Alternative entrance arrangements 16-20 December 2024
Between Monday 16 and Friday 20 December new entrance gates will be installed. During this period entry to the library will be from Watts Way through the Group Study space on level 1. The route will be clearly indicated.
Library staff will be available at the alternative entrance and all services will be on offer as usual, possibly with some restricted access.
Following the installation of the new gates library users will be required to tap in and out.
For queries about these changes please email library@imperial.ac.uk
Opening hours
Library building
Open 24 hours
Except closed overnight from 23.00 Friday until 10.00 Saturday
Find out more about Nobel Prize winning physicist Abdus Salam
Information Hub
Monday - Friday 08.30 - 21.00 (summer vacation - opens 09.00)
Saturday - Sunday 10.00 - 18.00 (summer vacation - closed on Sundays)
Chat with us Monday to Friday 09.30 - 19.00
We answer ASK and email enquiries Monday - Friday 09.30 - 21.00 and at weekends. We are closed on Sundays during the summer vacation.
GoStudy
GoStudy on levels 4 and 5 of the Chemistry Building is open Monday - Sunday 08.00 - 11.00 except when the Chemistry Building is closed
Contact us
Chat with Library Services
Monday - Friday 09.30 - 19.00
+44 (0)20 7594 8810
07725 159853 - Text an Attendant for urgent help or to report noise
Information Hub, Abdus Salam Library
Imperial College London
South Kensington campus
London
SW7 2AZ
We respond to ASK, email and phone enquiries Monday to Friday 09.30 - 21.00 and at weekends. We are closed on Sundays during the summer vacation.
The library is next to the Queen's lawn. If you are a visitor please speak to a member of staff at the Welcome Desk.
Study zones
We provide different types of study space to suit your style of working.
- Silent study - levels 2 and 3
- Quiet study - levels 1, 4 and 5
- Group study - levels 1 and 4
- height-adjustable desks - levels 1, 2 and 3
- an Assistive Technology Room and priority desks for students registered with the Disability Advisory Service
Group study, Silent study and Breakout spaces are also available in GoStudy.
Our Library Attendants regularly patrol all floors and will be pleased to help maintain the study environment.
Borrowing books and other items
Our book collection supports taught courses and research. We also hold a wide range of recreational reading both fiction and non-fiction. Books are arranged in classmark order.
- Level 2 0 - 529
- Level 3 530 - 539
- Level 4 54 - 619, flat maps
- Level 5 62 - 999, music scores
To borrow an item, use the self-service machines on level 1.
To return items, place them through the slot near the self-issue machines. they will immediately be removed from your account.
When the library is closed you can return books via the book drop box outside the library entrance.
Pick up your requested items from the Guest PC access room and use the self-service machine to borrow them.
Print journals and theses are kept in the Store and are fetched on request. We also hold a number of special collections of historical interest originating from the Imperial's departments and medical schools.
You can borrow whiteboard pens, headphones, keyboards, scientific calculators and coloured overlays at the Information Hub during staffed hours.
Printing
Printer-copiers are located on levels 1, 2, 4 and 5 - use them to print, scan or photocopy.
All printer-copiers output to black and white (mono) or colour.
Visit ICT for instructions on uploading documents or topping-up print credit online.
PCs, laptops, iPads, phone chargers
You'll find PCs on all levels. You are not able to book these PCs. There are a small number of PCs in our Business Zone on level 1 which you can book for using Bloomberg and Moody's only Book a Business PC.
We have iPads and laptops for students to borrow, see Laptops and iPads.
If you need to charge your phone please ask to borrow a charger at the Information Hub. We also lend keyboards and mice.
ICT support
ICT support is available at the Service Desk on level 1.
Eating and drinking
Hot and/or smelly food must be in a container with a lid and may only be consumed in the group study area on level 4.
Drinks without lids may not be brought into or consumed in the library. Users doing so will be required to either remove their drink from the library or surrender it for disposal.
Water fountains are provided on all levels. Hot water and vending machines are available in the Group Study area on level 4.
Phone friendly areas
Please keep your phone on silent wherever you are in the building and only make and receive calls in our phone zones.
- Level 1 - group study area, main entrance
- Level 2 - near stairs
- Level 3 - near stairs
- Level 4 - group study area
Study rooms
Open 08.30 - 22.00 (Saturdays open from 10.00). Available to students only.
To book a study room visit Library bookings (sign in with your Imperial username and password).
Level 1
Level 2
Study Room 2C - maximum 6 students
Level 3
Students may book two sessions in any seven days (maximum booking of two hours allowed per day). Please make sure you arrive on time, after 15 minutes Library Services may reassign the time slot to another user.
Non-members of Imperial will not be permitted to enter the library to join a group of students who have booked a room without prior permission from Library Services.
Training and meeting rooms
For our training room and meeting room booking policy see Room bookings.
When visiting the library
Remember to bring your college ID card with you, you will need it to enter the building and borrow books