Welcome to our libraries!

Hello to all our new students and welcome back to all those returning! We are so happy to welcome you to all eight of our libraries. This page outlines everything you need to know to get going with using our libraries and all the changes that are new for this academic year.

A desk with chairs sat within a nook of bookcases on the upper balcony of the wills memorial library
Desks in the Wills Memorial Library

Visiting one of our libraries

The University of Bristol has eight libraries around the city. The libraries are; the Arts and Social Sciences, Chemistry, Education, Medical, Physics, Queen's Building, Veterinary Sciences and Wills Memorial. Check out our Locations and opening hours page for more information on each individual library.

→ All University of Bristol students have access to all of the university libraries, no matter which subject you study! For instance, a Biology student can work in the Education library or a Sociology student can study in the Physics library. Each library has a different style so we recommend trying a range of them out so you find which space works best for you!

Black cat on marbled background Show Me How!

Do you want to know more about using your library? Book a library training session now!

A hand holding Library Services Top Trump cards, each displaying information about a different library.
Pick up Library Services and Cultural Collections Top Trump cards from any of our libraries

What's new for this academic year

Here are some of things that are new in our libraries

  • There is now an accessible Digital Study Pod! Check out the Arts and Social Sciences Library page for more information
  • The Study Skills Hub on the 2nd Senate House has been refurbished over the summer, drop-in times are updated via the Study skills page
  • The Bristol Reads collections have expanded for all your fiction needs
  • We have developed a new online AI resource which looks at; when you can use generative AIs, how to write good prompts to help you study and the grey areas around academic integrity. Take a look here
  • The MA History of Art and Theatre with Innovation students have an exhibition running with our Theatre Collection which is free for anyone to visit, definitely go check it out!

What you can do in our libraries!

Our libraries are places where you can study, write, research and get helpful support with your work. 

Charge your laptop, or use wi-fi.

Borrow books. Undergraduates can take out up to 40 titles at a time!

You can research online. Find books, articles and more.

You can print at any of our libraries.

We run workshops. Check the Events calendar for valuable workshops, with some run by Subject Librarians.

We can help make studying more accessible. Library Support offers low-distraction study rooms, text-to-speech software, adjustable desks and more. They run drop-ins at their office in the Arts and Social Sciences Library, Monday to Friday 1-3pm, so why not pop by and meet them!

Get into Study space booking to guarantee a desk, or check Find a Study Seat for desk availability in our spaces.

We have fiction books to read for pleasure. Check out our Bristol Reads collections.

A grey sign which reads Welcome to the Library.
Entrance to the Veterinary Sciences Library.

Follow us on Instagram

Stay up-to-date with what goes on across the university libraries! 

Edit this page