Discover Cambridge University Libraries online and in person
It is more important than ever that you have a variety of ways to access our libraries. The blend of online, zero-contact and limited in-person services provided by your Faculty and Department Libraries is designed to help you access what you need to study, learn and teach, whatever the changing circumstances created by the pandemic.
We want to keep you and our staff safe throughout Lockdown 3, and to ensure that we can keep services running effectively. Along with the University, its faculties and its departments, we continue to appraise guidelines to determine the full position for our libraries. We're keeping the services and the support we offer under constant review.
The table below contains planned services at Faculty and Department libraries: these services are likely to change at short notice. If you intend to use services provided by Faculty and Department Libraries services, it is really important that you check the website of the library you want to use for the most current information.
Our libraries are all open online
We have vastly increased the availability of online resources - University members have access to a staggering 1.2 million e-books, 130,000 e-journal titles and 400 databases. In addition, the Cambridge Digital Library has more than 500,000 images of more than 35,000 objects from our world-class collections freely available to everyone.
Explore these resources and the support available to staff and students of the University in our Guide to Online Library Services.
Your core library services are online so you can access them remotely: the table below links you to these library services specific to your subject area.
- Our LibGuides provide a wealth of information on resources by discipline and topic.
- Subject-specialist staff can answer your information skills questions through live chats, email and video-chat.
- Training in library study skills for your subject is also available online, along with research skills support.
To help keep you, other library users and libraries staff safe, please use these online services as a first resort wherever it is possible.
Zero-contact and in-person services
Where is is safe and possible to do so, your Faculty and Departmental Libraries offer zero-contact and (in limited and controlled circumstances) in-person services so that those still resident in Cambridge can access the physical collections. If you can't access the library premises in person, don't worry! Library staff are continuing to run alternative services to ensure that their disciplines are fully supported. Where possible, the libraries listed below are participating in the Scan & Deliver service.
We have summarised the services available - we know you will understand that we may have to make changes to our services at short notice, and recommend that you familiarise yourself with the websites of the libraries you use most often to stay up-to-date. You may also want to follow the Twitter accounts of the libraries you use, including @theUL.
Your College library will also support your studying and learning this year: discover how to access their services on your College website.
Your library services
For detailed information about the services available today, please follow links in the table below to the website of the library you want to use.
Services, booking procedures, opening hours and contact details differ between libraries. If you have any questions about these services, you can contact staff in a particular library by email or, in some cases, by live chat.
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Explore this library online |
Zero-contact and in-person library services (please visit the website of the library you want to use to confirm which services are available today) |
African Studies |
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Architecture & History of Art |
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Asian & Middle Eastern Studies |
Access to the Library is not available at the moment. Please keep checking the website for any changes. If the book or article you need is not available in electronic format via iDiscover and FAMES Library holds a print copy, please use the FAMES Scan and Deliver service. For print material available at the University Library please use their Scan and Deliver Request Form. |
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Readers not studying at the Institute of Astronomy should enquire on ioalib@ast.cam.ac.uk before visiting. The Library Office will be open every Thursday during Easter Term. |
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Biochemistry |
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Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology |
This collection can be accessed through Moore Library services |
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Chemistry |
Undergraduates can visit the library only if they are already in the Department building, either attending a supervision in the library, or working in a lab. The library is open as a working space for members of the Department who are in the building for other purposes i.e. working on experiments: 08:00-23:00 Monday-Saturday, excluding times when supervisions are taking place.
Browse & Borrow service available when in the library |
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Classics |
The library is currently open only to those with out-of-hours access.
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Computer Science & Technology
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This collection can be accessed through Moore Library services |
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Criminology (Radzinowicz Library) |
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Divinity |
Theology and Religious Studies LibGuide Email a librarian (09:30-16:30 Mon-Fri) |
The Faculty building is currently closed, so please use remote and zero-contact services.
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Education |
Education Faculty Library Moodle site (accessible to members of the Faculty, including LibGuides covering literature searching, research methods and referencing) |
The following services are accessible to members of the Faculty via the Library Moodle site:
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Engineering |
In-person online training sessions There are limited bookings available for staff and students of the department for zero contact services: |
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English |
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Genetics |
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Geography |
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Haddon Library (Archaeology & Anthropology) |
The Haddon Library is currently closed to students, staff and visitors. However, you can book an appointment to borrow or return books from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, Monday to Friday. |
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Marshall Library (Economics) |
Email the library team 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday |
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Materials Science & Metallurgy |
Materials Science & Metallurgy LibGuide Department of Materials Science Library Moodle site (accessible with a Raven password) |
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Medical Library |
Open to registered readers 08:00-19:45 Monday-Friday, 09:00-16:45 Saturday. Library reception desk staffed 10:00-13:00 Monday-Friday. |
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Modern & Medieval Languages and Linguistics (MMLL) |
Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics (MMLL) Library website |
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Moore Library |
Physical Sciences Research Support Resources
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MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit |
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Pendlebury Library of Music |
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Philosophy (Casimir Lewy) Library |
Online and remote services are currently open.
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Physiology, Development and Neurosciences (PDN) Library |
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Plant Sciences |
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Psychology |
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Rayleigh Library (Physics) |
Whilst zero-contact services are suspended at this site, you may find services at the Moore Library useful.
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Scott Polar Research Institute Library |
In-person access to the Polar Library is not currently available; library staff will continue to answer remote research enquiries as best they can.
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Seeley Library (History, POLIS, Latin American Studies, Sociology and Land Economy) |
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South Asian Studies |
Electronic resources at the South Asian Studies Library Archive film collection (freely accessible to view) Oral History Collection (digitised audio recordings and transcripts) |
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SPS Library |
Sociology and Land Economy collections can be accessed through Seeley Library services. |
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Squire Law Library |
Squire Law Library website including live chat facility frequently available between 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday Email the library team 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday
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University Library |
Online inductions: book a call with Reader Services staff (for current staff and students) Guide to Online Library Services (including details of specialist helpdesks, training, eresources, ebooks, and LibGuides for information on subject and skills) |
Follow the link for the service you want to use to find more detailed information, or find a full schedule here.
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Veterinary Medicine |
Open to veterinary students and members of the Department.
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Whipple Library |
The library is not currently open to readers, but is staffed 09:30-16:50, Monday-Friday, to provide zero-contact and online services.
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Zoology |
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You can read more about how we intend to manage our services across Cambridge University Libraries in line with changing levels of UK Government restrictions in response to Covid-19 in a message from the University Librarian and Director of Library Services, Jessica Gardner.