Extended Opening Hours
We have been working to extend the opening hours of the New Library in a responsible way; this term in particular we understand the importance of late opening and having a good place to work at the weekends. From tomorrow (Wednesday 12th May) the New Library is open for bookable evening and weekend study slots. The New Library will be staffed by our new Graduate Library Assistants who will be there to support you with any enquiries and to help maintain the working environment. There will continue to be an hour break between sessions to allow for ventilation and cleaning.
For the rest of term the Library will be open for the following bookable study slots: https://bookings.magd.cam.ac.uk/
Monday – Friday:
9:30am to 12:30pm
1:30pm to 4:30pm
5:30 to 10:30pm
Saturday
9:30am to 12:30pm
1:30pm to 4:30pm
5:30 to 10:30pm
Sunday
1:30pm to 4:30pm
5:30 to 10:30pm
There are also Browsing Slots available if you just wish to access the books, these are available via the booking form or by asking at the front desk:
- 10am (except Sunday)
- 11am (except Sunday)
- 2pm
- 3pm
- 6pm
- 7pm
We hope that the extra study slots will help this term, but please also remember the importance of taking regular breaks and taking time to look after yourself. There are a couple of suggestions for how you might do this below:
Thursday refreshment break: Tea and cake
(4.30pm, Thursdays, served through Ramsay, sit in 6s in marquees)
We’ve not been able to bring back Tea and biscuits under the Cloisters this term, but Sarah, the College Chaplain, has organised an alternative (possibly an upgrade if you forgive the lack of pink wafers): tea, cake, ice-cream and strawberries!
Tea and cake starts at 4:30pm every Thursday through Easter term and coincides with the end of the afternoon Library slot. If you visit the Buttery Servery in Second Court you can get a drink and cake/strawberries to eat in the outdoor marquees (6 to a table).
Mental Health Awareness Week (from 10th May)
The theme this year’s Mental health Awareness Week is ‘Nature and the Environment’. We have put up a display of some new wellbeing books on the this year’s theme, particularly on the benefits of walking in nature. Filling those breaks between study slots with a walk, even if it is just a promenade along the river or around the Fellows garden can do a lot to recharge you for the next stint! Feel free to brows and borrow any of these books in the display and any others from the Wellbeing or Recreational reading Section.
The University has put together a schedule of events, full details on all events can be found on the programme website. Some events require advance booking, and some are pre-recorded and can be accessed at any time from 10 May. Where possible, live sessions will be recorded and links will be posted on these webpages to be viewed at your convenience.
The Really Popular Book Club
The Really Popular Book Club is the new reading group hosted by Cambridge University Library. Everyone is invited to join us and our special guests to discuss a really popular book, one that we all know and perhaps or perhaps not love.
https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/whats/events/really-popular-book-club
Coming up!
25 May: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel – (Our copies can be found at shelfmark 4.L. 747)
29 June: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell – (Our copies can be found at shelfmark 4.L. 706)
How to become a member
Each of our club meetings is completely free to join, and is open to everyone including members of the public and students and staff of the University.
To attend one of our club meetings, simply follow the links above. You will then receive an email confirmation containing a joining link.
You will need to register for each club meeting you want to attend. Keep an eye out here for all scheduled club meetings.