visitors, and NHS Lothian Staff, Edinburgh Theological Seminary Staff & students (Free Church of Scotland College), Free Church of Scotland Ministers, retired ministers and staff, Church of Scotland Ministers, retired ministers & staff, Alumni, SCONUL Access BANDS A, B, & C only, Friends of the Library and Life members of the Library.

Before you arrive at the library, or any study spaces you must download the Seated app. Study space is available as a walk up service across the campus with the exception of a small number of bookable study spaces on the 3rd and 5th floors of the Main Library. This means that you do not need to book study space unless you wish to. All desks are assigned with a unique QR code and you must check in and check-out of the desk by scanning the QR code. This is for the purpose of NHS Test & Protect - Scotland’s way of putting into practice the test, trace, isolate, support strategy - and is not a study space booking.

Full details on using library and other centrally managed study spaces are available on the Study Spaces website.

The WGH Library currently is not accessible for those unable to evacuate by stairs, and alternative provisions are available. Material from the WGH Library can be delivered to IGMM reception and consulted in the IGMM Nucleus. To arrange delivery, please contact the WGH Library.

Staff and students of the University of Edinburgh have full access and borrowing rights.

NHS Lothian staff may register as users according to the current service level agreement with the University of Edinburgh and upon production of current ID documentation.

A video relay service is available, enabling British Sign Language users to contact public bodies and vice-versa.

This service operates from 8am to 12 midnight, 7 days a week.

Please visit https://contactscotland-bsl.org for full details.