Welcome! This page gives you information about how Library services are operating during the Covid pandemic. If local or national guidance around Covid-19 changes you can find out how our service is adapting here.
If you have any questions about Library services, please contact us on library@reading.ac.uk
To comply with social distancing guidelines, a one-way system is in operation in the Library building. In line with government guidance, you are expected to wear a face covering where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Use the main entrance to enter the Library building in order to access a booked study space, attend a booked IT Service Desk appointment, or use the Library Café. Bear left to access the Library Café or bear right to access study spaces or the IT Service Desk. You may have to queue at busy times. To access study spaces and the IT Service Desk, you must bring your booking confirmation and your campus card with you.
One-way systemOnce you're beyond the security barriers, please follow the one-way route, which is marked with directional signage and arrows on the floor (and on the floor plans, below.) To reach the upper floors, please use the central staircase. To come back down, you will need to use the staircase behind the lifts. Lifts are available for those who require them - one person per lift.
To collect items which you have requested using the Click & Collect service, please enter the Library via the sign-posted door on the north side of the building (opposite the Palmer and Carrington buildings).
| Library building open | Click & Collect service open | |
| Monday 21 September - Thursday 24 September | 08:30 - 19:00 | 10:00 - 19:00 |
| Friday 25 September | 08:30 - 17:00 | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday 26 September | 08:30 - 21:00 | 10:00 - 21:00 |
| Sunday 27 September - Friday 11 December* * Friday 11 December Open until midnight |
24 hours (closed from 21:00 each Saturday - 08:30 Sunday) |
10:00 - 21:00 |
We are here to help you! Please ask us any questions remotely via email, contact form or telephone
Email: library@reading.ac.uk
Tel: 0118 378 8770
Contact your Academic Liaison Librarian by email or make a one-to-one appointment.
View the guide to resources in your subject.
Email: studyadvice@reading.ac.uk
IT Service Desk opening times - please see the DTS website
Students are automatically registered to use the Library once they obtain their campus card. To obtain a replacement campus card please contact the Campus Card Team who can arrange this for you: campuscard@reading.ac.uk
Registrations of Associate Members will take place remotely.
Registration of new External Borrowers will remain suspended until at least January 2021 or when the SCONUL Access scheme restarts.
You may request most items in the Library to be collected for you to borrow. Request an item online and we will email to let you know when it is ready to collect.
Please request items you need to borrow via our Click & Collect service. If you've booked a study space in the Library, you may browse the books on the shelves and borrow them yourself using the Self-service Points on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Floors. Sanitiser and cleaning materials will be available on each floor, please use these to clean the Self-service Point screen before and after use.
Please put books you have handled but not borrowed onto the signposted trolleys so that we can set them aside for quarantine.
If you can't find the book you need, please place a hold via the Click & Collect service and we will find it for you.
Please maintain social distancing. In line with government guidance, you are expected to wear a face covering where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Library staff will be working on the floors to reshelve and collect books throughout the day.
You can also browse the shelves virtually on the Enterprise catalogue.
Please return any items you've borrowed from the Library via the external Book Drop, located to the right of the main Library entrance. Following their return, books will be isolated for 72 hours in line with Covid-19 guidance.
Closed Access collections will take place at 14:00 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You will receive an email when your items are ready to collect - loanable items can be collected from the Click & Collect area, on the North side of the building (Palmer quad opposite the Palmer and Carrington buildings.) Reference only items need to be consulted in the Library - if your item is reference only we will advise you by email and ask you to contact us on library@reading.ac.uk to book a time to visit and consult your items.
Please be mindful of social distancing while queuing. In line with government guidance, you are expected to wear a face covering where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
To use a study space you need to book one, we will not be able to offer walk-in access.Spaces can be booked on the day you want to visit, or up to 7 days in advance for 1, 2 or 3 hour slots.
Access to study spaces is currently only available to Library members.
To book your space, please use the widget below. If you require a PC, please select one of the spaces labelled as having a PC in the booking type.
Not sure what space you want? See what the spaces look like using the PDF below:
See our video for more guidance on booking a study space:
The inter-library loans service to get you items held at other libraries is currently running a limited service - we can supply:
Please place your requests online and we will supply them if possible. If we can't find a supplier, we can keep your request live and try again for it as more UK libraries reopen and resume their interlending services.
If you have any questions please contact us ill@reading.ac.uk
The Library café will be open Monday 21 September - Friday 11 December. Please come to the main entrance and bear left to follow the green queue to the café.
| Monday - Friday | 08:30 - 19:30 |
| Saturday - Sunday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
For more information and further opening times see the catering website: