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Welcome to all new undergraduate students from the Library of Trinity College Dublin

Dear students,

A very warm welcome to all new undergraduate students starting classes today − we wish you every success in your studies at Trinity. The libraries are open and, in keeping with the Provost’s ‘Return to Campus’ guidelines and public health advice, face coverings and two metre social distancing are currently mandatory. Pre-booking is required to enter the Library with each individual booking being for 1 hour 45 minutes.

From today, we are also introducing extended opening hours to include evening and Saturday openings in the Berkeley, Lecky, Ussher and Hamilton Libraries as well as Saturday opening in the John Stearne Medical Library.

Opening Hours 

Berkeley/Lecky/ Ussher LibrariesMonday-Friday 09:00-22:00; Saturdays 09:30-13:00
(The Ussher closes at 12 noon on Saturday to prepare Kinsella Hall for weekend study)
Kinsella HallSaturdays 13:00-22:00; Sundays 08:00-22:00 
Hamilton LibraryMonday-Friday 09:00-22:00; Saturdays 09:30-13:00
John Stearne Medical Library                Monday-Friday 09:30-16:00; Saturdays 09:30-13:00
Research Collections                                  Monday-Saturday, by appointment
1937 Postgraduate Reading Room      Monday-Sunday 08:00-22:00

Full details are online of all opening hours and the booking system

Here is a little more context on why the booking system and two metre social distancing are important for accessing the Library.

The booking system was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to safeguard the health and safety of our students and staff in keeping with public health advice. In line with the Return to Campus Plan, the Library is deemed different to ‘teaching spaces’, which have one metre social distancing. 

The two metre social distancing in the Library is in keeping with public health advice and relates to mixed immunity, venue capacity limits and protective measures in place for the cumulative time spent by users of the Library. The two metre social distancing also applies to all study spaces across College.

The current booking system will remain in place subject to public health advice and the need for careful management of access to high-demand spaces in the interest of the health and safety of all Library users.

Getting to know your Library

Our New Student Welcome Guide has everything you need to get started from how to borrow books to virtual tours of the libraries, to Top Tips for Undergraduates.

Every student has a dedicated librarian who is available to support them throughout their academic journey at Trinity. If you haven’t already met your Subject Librarian during orientation, you may meet them later in the semester, for example during a skills workshop for a class. These workshops provide an excellent introduction to Library resources and databases helping students find the best quality information for their assignments.  

In addition to these workshops, we also provide general taster sessions as part of the Library HITS (Helpful Information for Trinity Students) programme. These short taster sessions, which the Library co-delivers with Student Learning and Development, are open to all students and there is no need to register. The next module takes place online the week commencing October 4th next and some of the classes include:  

  • Getting to Know the Library 
  • Essay Writing 
  • Reading and Note Making 
  • An Introduction to Reading, Thinking and Writing Critically  
  • Rare Books and Manuscripts – Treasures of the Old Library

Finally, if you have any queries or need assistance:

With all good wishes to you for the coming year,

Helen Shenton

Librarian & College Archivist