University Library

24/7 Information

Library 24/7 : Further information

During the 24/7 period and particularly during overnight opening hours, there are certain Library regulations and procedures that you should be aware of. We expect customers to behave in a considerate manner to both staff and other students and use 24/7 Library access responsibly.

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Library security

No card, no access: Your Durham University campus card is your Library card and allows you access to the Library. If you have forgotten or lost your card, you will not be allowed into the Library. Lost cards should be reported to CIS. Visitors will not be admitted during self-service hours.

Security staff: During the majority of self-service hours, the Library will be manned by security staff, who will be unable to answer circulation queries or check patron records. If an error message appears when you scan your card on the borrowing machines (such as 'invalid card'), security staff will not be able to offer assistance. Check your library account online; if your fines total over £5.00, this will prevent you from borrowing or renewing items and you will be given the option to pay these electronically via credit or debit card. If you have overdue items, this can block your account and these books will need to be returned to the Library before you can borrow or renew other items. See our page on loan periods and charges for further details.

If a book you are carrying triggers a gate alarm, security staff will call you back. Check your borrowing receipt to make sure your books have been checked out properly; if not, try to check out the item again. If the gate alarm still sounds, you will need to leave the book in question with staff on duty.

If you are still experiencing problems having followed these steps, please contact a member of Library staff during staffed service hours.

Study spaces

Please be considerate to other patrons and make sure that your working area is clear and tidy when you use the Library. Make sure you do not leave any personal possessions in the Library when you leave the building as we accept no responsibility for items left unattended.

During exam term, study space is at a premium. Library staff will be monitoring study spaces throughout the day at the Bill Bryson Library and Queen's Campus Library. Any belongings left in a study space and unoccupied for some time may have a flyer placed on it to remind you not to leave your possessions unattended. If a study space is required by another student these spaces will be emptied of belongings. Items may be collected from the Help and Information desk. Your cooperation in not "hogging" a study space will be appreciated.

Food and drink

A No Food and Drink policy is in operation at the Bill Bryson Library and Queen's Campus Library, although you are welcome to bring cold bottled drinks into the Library. If you want to eat or drink, move to another area of the campus. If you are studying at the Bill Bryson Library, a range of alternative food and drink facilities will be available during the main Library 24/7 period. At Queen's Campus Library, Cafe Aroma offers a space for students to eat and drink on the ground floor of the Ebsworth Building. Customers who disregard these regulations will be asked to leave.

Health and safety

Welfare: Offering Library 24/7 opening hours at the end of the Epiphany term and in the run up to exams mean that we can support your studies, whatever hours you keep. However, just because the Bill Bryson Library and Queen's Campus Library are open for you to use 24/7, doesn't mean that you should study around the clock. Please make sure you take regular breaks and get enough sleep.

For information and advice on student welfare and wellbeing:

Travelling home at night: If you are leaving the Library late at night, be aware of your personal safety when travelling home. The DSU Nightbus service can pick students up from the Security Office on the Science Site (as well as other locations around Durham city) during University term-time and will drop you home for a small charge.

Cleaning

Behind the scenes, Library cleaning staff work hard to ensure the Library is a clean and tidy place for you to study in. The majority of cleaning work goes on early in the morning each day, when the Library is normally closed. During the 24/7 periods, the Library will be open during these hours and cleaning may cause some disruption to users; please be patient as this work is necessary to make the Library a pleasant environment for all members of the University.

Feedback

Please get in touch and tell us your views on Library 24/7 opening at the Bill Bryson Library and Queen's Campus Library:

Library 24/7

24/7 Feedback