Book a seat

Page updated: 19 April 2021

If you wish to study in the Library you must book a specific seat or room in advance. We are unable to offer walk-in access for study space. 

All of our available bookable seats are numbered by their floor, space and location. If you want to know where your seat is located, please look at the floor maps below. You will need to check in and check out of your seat as you arrive and leave. Failure to check in will lose your booking. Instructions for check in and check out are sent to your email address when you book a seat.

Library seats are available in line with our opening hours. Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), tower floors 2-6 including the Postgraduate Lounge are available until 8pm. The ground floor, 1st floor and Reading Room (silent study) are open until 12am midnight. Saturday and Sunday the full library building closes at 5.30pm. Availability can be seen when booking a seat on our webpages. 

If you book a desk without a computer, you can borrow a laptop from our laptop loans cabinet located on the first floor of the Library. Laptops will issue for a maximum of 8 hours of until the end of the day (whichever is sooner). Cleaning supplies are provided. 

Private study rooms (formerly known as group study rooms) can be used to attend a virtual lecture or for video conferencing. Each room has a maximum occupancy of 2. Private study rooms can be booked for up to 4 hours per day by following the links below. If you need a private study room for a longer duration of time, please contact the Library or talk to a member of staff. 

On the day of your seat booking

• Please enter the Library through the south entrance (cafe side).
• Face coverings are required when entering, exiting and moving around the Library building, unless  exempt. 
• Enter the library via the turnstiles, using your university card to gain entry.
• Go directly to your booked seat or space. On arrival you must check in to your booked seat. 
• If you fail to check in within 30 minutes of your expected arrival time your booking will be cancelled by the system. 
• Cleaning materials are available on all floors for customers to clean their space before use. 
• If you require a change to your scheduled appointment time, please contact us via Livechat, Facebook or Twitter. 
• Please observe social distancing during your visit.
• There is a one-way system throughout the building, please follow the directional arrows and signage to your reserved study space.
• Marked printers are available for use.
• If you require any Library materials during your stay, you may browse the collection. Please observe social distancing and follow signage. This option is only available to customers during the time of their reservation. 7th floor is exempt from browsing and remains closed for access currently. Books required from 7th floor can be requested through Library Search or Library Live chat.
• Toilet facilities are clearly marked and available on each floor.
• Hand sanitising units and cleaning stations are placed throughout the building for your use. 
• Seats and spaces must be vacated promptly at the end of each booking and cleaning materials are available for customers to clean their space after use. Padding has been applied between each booking to facilitate social distancing.  
• When you leave, you should check out. This is for contact-tracing purposes and so it can become available for use by others. 

We ask that you do not attend any appointments if you are feeling unwell or have any symptoms of Covid-19.