Main Library

University of Edinburgh staff and students are automatically members of the library. Please remember your ID card to access our libraries.

We are also pleased to welcome external students, researchers and visitors to the Library but please be aware that during exam periods access may be restricted. In advance of a visit in person,  please email us at library.account@ed.ac.uk

Please check up-to-date information on the Joining the Library web pages before visiting any library.

Joining the library 

The library is situated on the south side of George Square. There are parking spaces (pay and display) on Buccleuch Place and George Square.

Campus map 

Wheelchair access is by the ramp to the main door. Disabled parking spaces are available at the front of the building and are accessed by the west side (closest to the Meadows). 

AccessAble

The Main Library is spread over 8 floors. 

• Study spaces and PC access (students and staff only) are available on Lower ground floor, Ground floor and Floors 1-5.
• The EdHelp desk is located on the Ground floor along with the HUB (High Use Books) collection.
• Floors 2, 3 & 4 house the library's book and journal collections.
• The Heritage Collections can be located on Floor 6.

Use the guides to find your way around the library.

Main Library virtual orientation

Main Library tour (video)

Main Library Self-Guided tour (pdf)

Main Library access

To find out more about we assist disabled users here at the Main Library please visit:

Main Library accessibility information

A guide to the Main Library is available on the AccessAble website.

AccessAble

More information on University Library accessibility

Find information on the physical accessibility of the libraries and the services offered to disabled users.

Library Accessibility

EdHelp desk

The EdHelp team based on the ground floor can help with library, IT, student administration and finance related enquiries. You can also contact them online.

EdHelp

Borrowing and returning books

If you need to borrow or return books, there are self-service machines within the library. If you have any problems please visit the EdHelp desk.

• self-issue machines on floors: ground (next to the Facilities reception desk and in the HUB); 2, 3 and 4 (next to Print rooms)
• self-return machines on the ground floor (next to the Facilities reception desk and next to the HUB area)

WiFi and computer access

• Free Wifi access
• 616 PCs for student and staff use
• Library Search PCs (DiscoverEd) - Ground floor; floors 2-4
• Laptops for loan (students only)
• Walk-in access PCs - access to limited e-resources 

Eduroam

VisitED Guest WiFi

DiscoverED

Laptop loan service 

Printing, copying and scanning - EdPrint

There are MFDs (multi-function devices) on all floors apart from Floor 6, which University of Edinburgh staff and students can use to print (from Library PCs or from own devices), scan and photocopy. Both black & white (mono) and colour MFDs are available. Paper size options are A4 or A3.

Other library users are able to pay for photocopying services only - please ask at the EdHelp desk for information or email library.account@ed.ac.uk

Poster printing

As part of the uCreate service there are two large-scale printers (glossy and plain paper), suitable for printing up to A0 in size on Floor 1.

EdPrint 

uCreate 

Card Services

If you have lost or damaged your card, or if it is expired, you can get a replacement at the EdHelp desk.

Replacement card desks 

Getting your first card 

Card Help 

Lockers

• Day lockers - lockers are located on the Ground floor and are for use by University of Edinburgh staff and students only. Locker keys can be borrowed for 1 day (until 9am the next day). Keys can be issued from the EdHelp desk and is a free service.
• Rental lockers - for use by University of Edinburgh students only. Lockers are located on the Ground floor and Floors 1 and 5. They are allocated on a first-come-first served basis and are available from Semester 1 until the end of the academic year. There is a refundable deposit of £20 required for the key.
• Accessibility lockers - we have a small number of lockers which can be assigned to students through arrangement via the Disability and Learning Support Service.

Disability and Learning Support Service

Main Library lockers 

Food and drink

The Library Cafe is located within the Main Library building and is open throughout the year. There is also a Coffee Cart based in the foyer on the Ground Floor which is open during semester hours.

Library Cafe opening hours

• Covered drinks are allowed throughout the library.
• Eating is only allowed on ground floor foyer (excl. PC desks). No hot food is allowed anywhere in the library.    
• Water fountains are available on Floors?? supplying chilled, filtered water for you to fill up water bottles.
• Hot water is available on Floors 1 and 4.  
• Microwaves - there are no microwaves in the Main Library but they can be found in the Study Hub at 40 George Square on Level 02.

Study Hub at 40 George Square

Toilets

There are male, female and accessible toilets on every floor. A Changing Places toilet is available on the Lower Ground Floor. 

The Main Library has various types of study space spread over all floors. 

• Lower ground floor: quiet study space; discussion allowed in group study rooms
• Ground floor and Floor 1: discussion allowed in study pods
• Floors 2-4: quiet study space
• Floor 5: silent study space

Study space with computers

The Main Library provides 616 computers for study. This includes Quick Use PCs available for 15 minute sessions on the Ground floor and 28 PCs located in the Library Café. A plasma screen on the Ground floor of the Main Library displays real time PC availability on each floor. You can also check this online.

There are also Flexible learning spaces are available on Floor 2 where you can connect your own device to the monitor, and also charge your laptop.

Flexible Learning Spaces 

Group study space

Study Pods

Study pods are available for group study in the Main Library. Pods are designed for groups to meet and discuss their ideas and to work on presentations. The pods are equipped with a PC, plasma screen, headphone sockets and a whiteboard.

Pods can't be booked - they are available on a first come, first served basis and should only be used by groups of 3+.

There are 30 group study pods:

• 18 on the Ground Floor
• 12 on Floor 1

Group study rooms

There are 7 group study rooms on the Lower Ground Floor which can be booked online via MyEd. The rooms are for groups of up to 4 or 6 students depending on the room and are equipped with a PC, screen and whiteboard. These rooms can only be booked by University of Edinburgh students.

Booking study rooms via MyEd

Bookable study space

There are 169 bookable spaces available on Floor 5. There are no PCs but power points are available to plug in laptops. Pre-booking is via the SeatEd app or online form.

Red zone - PGs only, 65 spaces.

Blue zone - all students, 104 spaces.

SeatEd app 

Study space SeatEd online booking

Accessible study space

There are 15 accessible study rooms on Floor 1 of the Main Library and a further 5 rooms on Floor 3. Access to the accessible study rooms should be arranged with the Disability and Learning Support Service.

• networked PCs
• height adjustable desks
• adaptable chairs
• adjustable footrests
• adaptable lighting 

Height adjustable desks can also be found on all floors apart from Floor 6.

Booking accessible study rooms

Booking accessible study room online guidance 

Carer and children room 

Study spaces at other libraries

Information about study spaces across all ten University Libraries can be found at the following link:

Library study space

Main Library Cafe opening hours 8 September - 14 September 2025

Main Library Cafe opening hours from 15 September 2025

The coffee cart on the Ground Floor of the Main Library will reopen on Monday 22 September 

Monday - Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-3.30pm

Library Regulations

All users of the University Library must observe these Library Regulations and observe special regulations relating to any Library premises which they may use.

Library regulations

Food and drink

Drinks with a lid are permitted, but food is not allowed.

Food and drink policy 

Child access to the Library

This policy is intended to enable parents and carers accompanied by children to access the University Library and to ensure the safety of children.

Policy for child access to the Library