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 Monday 8th April - Thursday 16th May 2024 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 Friday 17th May 2024. 

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.

Saturday 6 January - Thursday 6 June 2024
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 

Centre for Research Collections (CRC)

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

Library Café 

Regular Main Café opening hours
Day Library Café
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 10pm 
Saturday  8:30am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm
Library Café opening hours Friday 29 March - Monday 1 April 2024
Day Library Café
Friday 29 March 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 30 March 10am - 5pm
Sunday 31 March 10am - 5pm
Monday 1 April  8:30am - 7pm
Library Café opening hours Monday 8 April - Sunday 21 April 2024
Day Library Café
Monday - Thursday  8:30am - 7pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday  10am - 6pm

Access to the Main Library

Self-service in the Main Library

Main Library location and contacts

Policy for child access to the University Library