In line with the current national restrictions, and in particular given the highly transmissible nature of the new COVID variant, we have taken the decision to reduce our physical library service on campus and as such will be closing the Sydney Jones Library for study space from Thursday, 14 January 2021 until further notice.
We understand this may cause some inconvenience, however at this time the safety of our staff and students must remain our primary concern.
By closing study spaces in the Sydney Jones Library, we will be able to reallocate staff to continue to offer essential library services safely from this building.
If you have a scheduled study space booking in the Sydney Jones Library from Thursday onwards, you will be contacted with a cancellation notice and advised to make alternative arrangements where possible. You will still be able to access a range of books and other resources, using the options set out below.
Accessing library resources on campus
The Harold Cohen Library will remain open from 8am-11pm, seven days a week, for individual study space use. Study spaces must be booked online before arrival, and space should be used for individual study only. Group study is not permitted, even with other members of your household or bubble.
You will still also be able to book individual study space elsewhere on campus, again through the library website.
To help us safely manage capacities, booking limits have been introduced per study location. Limits will remain under continuous review, please keep checking the Library webpages for the latest information. We would also recommend, where possible, booking during ‘off-peak’ times such as evenings, where availability is higher.
Services including Click and Collect will continue to operate from the Sydney Jones Library on a reduced basis, from 11am-4pm on weekdays only. This service is available for essential access to items, not available online, from both the Harold Cohen and the Sydney Jones libraries.
Online resources
To help minimise the numbers of people on campus, and to avoid unnecessary travel, we ask that before booking a study space or accessing on-campus resources, users should use any alternatives they have access to. This includes digital versions of our materials via the library catalogue, where available.
Our libraries offer a wide range of services online:
- Browse our online catalogue, which houses over 900,000 e-books and 130,000 e-journals.
- KnowHow provides online academic support throughout the year to help you to succeed in your studies. Sessions include topics such as Academic Writing, Presentations, Preparing for Exams and more.
- Book and Copy Delivery Service, through which the Library will post books held in stock and copies of journal articles or book chapters directly to your home or work address.
- Your Liaison Librarian can also offer specialist support and advice for your subject. Book an online appointment with a Liaison Librarian through our appointments booking calendar.
If you are unsure of how to access or use e-books, our Library Help service is available online 24/7 – you can contact the team by emailing library@liverpool.ac.uk or via Library chat.
Using the library safely
Please remember that, although a number of essential services are available on campus, you should minimise contact with people outside of your household or support bubble and therefore only use physical facilities when it is absolutely necessary.
When using the library, please make sure to adhere to the following guidelines:
- Wear a face covering at all times (unless exempt), including when sitting at a study space
- Keep to 2m social distancing at all times, even when with members of your household or bubble. Do not engage in any group study in any area of the Library; study spaces should be for individual use only
- We are temporarily prohibiting eating within the Library; however, drinking is still permitted. This is to reduce the number of occasions that users are required to remove their face coverings during visits. We advise that, if you must visit the Library, you plan your visit around meal times or make alternative arrangements to eat outside of the Library.
Further details about these changes can be found on the Library webpages.