How we can support you
Services on Offer in the College Library from 28th September 2020
Access to the College Library building will be very different for returning students this term.
The services on offer have been set up to best enable social distancing, to limit the potential spread of coronavirus, while still enabling access to resources and limited study space. We are taking a phased approach to recovery, which means that as term goes on we will review the services on offer, potentially reopening further or rolling back services if necessary. Please bear in mind we are a small team in the College Library and some delays and disruptions to services are possible.
We expect to move into The New Library at the start of Lent term. I hope to be able to post updates on the progress as it nears completion on our new Instagram page!
Please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.
We look forward to seeing you in the library!
How we can support you.
From Monday 28th September, we will be opening the Library for limited pre-booked browsing and study spaces, as well as the Request and Collect service that has been running since August.
The Library will be open between Monday to Friday 10am and 4pm for the bookable services.
In order to enable social distancing we must keep the numbers visiting the Library to a minimum, please do not visit the Library unless you have booked a slot.
If you are returning a book please use the boxes outside the Library (Monday –Friday 10am-4pm) or the returns boxes in the Plodge or Ramsay Hall. These will be collected and emptied regularly by staff.
Please ensure that you wear a face covering at all times when in the Library, and when queuing outside, please also use the hand gel and adhere to social distancing rules.
Please note that in order to ensure ventilation windows will be left open in the Library as such you may wish to wear warm clothes or layers when visiting the Library.
Request and Collect
This service enables current Magdalene students, Fellows and staff to request up to 5 books/items each day to borrow from the College Library via our Request and Collect Form.
The books will be fetched by staff and issued to your account. Once the books are retrieved, you will receive a confirmation email which includes information about where and when you can collect your books, this will normally be from Ramsay Hall (8am to 12pm). All books will be re-shelved to make them available to others if they have not been collected within 2 days of being notified.
Requests may take up to 48 hours to become available. Items requested after 4pm on a Friday may not be available until Monday.
Please note that books will be placed in bags with your initials and e-mail address on for identification. Please do not collect anyone else’s books unless you have their permission.
The University Library also has a click and collect service running, more information about this and other UL services can be found here. https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/using-library
Browsing and Borrowing
If you want to browse the shelves (and borrow books yourself using the self-issue machine) you can do so by booking in advance.
The 30 minute browsing slots will be available between 10am and 3pm. And are limited to 6 people each 30 minute slot.
Browsing will not be possible unless you have booked a slot.
To book a Browsing Slot please visit the booking page https://bookings.magd.cam.ac.uk/college-library/
Please leave the Library promptly at the end of your booked slot.
Study Spaces
If you would like to study in the library there will usually be 18 individual study spaces, some of which are computer workstations, available for 2 hour slots in the morning (10am to 12pm) and afternoon (1:30pm to 3:30pm), Monday to Friday.
You can choose a specific area in the Library (such as the Brooke Gallery) if it is available, but you cannot choose a specific seat.
Ramsay Hall also has 6 bookable individual study spaces which are bookable in hourly slots.
Study spaces will not be available unless you have already booked a slot online.
To book a Study Space Slot please visit the booking page.
https://bookings.magd.cam.ac.uk/college-library/
Please leave the Library promptly at the end of your booked slot.
Please note that in order to ensure ventilation the windows will be left open in the Library and as such you may wish to wear warm clothes or layers when studying.
Book Returns
College Library Loans can be returned to the boxes outside the College Library entrance between 10am and 4pm. Items can also be returned to the dropboxes in the Porters’ Lodge and in Ramsay Hall.
Please ensure that you wear a face covering when returning books (or if waiting in the queue), use the hand gel and adhere to social distancing rules. If there is a queue it may be better to drop books off at Plodge or Ramsay Hall.
All returned books will be placed in Quarantine for 48 hours until they are available to borrow again. Please note that this means they may remain on your record for this 48 hour period, if this is stopping you from borrowing further books please contact us library@magd.cam.ac.uk
Please return Faculty or UL Library books to the University Library or dropboxes on the Sidgewick site.
Book Recommendations
We would also like to encourage you to make book recommendations, whether for books we currently don’t hold, new editions or second copies of key textbooks. This can be done by e-mail or our book recommendation form.
Enquiries/Support
Please email library@magd.cam.ac.uk or ring +44 (0) 1223 332125 if you need help finding resources for your studies or would like any other library or reading-related advice.
The College sends out information through College e-mails but we also post updates and information through Social media and our blog (all @magdlibs). Instagram. Facebook. Twitter and our blog.
We would also like to encourage you to make book recommendations, whether for books we currently don’t hold, new editions or second copies of key texts. This can be done by via our book recommendation form.
The University Library has an up-to-date guide to accessing electronic resources remotely. A guide to the increasing number of non-contact services at the University Library can also be found on this webpage.
How are you ensuring my safety and the safety of library staff?
The safety of our users and staff is paramount. To ensure that the building does not become overcrowded and to ensure social distancing is possible, the number of people in the Library at one time is being restricted. Wearing face coverings is also required at all times when in the Library or queuing for entry as per College policies.
Numbers of study spaces in the College Library have been reduced so that they are all over 1.5 metres from each other. Facilities are available for users to clean their desk and chairs down on arrival, but desks and chairs will also be cleaned by staff between the morning and afternoon session and at the end of the day. Ramsay Hall study spaces will be wiped down by staff at the start of the day and students are asked to wipe the desk down before and after use.
All books returned to the Library are quarantined for 48 hours before being made available for collection. We have undertaken risk assessments and have put together handling procedures that all Library staff have agreed to follow. We are minimising the handling of books and all other materials and will be following strict hygiene rules when preparing books for collection. Staff will not touch your ID or any other documentation. Items for collection will be in a plastic bag, labelled with your name for collection.
We request that you do not use anti-bacterial wipes on any library books as this may cause damage.
Responsibilities of Library Users
In order to keep these services running smoothly and control the potential spread of coronavirus:
- Do not visit the Library unless you have a booked browsing or study slot.
- Please leave the Library promptly at the end of your booked slot.
- Please enter the Library via Right Cloister and exit via Left Cloister
- Please ensure that you wear a face covering when in the Library (or if waiting in the queue),
- Use the hand gel on arrival
- Adhere to social distancing rules.