Information Services

Main Library opening hours

Opening hours and staffed hours of the Main Library, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LJ

EdHelp

EdHelp supports students in library, IT, student administration and finance. EdHelp is online, and also in-person at 10 libraries: Edinburgh College of Art Library, Art & Architecture Library, Law Library, Main Library, Moray House Library, New College Library, Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library, Royal Infirmary, The Lady Smith of Kelvin Veterinary Library and Western General Hospital Library.

EdHelp

Restricted access to the Main Library and the Law Library for Reference users during exam period 

 

From Friday 1st December - Monday 18th December 2023 inclusive, access to the Main Library and the Law Library will be restricted for Reference users. This also includes those with SCONUL Reference Only cards. This is due to the revision and exam period at University of Edinburgh and consequent high demand on study spaces. 

Heritage Collections users are not affected by this.   

Normal access arrangements will resume on Tuesday 19th December 2023. 

If you feel an exception should be made in your case, please email library.account@ed.ac.uk stating the reasons for an exception to be made: 

 

With the easing of restrictions we welcome all users into the UoE Libraries. Please note, that for some external users, the membership application process has changed. Please check up-to-date information on the Joining the Library web pages before visiting any library. 

Covid-19: Please see the University's guidance on hygiene and safety measures when on-campus. The University also promotes the Scottish Government ‘Distance Aware’ scheme and expect all library users to respect those members of our community who are either wearing a lanyard or badge, or request that others keep a distance. 

Distance Aware scheme

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

Wednesday 20 September - Wednesday 20 December 2023
Day Building EdHelp Service Desk
Monday - Thursday 24 hour opening 9am - 7:50pm
Friday 24 hour opening 9am - 6:50pm
Saturday 24 hour opening 12 midday - 4:50pm
Sunday 24 hour opening 12 midday - 6:50pm
Thursday 21 December 2023 - Friday 5 January 2024
Day Date Building EdHelp Service Desk
Thursday 21 December 24 hour opening 9am - 4:50pm
Friday 22 December 24 hour opening 9am - 4:50pm
Saturday  23 December 24 hour opening 9am - 4:50pm
Sunday  24 December Continuous - 3pm 9am - 2:45pm
Monday 25 December Closed Closed
Tuesday 26 December Closed Closed
Wednesday 27 December 9am - 5pm 9am - 4:50pm
Thursday 28 December 9am - 5pm 9am - 4:50pm
Friday 29 December 9am - 5pm 9am - 4:50pm
Saturday 30 December 9am - 5pm 9am - 4:50pm
Sunday 31 December 9am - 3pm 9am - 2:45pm
Monday 1 January Closed Closed
Tuesday 2 January Closed Closed
Wednesday  3 January 8am - Continuous 9am - 4:50pm 
Thursday 4 January 24 hour opening 9am - 4:50pm

Friday

5 January 24 hour opening 9am - 4:50pm

Semester hours for Main Library EdHelp Service Desk resume Saturday 6 January 2024.

Centre for Research Collections (CRC)

Opening hours for the Centre for Research Collections, including Special Collections, can be found on their website:

Library Café 

Library Café opening hours  Monday 18 September - Sunday 17 December 2023
Day Library Café
Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 10pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 6pm

 

Library Café opening hours Monday 18 December - Thursday 21 December 2023
Monday 18 December 8.30am - 5pm
Tuesday 19 December 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 20 December 8:30am -5pm
Thursday 21 December  8:30am - 4pm 

Friday 22 December 2023 - Sunday 7 January 2024: 

Library Café is closed

Library Café opening hours Monday 8 January - Sunday 14 January 2024
Day Library Café
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm

Normal Library Café hours will resume on Monday 15 January 2024

 

Access to the Main Library

Self-service in the Main Library

Main Library location and contacts

Policy for child access to the University Library