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.
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.
Full details on using library and other centrally managed study spaces are available on the Study Spaces webpage.
| 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 |
| 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
| Day | Library Café |
|---|---|
| Monday - Thursday | 8:30am - 10pm |
| Friday | 8:30am - 6pm |
| Saturday & Sunday | 10am - 6pm |
| 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
| 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